The Southern District Health Board (Southern DHB) was a district health board which provided healthcare to an area covering the southern half of the South Island of New Zealand. In July 2022, the Southern DHB was dissolved as part of a nationwide overhaul of the district health board system. Its former functions and responsibilities were taken over by Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand).

On 1 May 2010, the Otago and Southland DHBs were merged to form a new Southern DHB, with elected members coming from two constituencies – Otago and Southland – and the remainder appointed by the Ministry of Health, with the change taking effect from the 2010 local body elections.^[1][2]

From 1 July 2010, a unified primary health organisation has covered the entire new Southern DHB region with primary health organisation (PHO) centres in Alexandra, Dunedin, and Invercargill with the mandate of providing PHO resources and services, replacing the previous nine PHOs.^{[citation needed]}

The area covered by the Southern District Health Board is defined 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.^[6] The area can be adjusted through an Order in Council.^[7]

The initial board was fully appointed. Since the 2001 local elections, the board has been partially elected (seven members) and in addition, up to four members get appointed by the Minister of Health. The minister also appoints the chairperson and deputy-chair from the pool of eleven board members.^[8] From 2015 to 2019 the elected board was replaced by a Commissioner appointed by the Minister.^[9]

Southern DHB covered a population of 324,405 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 26,985 people (9.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 38,181 people (13.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 125,028 households. There were 160,581 males and 163,821 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 38.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 57,030 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 69,372 (21.4%) aged 15 to 29, 144,042 (44.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 53,958 (16.6%) aged 65 or older.^[10]

Ethnicities were 86.8% European/Pākehā, 10.5% Māori, 2.7% Pacific peoples, 6.6% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.^[10]

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.^[10]

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.2% had no religion, 34.9% were Christian, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.^[10]

Of those at least 15 years old, 54,003 (20.2%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 51,210 (19.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 38,088 people (14.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 134,193 (50.2%) people were employed full-time, 42,774 (16.0%) were part-time, and 8,490 (3.2%) were unemployed.^[10]