Professor Ron Paterson, Auckland, ONZM
For services to health. Professor Paterson has made a significant contribution to the quality and safety of health and disability services and the rights of health and disability customers. He served as Health and Disability Commissioner from 2000 to 2010 after working for the Northern Regional Health Authority and with the Ministry of Health. As Commissioner he worked to clear the backlog of cases awaiting investigation and to improve the relationships between the health consumer and provider groups. He helped to draft the ‘Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights'. Professor Paterson is the co-editor of ‘Medical Law in New Zealand’ and was instrumental in establishing Health Care Law studies at The University of Auckland.