[3] The board serves the Gisborne District, as specified in Schedule 1 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and based on territorial authority and ward boundaries as constituted as at 1 January 2001.

The minister also appoints the chairperson and deputy-chair from the pool of eleven board members.

[7][8] Brown was forced to resign as chair of the Tairāwhiti DHB in August 2002 due to an administrative error by the Ministry of Health.

As an elected member, he was not permitted to also hold a position on another district health board.

[9] The following table gives a list of chairpersons of Tairāwhiti District Health Board: