Between late February and early March 2023, Campbell was dismissed from his positions as chair of Te Whatu Ora and the Environmental Protection Authority over a social media post criticising the National Party's opposition to the government's Three Waters reform programme; which breached the Public Service Commission's neutrality policy.[3][4]
Campbell later studied economics and political science at Victoria University of Wellington where he became involved in left-wing politics and causes including the anti-Vietnam War and anti-Apartheid movements.[2] Campbell credited Victoria University professors John Gould and Gary Hawke with influencing his career.[5] He also became the director of an anarchist bookshop called Resistance Books in Wellington's Willis Street.[1][2] After completing his bachelor degree with honours, Campbell became a junior lecturer specializing in economic history. He subsequently completed a Masters in the philosophy of economic history at Massey University.[2][6]
Trade union career
Campbell subsequently abandoned plans to pursue an academic career to focus on trade union activism. With the encouragement of trade unionist Pat Kelly, Campbell helped to negotiate a pay increase for road transport drivers.[2] During the 1970s, Campbell joined and worked for several unions including the Public Service Association,[5] the Distribution Worker's Federation and the Federation of Labour (FOL), the predecessor to the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (CTU). Campbell has said he was motivated by the "intellectual challenge of the work" along with his interest in lifting low wages and improving working conditions.[2] At the time, the New Zealand trade union movement was seeking to attract people with intellect and academic qualifications.[5]
During the 1980s, Campbell rose to prominence in both the trade union and left-wing movements. He served as secretary of the Distribution Workers Federation and was a member of the Federation of Labour's executive, where he campaigned for more racial and gender diversity within the union leadership. In addition, Campbell co-authored a book called After the Freeze, which became an economic strategy book for unions. Campbell was also mentored by prominent trade unionists and Socialist Unity Party (SUP) leaders Bill Andersen and Ken Douglas. Campbell's association with Communist figures led Prime MinisterRobert Muldoon to accuse him of being an "undercover communist" and a member of the SUP, which he refused to confirm nor deny.[2]
Business career
In 1987, Campbell resigned from both the Distribution Workers' Federation and the FOL to take up directorship roles on the boards of several private companies including the Bank of New Zealand and Sir Ron Brierley's Guinness Peat Group (GPG).[2][1] Due to his actions, Campbell was condemned by many in the trade union movement as an "academic sellout and turncoat, spurning working class ideals in favour of capitalism."[2] Campbell attributed his transition from trade unionism into corporate governance to two factors: the inability of unions to adapt to the changes caused by Rogernomics and the stress caused by union work on his mental health and cancer.[2][1] In addition to his trade union work, Campbell also served on the national executive of the New Zealand Labour Party during the late 1980s.[1]
Campbell was later recruited by Trevor Farmer, the-then chief executive of Freightways and Associated Companies.[2] For the next 20 years, Campbell shunned media attention and other publicity opportunities in order to focus on his corporate career and work for various boards.[2][1] Campbell later worked as a director and investment manager for investment company Tappenden Holdings. In 2009, Campbell left Tappenden and served as the director of several companies including the state-owned enterprise Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and his own investment company Tutanekai. In September 2010, Campbell was appointed to the board of Guinness Peat Group as part of a shakeup of the under-performing company. June 2011, Campbell was appointed as chairman of both GPG and its fresh produce subsidiary Turners & Growers; ousting Turners & Growers' former chairman Tony Gibbs in the process.[5]
Campbell later joined retirement home operator Summerset Holdings and tourism investment company Tourism Holdings, guiding the companies through successful expansions.[2][1] In late December 2017, Campbell was appointed as chairman of the gambling and entertainment company SkyCity Entertainment Group, which he assumed in 2018.[2][1] During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, SkyCity and Summerset Holdings drew criticism for accepting wage subsidies from the New Zealand Government in 2020 while undertaking opportunistic behaviour; with the former laying off 900 employees and the latter declaring a substantial profit and shareholder dividend a few months later. Campbell justified the companies' actions by arguing that both the wage subsidies and layoffs were necessary to ensure their survival and future growth. In December 2020, Summerset Holdings repaid its NZ$8.6 million wage subsidy.[2]
Public service career
In mid February 2021, Campbell was elected as Auckland University of Technology's chancellor by the university's Council. By February 2021, he was chairing several organisations including the SkyCity Entertainment Ltd, Group Summerset Group Ltd, Tourism Holdings Ltd, WEL Networks Ltd, Ara Ake Ltd, NZ Rural Land Co Ltd.[2]
In December 2021, Campbell was appointed as the new board chair of the national environmental regulator, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).[9]
On 27 February 2023, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins criticised Campbell's Three Waters remarks as "inappropriate." On 28 February, Health minister Ayesha Verrall used her discretionary powers under section 36 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 to relieve Campbell of his position as head of Te Whatu Ora. Though Campbell had apologised to Luxon and Verrall, the latter had demanded that he resign by 10:30 am on 28 February. Campbell had refused to resign but offered Verrall an apology and a "protocol" to handle future incidents, which was rejected.[3][11] On 2 March, Environment Minister David Parker removed Campbell from his positions as chair and board member of the EPA over his Three Waters remarks.[4]
Views and positions
Economics
During a speech to the ParnellRotary Club in July 2017, Campbell argued that business and ethics were inseparable, stating that "if our model is extractive or exploitative we will all bear the downsides of that."[1]
Health services
In March 2023, Campbell likened the New Zealand health system to a "blocked digestive system" and advocated redeploying hundreds of duplicated jobs from the former district health board system to the frontline. Following his dismissal as Chair of Te Whatu Ora, he alleged that the health system had a "troubling culture" where those pushing for change were afraid to speak out for fear and losing their jobs.[12] He also advocated shifting more funding towards kaupapa (cultural) Māori health services and increasing input from marginalised groups such as multi-ethnic, the disabled, LGBTQI communities, and women's health advocates.[13]
Social justice
In 2017, he argued that gender diversity, Māori identity, and New Zealand's nuclear-free policy were inseparable from "the removal of economic restrictions and regulations".[1]
Personal life and community involvement
Campbell is married to Judi Lambourne.[1] He is a vegetarian, teetotaler, and drives an electric vehicle.[2]
He is also involved with David Letele's BBM exercise community in Manukau, Auckland. As of 2020, Campbell chaired BBM's charitable trust and is a close friend and advisor of Letele. Through BBM's charitable trust and his corporate connections, Campbell has provided a range of social services to people from working class and socially disadvantaged backgrounds in Auckland including mentorship and financial assistance.[2]
District health boards (DHBs) in New Zealand were organisations established by the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 under the Fifth Labour Government, responsible for ensuring the provision of health and disability services to populations within a defined geographical area. They existed from 1 January 2001, when the act came into force, to 30 June 2022. Initially there were 21 DHBs, and this was reduced to 20 organisations in 2010: fifteen in the North Island and five in the South Island. DHBs received public funding from the Ministry of Health on behalf of the Crown, based on a formula that took into account the total number, gender, age, socio-economic status and ethnic mix of their population. DHBs were governed by boards, which were partially elected and partially appointed by the minister of Health.
