Mr Stephen McKernan, QSO, Auckland
For services to the State. Mr Stephen McKernan was the Director-General of Health from 2006 to 2010. During this time, he established and led a number of programmes which resulted in significant improvements within the health system. Some of these include improvements in child immunisation numbers, elective surgical procedure rates and reductions in smoking rates. Mr McKernan led the national response to the 2009 influenza epidemic. Before becoming Director-General of Health, he was the Chief Executive of the Hutt Valley and Counties Manukau District Health Boards. He earned a reputation for driving successful change and implementing innovative programmes within primary health care, and in encouraging lifestyle change. Mr McKernan’s multi-agency work between the health and social sectors is particularly notable.