Board Appointments and Governance
In the cultural sector, many of the Government’s programmes are delivered, and its outcomes achieved, through the work of non-departmental agencies. A significant key to their success is that these organisations have strong boards and good governance.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage supports Ministers in their appointments to the boards of Crown entities in the sector. A list of boards is shown on the left of this page. The Ministry also provides governance-related support to these boards and may also do this for the boards of other entities funded through Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Supporting the Appointments Process
The Ministry manages the process of board member appointment on behalf of the relevant Minister, following appropriate protocols and guidelines.
An outline of the current membership, membership terms, key purpose and relevant issues for each of the boards that Ministers appoint can be viewed by clicking on the board name listed.
The objective is to ensure that the best-qualified people available for each vacant board position are considered, and that boards have a well-balanced membership relating to skills, experience and representation. The Ministry maintains a regularly updated database of potential candidates.
Expressions of interest are always welcomed by the Ministry. Follow link for an appropriate form.
Role of a Board
The entities in this sector have a wide range of functions and, therefore, the role of a specific board is partly determined by the entity’s enabling legislation or documentation. Key roles common to all boards in the sector include:
- Ensuring that the Crown’s interests as owner or funder are appropriately safeguarded and that the organisation complies with its particular obligations and purpose
- Providing leadership and vision to the organisation that will ensure that value is added and that the organisation’s key functions are enhanced
- Developing and reviewing organisational strategy
- Appointing, managing and monitoring the performance of the chief executive
- Monitoring the performance of the organisation
- Ensuring compliance with legal requirements
- Providing leadership in its relationships with key stakeholders, particularly in the relevant cultural sector.
Qualities of a Board member
While the nature of the organisation’s role will determine the skills needed on a specific board, there are a number of key competencies that apply to membership of all of the Crown entity boards in the cultural sector. These include:
- An appreciation of the Crown’s key stakeholder role
- Interest/experience in the areas covered by the board
- Ability to work in a team
- Good judgment and common sense
- An ability to take a wide perspective on issues
- Organisational and strategic awareness
- An ability to distinguish governance from management
- Financial literacy
- A well-developed critical faculty
- Understanding of the responsibilities of a board member.
Criteria for appointment
A key criterion for a Crown entity board is that its members have an appropriate balance of skills, attributes and experience that reflect the entity’s role, purpose and strategic direction.
Appointments to most of the cultural Crown entity boards are made under their agency’s own legislation, which details specific requirements appropriate to that entity. Key requirements for each board are highlighted in the linked pages. For further information click the relevant board name listed at the top right of this page.
Government policy also requires that such boards are representative of the diversity and demographic make-up of New Zealand, including gender, ethnicity, age and geographic location.
The Ministry actively seeks input on nominations from a range of sources including relevant community and professional organisations, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, the Office of Ethnic Affairs in the Department of Internal Affairs, and the Office of Disability Issues in the Ministry of Social Development.
Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest arises where a prospective or existing Board member has an interest which conflicts (or might conflict, or might be perceived to conflict) with the interests of the Crown entity itself. A common issue that arises is where a member of a board may be applying for funding in a creative area in which the board is allocating funding. A conflict of interest will not necessarily bar an appointment, although a serious conflict of interest may mean a candidate is not suitable for an appointment, or should resign if the conflict arises during the course of the appointment. The key point is that any conflict of interest should be identified and managed, so that the relevant Minister can be confident that their appointments are sound.
Each agency has developed its own Conflict of Interest policy and procedures.
Agency Boards
Boards appointed by the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
- Creative New Zealand: Council
- Creative New Zealand: Arts Board
- Creative New Zealand: Te Waka Toi
- NZ Symphony Orchestra
- NZ Film Commission
- Te Papa
- NZ Historic Places Trust
- NZHPT Māori Heritage Council
- National War Memorial Advisory Council
Boards appointed by the Minister of Broadcasting