DHB boss keeps credit spending low | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

The boss of Masterton hospital has
racked up  $2680  on her DHB credit
card since May last year.

Wairarapa District Health
Board   chairman Bob Francis, who
 signs off all credit card bills, said
he was ``totally comfortable with
the spending''. He  said it was mod
erate in comparison to spending
 by other state chief executives.

 Tracey Adamson, who took the
role early last year, has spent $872
on taxis, $372 on parking, and $588
on meals, according to records
released under the Official
Information Act. She also billed
the DHB $528 for a stay at the
Windsor Hotel while on a profes
sional development course.

Ms Adamson  spent $150 for a
meal for three at the The Country
man in Masterton and several
other $90-100 dinners.

Mr Francis said he left  it to Ms
Adamson to
decide an app
ropriate price
for a meal and
``if it's anything
above that it
wouldn't get a
sign-off from
me''.

Ms
Adamson's  14
months make
light reading
compared to
some other
DHB chief executives, with South
Canterbury's Chris Fleming top
ping the list at $39,700 and Nelson-
Marlborough's John Peters  next at
$31,900.

Hawkes Bay's Chris Clarke
billed $5724 for a five-night stay in
London, Whanganui's Memo Musa
spent $1123 on a farewell dinner,
and tech-savvy Geraint Martin of
Counties Manukau spent $177 on
iPhone accessories and internet
access.

Ms Adamson's predecessor
David Meates spent $1642 in the
six months before he left the top
job in December 2008.

Ms Adamson could not be
reached for comment on her credit
card spending.