Voting papers for this year's BOPDHB Board elections will start appearing in letterboxes around the region from Friday.

Seven positions will be elected at large from the Bay of Plenty District Health Board's 9666km2 service coverage area that stretches from Waihi Beach to Whangapāraoa on the East Cape and inland as far as Te Urewera.

The current BOPDHB Board: (back row from left) Marion Guy, Matua Parkinson, Gail McIntosh, David Stewart, Geoff Esterman, Judy Turner; (front row from left) Vervies Punohu McCausland, Mark Arundel, Sally Webb, Ron Scott, Yvonne Boyes. Supplied Photo.

Once the election is done and dusted, Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman will then appoint a further four members which will take the total to 11.

The board is the governing body responsible for overseeing the delivery of health and disability services in their districts and elections are held every three years.

A BOPDHB spokesperson says to be counted, all completed voting documents must be in the hands of each respective city/district council electoral officer or electoral official by 12pm on Saturday, October 8.

'Electors may post their completed voting documents back to the city/district council electoral officer using a pre-paid envelope sent with the voting documents. Ballot boxes will also be available at the front receptions of both Tauranga and Whakatāne Hospitals.”

Polling places for the issuing of special voting documents and for the receiving of completed voting documents will also be available from each respective city/district council office from this Friday until 12pm on October 8.

Preliminary results are expected to be released by 12pm on Sunday, October 9, with results posted to the BOPDHB website at: www.bopdhb.govt.nz

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board's 9666km2 service coverage area. Map: BOPDHB