The former chair of Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ has now become the former chair of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

Under fire director Rob Campbell has been sacked from his second government directorship - EPA chair.

He served there at the discretion of Environment Minister David Parker, who today removed him from that role. Campbell had earlier been sacked by Health Minister Ayesha Verrall from his role as chair of Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ.

Parker said he acted on the advice of Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes.

“I have accepted the Public Service Commissioner’s advice that Rob Campbell’s LinkedIn comments in relation to National’s policies and its leader is a clear breach of the Code of Conduct requirements that he act politically impartially and retains his ability to work effectively under current and future governments.

“Also, his subsequent public comments in the media suggest he does not accept the constraints he is under as a member and chair of a Crown Entity Board.

“That has eroded my trust and confidence in his ability to effectively undertake his role at the EPA,” Parker said.

Campbell took to LinkedIn at the weekend to criticise National’s version of Three Waters policy and its co-governance component, saying it was a thin disguise for dog-whistling on co-governance. He maintains those comments were made in a private capacity.