The departure of the Director General of the Ministry of Health raises questions around the politicisation of the public service, Labour's State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson said today.

"Stephen McKernan's decision not to seek reappointment begs the question. Was he pushed, or did he jump?" Grant Robertson said.

"Mr McKernan's fate may have been sealed many months ago when Health Minister Tony Ryall decided to appoint Murray Horn to chair the National Health Board.

"In a classic case of jobs for the boys. Murray Horn was Tony Ryall's 'purchase advisor', who he then appointed to lead a Ministerial review of the health system.

"That review recommended a National Health Board, and Mr Ryall has appointed Murray Horn to head that board.

"What is more Mr Horn was the Secretary of Treasury in the 1990s overseeing massive cuts to public services including in the Health sector.

"Murray Horn's growing influence in the health sector confirms that the ideological agenda of cutting services and privatisation is alive and well in this National government." Grant Robertson congratulated Stephen McKiernan for his work as Director General.

"Stephen did a good job since taking on the Director General's role in 2006 and as a result won the respect of the health sector," Grant Robertson said.

"Labour will watch very closely the process of finding his successor. We hope that whoever is appointed will have the best interests of New Zealand's health at heart, rather than a slash and burn mentality."