southland district health board southland district health board the southland district health board (southland dhb) was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to an area covering most of southland and parts of otago in new zealand. southland district health boardlocation of the southland dhb (green) in new zealandmerged intootago district health boardsuccessorsouthern district health boardformation1 january 2001 (2001-01-01)foundernew zealand governmentdissolved1 may 2010 (2010-05-01)legal statusextinctpurposedhbserviceshealth and disability servicesparent organizationministry of health history the southland district health board, like most other district health boards, came into effect on 1 january 2001 established by the new zealand public health and disability act 2000. on 1 may 2010, the southland dhb merged with the otago district health board to form the combined southern district health board. geographic area the area covered by the southland district health board is defined in schedule 1 of the new zealand public health and disability act 2000 and based on territorial authority and ward boundaries as constituted as at 1 january 2001. the area could be adjusted through an order in council. governance the initial board was fully appointed. since the 2001 local elections, the board had been partially elected (seven members) and in addition, up to four members get appointed by the minister of health. the minister also appointed the chairperson and deputy-chair from the pool of eleven board members. notes "new southern dhb roles announced". beehive.govt.nz. new zealand government. 31 march 2010. archived from the original on 8 september 2012. retrieved 20 april 2021. rudman, brian (13 february 2012). "brian rudman: three health boards must marry and economise". the new zealand herald. retrieved 3 may 2020. mckinnon, malcolm (20 june 2012). "the first meeting of the southern district health board, may 2010". te ara - the encyclopedia of new zealand. new zealand government. archived from the original on 16 april 2016. retrieved 21 april 2021. public health and disability act 2000, schedule 1. public health and disability act 2000, section 19. "district health boards". ministry of health. 12 february 2020. retrieved 3 may 2020.