06 December 2021

These guidelines provide information on how to recruit, appoint and induct board members on to Crown entity boards and government boards. Step-by-step guidance is included to cover the different stages and aspects of the appointment process.

Te kupu whakataki Introduction

These guidelines provide information on how to recruit, appoint and induct board members on to Crown entity boards and government boards. Step-by-step guidance is included to cover the different stages and aspects of the appointment process.

Who the guidelines are for

These guidelines are issued under section 44(b) of the Public Service Act 2020 and apply to the Public Service including Crown agents, autonomous Crown entities (ACEs) and independent Crown entities (ICEs) when advising on appointment of relevant board members, but may also by helpful for those involved in other public sector board appointments, including statutory tribunals, tertiary education institutions, royal commissions and advisory committees.

The guidelines are for anyone involved in government board appointments, unless there are provisions in individual agencies’ legislation that state otherwise. The guidelines should be followed in conjunction with using judgement when deciding the best approach to use in each circumstance. The guidelines have a strong focus on statutory Crown entity appointments and inductions.

Other government bodies and agencies include many that are linked to ministerial portfolios and whose members constitute a board or its equivalent without employees (for example, Queen Elizabeth II National Trust) or that serve as the governing body (for example, Māori Television Service).

Who the guidelines don’t apply to

These guidelines are not intended for public service officials giving advice about appointments to the boards of State-owned enterprises or Crown entity companies. The Treasury provides guidance for appointments to companies owned by the Crown. 

Company and entity performance advice — The Treasury

Roles and responsibilities

Ministers have ultimate responsibility for the appointment. The appointment processes are deemed to be delegated to the department concerned unless the minister requests they are handled differently. Step 3 in the flow chart is the point where the recruitment process would normally be discussed and agreed with the responsible minister.

Departments should give their ministers periodic briefings of the overall upcoming board vacancies, covering all the entities within the minister’s portfolios. This should include the objectives and functions of each entity, current board membership, fees, and allowances, which members’ terms are expiring, whether they’re eligible for reappointment, and suggestions for revised skill sets or succession planning for the board in general and the chair in particular.