1 Mar 2023

Environmental Protection Authority chair Rob Campbell looks set to lose another role

3:31 pm on 1 March 2023
Rob Campbell Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand chairperson

Photo: LDR / Supplied

Outspoken public servant Rob Campbell is set to be sacked as chair of the Environmental Protection Authority having already been ejected from Health New Zealand's board.

Environment Minister David Parker has written to Campbell on Wednesday and a spokesperson says "a process is now underway".

The minister had no further comment at this time.

Campbell was fired as the chair of Te Whatu Ora on Tuesday after publicly criticising a National Party policy online - despite an obligation to remain politically neutral.

He still insists he did nothing wrong and has described his sacking as an over-reaction.

The National Party has called for his removal as EPA chairperson.

At a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he needed to allow the minister to run through the appropriate process.

"This is nothing to do with co-governance or the policy direction of health reform, this is to do with preserving and protecting something that I think we should regard as important, which is the political neutrality of our government institutions."

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