Thursday 29 August 2019

Nelson Marlborough DHB’s budget deficit has blown out to $20.5 million, with the DHB placing part of the blame on $8.5 million they have earmarked for Holidays Act remediation payments.

However, Luke Coxon, APEX Advocate, says the DHB has itself to blame.

“It is very rich for Nelson Marlborough DHB to turn around and cry poverty like this when its thousands of current and former staff are yet to receive a single cent of what they are owed.

The DHBs did not set out to break the law, but they have been dragging their heels on fixing their breaches of the Holidays Act ever since health sector unions first met with them back in 2016.

It has taken the DHBs over three years just to agree on a process for auditing what is owed dating back to May 2010.

Nelson Marlborough’s audit is not scheduled to begin until November, but it will be many more months until staff receive what they are owed. The DHB has itself to blame for these ballooning costs.”

Mr Coxon has represented APEX on the DHBs Holidays Act remediation project since 2016.

Further information

Luke Coxon is available for comment on 021 904 888.

ENDS

Contact APEX