Articles tagged with Governance

Empowering Pacific Women Parliamentarians to Strengthen Regional Cooperation

1 day ago | 63 views

The speech emphasizes New Zealand’s commitment to supporting Pacific parliamentary cooperation, democratic governance, and regional collaboration through face-to-face dialogue and shared values. It highlights the critical and challenging role of elected representatives, particularly women, in addressing regional issues like security and development, while encouraging increased female participation in politics. Finally, it underscores the significance of the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and New Zealand’s role in chairing it, calling for inclusive input to advance shared Pacific priorities.

Tags: New Zealand Pacific Islands Forum Wellington Pacific cooperation women parliamentarians Pacific leaders Palau parliamentary cooperation regionalism democratic governance

NZ Women’s BoardConnector Database Doubles Growth, Boosting Governance Roles

1 week ago | 155 views

The Ministry for Women’s BoardConnector database, which links women with governance opportunities, has more than doubled its growth target with over 349 new registrations, now totaling more than 1,140 members. The database supports women at various stages in their governance journey by providing access to information, development opportunities, and board vacancies, contributing to the government’s goal of 50 percent female representation in Crown appointments. Recent successful appointments from the database demonstrate its impact in promoting women’s leadership across public and private sector boards in New Zealand.

Tags: Nicola Grigg Rowena Davenport Gina Mills Alaina Kalyan Ministry for Women BoardConnector governance women leaders New Zealand Crown appointments

John Rae Reappointed Chair of Crown Regional Holdings Board for Three Years

2 weeks ago | 175 views

John Rae has been reappointed Chair of the Crown Regional Holdings Limited Board for three more years due to his extensive legal, financial, and governance expertise. Crown Regional Holdings manages significant government investments aimed at supporting regional economic development across New Zealand, with a diverse portfolio spanning eight regional funds, 13 regions, and 19 industry sectors. As of the 2025 financial year, CRHL oversees 201 active contracts totaling $1,085 million in loans, equity, and capital assets, reflecting the government’s commitment to regional growth.

Tags: John Rae Shane Jones Crown Regional Holdings Limited CRHL regional development New Zealand regional investment governance financial experience

John Harbord Appointed Chair of New Zealand Electricity Authority for 3 Years

2 weeks ago | 183 views

John Harbord has been appointed Chair of the Electricity Authority for a three-year term, bringing over 20 years of experience in law, governance, and public sector policy. Energy Minister Simeon Brown emphasized the Authority's role in ensuring an abundant, affordable, and reliable electricity supply that supports economic growth. Harbord succeeds Erik Westergaard, who will remain on the board as Deputy Chair.

Tags: John Harbord Simeon Brown Erik Westergaard Electricity Authority New Zealand Shipping Federation Major Electricity User’s Group Energy Minister Electricity market Governance professional Public sector

New Zealand Updates Climate Change Response Act to Strengthen Adaptation and NZ ETS

2 weeks ago | 166 views

The Government is amending the Climate Change Response Act to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure effective climate risk management, including legally requiring councils to develop 30-year adaptation plans for high-risk communities. The Bill also strengthens governance and transparency of the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS), addressing investment disincentives and allowing for new carbon removal methods while excluding agriculture. These changes aim to streamline New Zealand’s climate framework, support emissions reduction targets, and deliver practical, results-focused climate action.

Tags: Simon Watts Climate Change Response Act New Zealand NZ ETS Climate Change Minister National Adaptation Framework Climate risks Decarbonisation Market governance Climate targets

Andre van der Walt Appointed Tokelau Administrator to Strengthen NZ-Tokelau Ties

4 weeks ago | 280 views

Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced Andre van der Walt as the next Administrator of Tokelau, starting June 2026, coinciding with the centenary of New Zealand’s administration of Tokelau. The Administrator supports Tokelau’s government in service delivery, manages New Zealand-Tokelau relations, and oversees development initiatives including climate resilience, governance, and key sectors like education and health. Van der Walt brings experience from his previous roles as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Kiribati and Deputy High Commissioner to Niue.

Tags: Winston Peters Andre van der Walt Tokelau New Zealand Administrator Kiribati Niue climate change renewable energy governance

Women Hold Over 50% of Public Sector Board Roles in New Zealand 2025

1 month ago | 300 views

Women hold 50.2 percent of public sector board and committee roles in New Zealand, maintaining representation above the government’s 50 percent target for the sixth consecutive year. Women also occupy 43.8 percent of board chair roles, a significant increase since 2015, supported by initiatives like the BoardConnector database, which connects over 1,100 experienced women with board opportunities. The government is actively collaborating with organizations to strengthen the pipeline of qualified women for governance roles and promote diverse, skilled candidates in both public and private sectors.

Tags: Nicola Grigg women public sector board roles gender diversity ethnic diversity BoardConnector Institute of Directors governance leadership

$1.7M Funding Boost to Empower Disability Community Leadership and Governance

1 month ago | 311 views

The Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha has awarded $1.7 million in funding to disability community organisations to enhance governance and leadership capabilities. This investment aims to empower disabled people to lead and participate more actively in decision-making, improve engagement with government agencies, and support historically underrepresented groups. By building long-term community capability, the funding helps shape policy and services while upholding the rights and dignity of disabled people.

