The Ministry of Health has named the members of a panel which will help decide the future of neurosurgery services in the South Island.
The new Southern District Health Board disagrees with the Canterbury DHB about how the service should be configured in future.
At issue is whether two neurosurgeons should be based in Dunedin or whether all six South Island neurosurgeons should be in Christchurch.
Outgoing Director-General of Health Stephen McKernan has named members of the panel which is to help resolve the issue.
It will be chaired by paediatric surgeon Anne Kolbe of Auckland, working with neurosurgeon Glenn McCulloch of Adelaide and former Consumer New Zealand head David Russell.
Mr McKernan says they will meet this month to decide terms of reference.
