Improved governance for NZRU Board following change to Constitution
-Zonal restrictions to be removed
-Five Board Members to be elected from all Provincial Unions
-Three independent Board Members to be appointed
>From next year vacancies for elected positions on the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) Board can be filled from any Provincial Union, rather than nominees having to reside in particular zones.
Members voted for the change to the NZRU constitution at a Special General Meeting in Auckland this morning.
“We pride ourselves on delivering winning teams so this step mirrors our commitment to high performance at every level of rugby, on and off the field,” said NZRU Chairman Brent Impey.
Currently, the nine member NZRU Board consists of two elected Board Members representing each of the North, Central and South Zones, plus two independent Board Members and an elected Maori representative.
In future, any elected Board vacancy will be contested by candidates who can be nominated by any Provincial Union in New Zealand, without restrictions on where they reside. The Appointments and Remuneration Committee (ARC) will recommend two candidates per vacancy, with those candidates to be voted on at the NZRU AGM.
An additional independent Board Member (to be known in future as an “Appointed Board Member”) will then be appointed by the ARC.
“For an organisation of our size and complexity, these changes represent a significant improvement in our governance structures, without unduly diluting the voice of Provincial Unions,” said Impey.
In recommending candidates the ARC will have to have regard to the geographic balance on the Board.
“As well as being a rugby administrator, we are a big business making significant and complex decisions that affect the sustainability of the game. It’s vital that we have a Board that is equipped with the right blend of skills to make the best decisions for the long term future of the game.
“By removing the zonal restrictions we improve the range of skilled and experienced people that Provincial Unions can select from in the future when filling the elected positions.
“In addition, an independent Board Member will be appointed each year. This will allow us to more readily supplement the skills and experience possessed by the elected Board Members, and deal with any perceived skill shortages around the Board table.”
The changes take effect next year, when two existing zonal representatives are due to retire by rotation. Under the changes, NZRU members will elect one replacement at the AGM, and a third independent Board Member will be appointed.
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