Christopher Luxon is defending the time it's taken to step in and remove Health New Zealand's board. 

Health Minister Shane Reti yesterday appointed the board’s chair, Professor Lester Levy, as commissioner for a 12-month term. Only one board member was remaining after two others resigned and the rest chose not to serve another term. 

Replacing the board with a commissioner comes after the organisation over-spent at the rate of about $130 million a month. 

The Government had previously put a Crown Observer in before Christmas to monitor the organisation. 

The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking he rejects any suggestion the Government has taken too long to intervene. 

He says the Government has been acting quickly and needed sufficient information before making the decision to replace the board with a commissioner. 

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