An evening meeting for candidates eyeing an elected position on the Lakes District Health Board has been set for July 1.

Seven of the 11 members of the board will be elected in this year's DHB elections.

An information session about governance roles, some facts and figures about the DHB, and a chance to ask questions is envisaged.

DHB chief executive Nick Saville-Wood and board chair Deryck Shaw, who is stepping down after the maximum three terms as an appointed member, will attend to field questions, along with electoral officer Warwick Lampp.

Deryck says prospective candidates should have a strong interest in health and disability issues, a commitment to making a difference, and a yen for proper governance.

Generic skills needed include financial literacy, strong reasoning skills and an understanding of governance responsibilities, as opposed to management responsibilities.

The DHB has total revenue for the current year of $390 million dollars and, with some 1500 staff, is the biggest employer in the district.

Nominations open on Friday, July 19, and close on Friday, August 16.

Nomination forms, with the deposit of $200 and the completed conflict of interest statement must be handed to the Rotorua or Taupo District Council by before noon, Friday August 16.

Triennial elections for elected members of all local bodies throughout New Zealand, including District Health Boards, are to be conducted by postal vote later in the year, with polling closing at noon on Saturday October 12.

Nick Saville-Wood says the aim of every health board is to have members with a mix of skills and experience from a range of different backgrounds who are from across the board's area including Taupo, Turangi and Mangakino.

The board's role is one of stewardship, direction-setting, and monitoring the DHB's overall performance against its goals, he says.