West Coast Health (incorporated under the name West Coast Primary Health Organisation) is a Charitable Trust governed by Board of Trustees. The Trustees are appointed to the Board by the following organisations:

• Te Runanga o Ngati Wae Wae
• Te Runanga o Makaawhio
• Westland District Council
• Grey District Council
• Buller District Council

In addition, each of the following groups of people can nominate one of their members to act as a Trustee:

• Te Tai o Poutini Maori Health Providers
• GPs employed by a West Coast primary care practice 
• Nurses employed by a West Coast primary care practice
• Practice Managers and admin staff employed by a West Coast primary care practice

The trustees have a duty to act in the best interests of the charitable purposes of the trust rather than to represent the interests of their respective nominating entities.

The charitable purposes of West Coast Health are:

a) to improve, maintain and restore the health of people living in the West Coast Region;

b) to provide or ensure the provision of accessible primary health care services to the community of the West Coast Region;

c) to provide or ensure the provision of effective, high quality integrated health services for the community of the West Coast Region;

d) to assist members of the community of the West Coast Region (particularly those on low incomes and with high health care needs) who have difficulty gaining timely and appropriate health services;

e) to work with the West Coast District Health Board and community groups within the West Coast Region to achieve any of the above Objects;

f) to support any institution, society or other body of persons whether incorporated or not whose objects are similar to the objects of the Trust set out above, provided that any such entity is established for charitable purposes in New Zealand.