Transport boss plugs health gap ‒ for a fortnight

Friday, 21 February 2025

Secretary of Transport Audrey Sonerson will be taking up the vacant Director-General of Health position for two weeks, The Post understands.

The appointment was announced in a leaked email from the Ministry of Health.

Dr Diana Sarfati, who resigned last week less than half-way through her five-year term, finishes in the role today.

Sarfati’s departure was one week after Margie Apa resigned as chief executive of Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, and less than a month after Dr Shane Reti was replaced with Simeon Brown as health minister, while a commissioner remains in place of a board at Te Whatu Ora.

Multiple other health leaders have also left, including director of public health Nicholas Jones, several executive leaders at Te Whatu Ora, and Riana Manuel, the former head of the now defunct Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority.

Sonerson is expected to take up the role from Saturday. Ruth Fairhall, Ministry of Transport’s deputy chief executive, will be acting as Secretary of Transport.

Sonerson is a veteran public servant, having previously held top positions at Foreign Affairs, police and Ministry of Justice, plus experience at Treasury, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health in the 1990s.

A spokesperson from the Public Service Commission confirmed Sonerson will be acting Director General from Saturday.

“This is an interim arrangement until a longer-term acting appointment is made.”

The Public Service Commission is responsible for choosing the next director-general of health, and any interim replacements.