The father of Nicky Stevens plans to continue his fight against Waikato District Health Board from the inside.

Stevens died while under the care of the DHB's Henry Bennett Centre in March last year.

MORE: Man who lost son in care elected to health board

Preliminary results show his father, Dave Macpherson, has been elected to one of the seven public seats on the district health board.

Macpherson said he's received strong support from people around the country who've had similar experiences.

"We all thought there must be better ways to handle people in this situation, and families in this situation."

A lot of the money allocated to mental health services isn't spent on those service and that needs to change, he said.

"Complaints procedures are poor and sometimes non-existent, and I don't think staff are treated very well."

He says his election should send a message to the unelected members of the DHB and others around the country.

"Listen to the message that the electorate is giving with elections like mine."

Macpherson has also been reelected to Hamilton City Council.