Dunedin Hospital is the main public hospital in Dunedin, New Zealand. It serves as the major base hospital for the Otago and Southland regions with a potential catchment radius of roughly 300 kilometres, and a population of around 300,000.
The Pharmaceutical Management Agency, better known as Pharmac, is a New Zealand Crown entity that decides, on behalf of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, which medicines and pharmaceutical products are subsidised for use in the community and public hospitals.
Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) was a district health board that provided healthcare in the Auckland Region in New Zealand, mainly on the Auckland isthmus. This district health board existed between 2001 and 2022 and was governed by a part-elected, part-appointed board. In 2022, its functions and responsibilities were subsumed by Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora.
The Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to Wellington City, Porirua City and the Kāpiti Coast in New Zealand. The CCDHB employed about 6000 people across the Wellington Region. It was disestablished on 1 July 2022, with its functions and responsibilities being taken over by the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
Ayesha Jennifer Verrall is a New Zealand politician, infectious-diseases physician, and researcher with expertise in tuberculosis and international health. She is a Labour Party Member of the New Zealand Parliament and a Cabinet Minister with the roles of Minister of Health and Minister for Research, Science and Innovation. She has worked as a senior lecturer at the University of Otago, Wellington and as a member of the Capital and Coast District Health Board. During the COVID-19 pandemic she provided the Ministry of Health with an independent review and recommendations for its contact-tracing approach to COVID-19 cases.
Dame Karen Olive Poutasi is a New Zealand government official.
MidCentral District Health Board was a district health board that provided healthcare in the Manawatū region of New Zealand. The DHB covers the Manawatū District, Palmerston North City, Tararua District, Horowhenua District, and the Ōtaki ward of the Kāpiti Coast District. In July 2022, the MidCentral DHB was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Bay of Plenty District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Bay of Plenty area of New Zealand. In 2022, the Bay of Plenty DHB was dissolved as part of a national overhaul of the district health board system. Its former functions and responsibilities were assumed by Te Whatu Ora.
The Hutt Valley District Health Board was a district health board that provided healthcare to the cities of Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt in New Zealand. In July 2022, the Hutt Valley DHB was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough districts of New Zealand. In July 2022, it was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Northland District Health Board is a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Northland Region of New Zealand. In July 2022, the Northland DHB was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Tairāwhiti District Health Board, branded as Hauora Tairāwhiti since 2015, was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Gisborne District of New Zealand. In July 2022, the Tairāwhiti DHB was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Taranaki District Health Board was a district health board which provided healthcare to the Taranaki region of New Zealand. In July 2022, the Taranaki DHB was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Wairarapa District Health Board was a district health board that provided healthcare to the Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa districts of New Zealand. In July 2022, the Wairarapa DHB was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The West Coast District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the West Coast region of New Zealand. In July 2022, the West Coast DHB's functions and responsibilities were taken over by the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Water Services Reform Programme was a public infrastructure restructuring programme launched by the Sixth Labour Government to centralise the management of water supply and sanitation in New Zealand. It originally proposed shifting control of stormwater, drinking water and wastewater management from the country's 67 local councils to several new publicly-owned regional entities by July 2024. Details of the proposed reforms were announced in October 2021. The Three Waters reforms were criticised by several mayors and the opposition National and ACT parties.
Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora is the primary publicly funded healthcare system of New Zealand. It was established by the New Zealand Government to replace the country's 20 district health boards (DHBs) on 1 July 2022. Te Whatu Ora is charged with working alongside the Public Health Agency and Te Aka Whai Ora to manage the provision of healthcare services in New Zealand. Margie Apa was appointed chief executive of Te Whatu Ora in December 2021.
Te Aka Whai Ora was an independent New Zealand government statutory entity tasked with managing Māori health policies, services, and outcomes. The agency was one of four national bodies that oversee New Zealand's health system since 2022, along with the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Agency, and Te Whatu Ora. They replaced a system in which a single Ministry funded services through 20 district health boards (DHBs).
The following is a timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand during 2023.
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