Four new members have been appointed to the National Health Committee by Minister of Health, Health Minister Pete Hodgson said today. They are:

•Associate Professor Pauline Barnett (Christchurch), who is currently with the Department of Public Health and General Practice at the University of Otago, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences
•Dr Dale Bramley (Auckland: Nga Puhi), a Public Health Physician and the General Manager of Clinical Support Services for the Waitemata District Health Board
•Dr Te Kani Kingi (Wellington: Ngati Pukeko; Ngati Awa), the Director of Te Mata o Te Tau, the academy for Maori research and scholarship at Massey University
•Carmel Peteru (Auckland), project manager of Violence in Pacific Families for the Counties Manukau District Health Board.

Existing member, Geoff Fougere, who is the Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Canterbury, has been reappointed for a further 12-month period. He is also the Chair of the Public Health Advisory Committee, a sub-committee that advises the Minister about public health issues.

The other members of the Committee are:

•Linda Holloway (Chair)
•Api Talemaitoga
•Will Taylor
•Maaka Tibble
•Riripeti Haretuku
•Robin Kearns
•Phil Shoemack.

The National Health Committee provides the Minister of Health with independent advice on publicly funded health and disability support services. There are 12 members of the Committee, seven of whom are currently also members of the Public Health Advisory Committee.