Evan Davies is group chief executive at Todd Corporation, a role he will juggle with being Crown manager of the Dunedin hospital new build. The framework does not anticipate the specific role of Crown manager but the highest daily fee it recommends is $1645. He said the previous Government failed to secure a construction contract, despite repeated promises, and since appointing Davies as Crown manager one has now been signed. Health Minister Simeon Brown has appointed a Crown manager of the New Dunedin Hospital build and a Crown observer on the Health NZ board to strengthen his grip on health services and infrastructure delivery. “Ironically they have now returned to the same site, plan and Crown manager as appointed by Labour in Government,” she said.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 18, 2026 18:12 UTC