The High Court in Auckland has ruled in favour of a District Health Board, which was seeking guardianship of a nine year old boy with HIV.

The boy's father believes his son doesn't have the virus, and therefore that his treatment is harmful.

In his decision, Justice Keane says the Court will become the boy's legal guardian until he is 16, with doctors acting as agents of the court and able to treat him.

The boy's father has also been appointed an agent of the court, responsible for his son's day-to-day care.

The health board, the witnesses and the father all have name suppression to protect the boy's identity.