Former Fonterra General Counsel Cordner is inaugural Chief Legal Counsel for Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand), consolidating 20 former District Health Boards into a single entity under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act.
His ability to handle large-scale organizational structures positions him at the forefront of NZ’s most ambitious health reform in decades. The implementation challenges—eliminating redundancies, fostering national planning, navigating intense political scrutiny (chair Rob Campbell’s dismissal in early 2023), require balancing organizational autonomy with political accountability.
Cordner’s legal team drafts policies aligning with “patient-centric” approaches while negotiating complex contracts with healthcare providers nationwide to ensure equitable access. His successful contract negotiations are notable achievements.
Cordner’s influence stems from steering the legal function of a restructured health system serving 5 million people.