Tags: Louise Upston Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People Disabled People’s Organisations Disability Issues Minister New Zealand Sign Language disability community organisations governance capability community capability disability communities

New EPA Board Appointments Announced by Minister Nicola Grigg

2 months ago | 512 views

Minister for the Environment Nicola Grigg has appointed Lisa Tumahai and Professor Nicola Shadbolt to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board for three-year terms, bringing extensive governance, climate, and regulatory expertise. Lisa Tumahai, Deputy Chair of the Climate Change Commission, and Professor Shadbolt, a former Climate Change Commissioner with over 30 years of governance experience, will strengthen the board's capabilities. Additionally, Mary Anne Macleod has been reappointed for one year and will serve as Deputy Chair from July 2026, succeeding outgoing Deputy Chair Paul Connell.

Tags: Nicola Grigg Lisa Tumahai Nicola Shadbolt Mary Anne Macleod Paul Connell Environmental Protection Authority Climate Change Commission Treaty of Waitangi governance EPA board

Tony Balfour Appointed New Chair of New Zealand Lotteries Commission Board

3 months ago | 564 views

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden announced Tony Balfour as the new Chair of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission Board, effective May 1, succeeding Mark Todd. Balfour brings extensive experience in governance, business strategy, and community engagement, ensuring strong leadership for the Commission. His appointment aims to enhance the Commission's integrity, transparency, and support for community initiatives through lottery funding.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Tony Balfour Mark Todd New Zealand Lotteries Commission Internal Affairs Minister Lotteries Commission Board governance business strategy community engagement leadership

Heather Simpson Appointed Deputy Chair of Antarctica New Zealand Board

3 months ago | 678 views

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has appointed Heather Simpson as Deputy Chair of Antarctica New Zealand, recognizing her extensive governance experience and strategic understanding of Antarctica's importance to New Zealand. Ms. Simpson, a board member since 2024, has contributed to supporting research, environmental stewardship, and oversight of the Scott Base Redevelopment Project. Her new role will involve assisting the Chair and Board in navigating a strategically and operationally challenging period, effective from April 1, 2026.

Tags: Winston Peters Heather Simpson Antarctica New Zealand Deputy Chair Scott Base Redevelopment Foreign Minister Board Member Governance Environmental Stewardship New Zealand

New BoardConnector Database Boosts Women’s Leadership Roles in NZ

4 months ago | 911 views

A new database called BoardConnector has been launched to support women's progress into leadership and governance roles in New Zealand, providing access to training and a pool of governance-ready leaders. Minister Nicola Grigg emphasizes that increasing female representation on boards strengthens decision-making and economic growth, while addressing gender pay and retirement savings gaps. Despite progress, women hold only 31 percent of private-sector director positions, highlighting the need for tools that drive meaningful change and economic empowerment for women.

Tags: Nicola Grigg International Women’s Day women’s leadership BoardConnector governance female directors economic empowerment gender pay gap New Zealand women in business

Education Minister Calls for Major Reforms in Teaching Council After Serious Reviews

5 months ago | 755 views

Education Minister Erica Stanford emphasizes the urgent need for major reforms within the Teaching Council following two serious external reviews revealing significant failures, particularly regarding child protection, leadership, and organizational culture. The reports highlight inadequate regulatory focus, misuse of fees, and lack of support for teachers, raising concerns about the capability of previous boards. In response, new board members have been appointed to restore governance and confidence, with a focus on ensuring child safety, supporting teachers, and rebuilding public trust.

Tags: Erica Stanford Teaching Council Education Minister child protection leadership regulatory standards teachers governance organisational culture board members

New Zealand Welcomes Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey for Key Talks

5 months ago | 787 views

Foreign Minister Winston Peters welcomed Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey on her first official visit to New Zealand, highlighting the Commonwealth's role in uniting countries around shared values. They discussed New Zealand's support for a Commonwealth focused on democracy, good governance, human rights, and the rule of law, as well as the Secretary-General’s reform agenda. Their talks also emphasized initiatives like the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration to benefit small states, particularly in the Pacific.

Tags: Winston Peters Shirley Botchwey Commonwealth New Zealand Pacific Auckland Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration democracy human rights governance

New Crown Directors Appointed to Airways and Kiwi Group Capital Boards

7 months ago | 1004 views

State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown has appointed Mayurie Gunatilaka to the Airways Board and Susan Petersen to the Kiwi Group Capital Board, both for three-year terms. Gunatilaka brings extensive infrastructure governance experience to support Airways' air navigation services, while Petersen, also Chair of the Kiwibank Board, is the first KGC director to hold a position on Kiwibank’s Board, enhancing strategic alignment. These appointments aim to strengthen governance and leadership in critical sectors, with KGC adopting overlapping board memberships to boost strategic objectives while maintaining independent oversight.

Tags: Simeon Brown Mayurie Gunatilaka Susan Petersen Airways Board Kiwi Group Capital Kiwibank Board State Owned Enterprises Crown directors governance infrastructure planning