45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011
Phone +64 4 495 7200
www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz
15 June 2021
John Luke
[FYI request #15460 email]
Tēnā koe John
Thank you for your email of 16 May 2021 requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), information about the Office of Ethnic Communities’ (the Office) webpage titled “Current board
vacancies”
(www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz/our-programmes/nominations/current-s/). You have
asked:
•
“…how often you updates your link and how many people has reach out to you to seek for
your endorsement since 31 March 2020 to date.
•
The list of state sector boards positions you have advertised on your page since 31 March
2020.
•
How many people you have recommended and to what positions since 31 March 2020.
•
How many have got the positions with your endorsement and to what positions since 31
March 2020.”
The Government wants state sector boards to represent the diversity and demographic make-up of
New Zealand, including its gender, ethnicity, age and geographic location.
We keep a Nominations Database of candidates from ethnic communities with valuable skills and
experience, who have advised us of their interest in serving on state sector boards and committees.
We use our Nominations Database to identify candidates with appropriate skills and experience for
consideration by appointing agencies when roles on state sector boards and committees become
available.
Depending on the appointment process, we will either forward candidate details directly to the
appointing agency seeking nominations, or contact candidates directly to encourage them to apply
for roles.
I have considered your request, and my answers are overleaf.
How often do you update your link?
The page you referred to in your request was last updated on 27 October 2020. We are looking at
ways to increase the Nominations Service’s profile and to bring nominations to the attention of
qualified candidates, in line with the upcoming establishment of the Ministry for Ethnic
Communities. Members of ethnic communities with relevant experience are still encouraged to visit
the Nominations Service pages
at www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz/nominations. However, we do
not intend to advertise roles on our website in the future, and this link has now been removed.
State sector boards with positions we have advertised since 31 March 2020
Please refer to the list below.
• Osteopathic Council of New Zealand
• Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal
• ACC Board
• Health Practitioners Disciplinary
• Northern A Health and Disability Ethnics
Tribunals
Committee (Wellington)
• Northern B Health & Disability Ethnics
• Central Health & Disability Ethnics
Committee (Wellington / Auckland /
Committee (Wellington)
Christchurch)
• Deputy Chief Censor, Office of Film and
• Employment Relations Authority
Literature Classification
• Army Leadership Board
• Osteopathic Council of New Zealand
• Chair, Consumer Advocacy Council
(Wellington)
• Social Workers Complaints and
Disciplinary Tribunal
How many people have sought nomination from the Office since 31 March 2020
As at June 2021, there are 124 candidates in our Nominations Database. While we do not ‘endorse’
people for positions, by registering with our service, we nominate suitably qualified candidates for
positions appropriate to their skills and credentials.
The number of people we have recommended, and the positions they were recommended to,
since 31 March 2020
Since March 2020, we have recommended 39 people for 23 positions. However, this number includes
five positions that were advertised twice in this period. The list of positions is as follows:
• ACC Board
• Sport and Recreation New
• Taumata Arowai Board
Zealand Ihi Aotearoa (x2)
• Airways Corporation of New Zealand
• National Provident Fund
Ltd (x2)
• SSC Investigations Panel
• Asure Quality Ltd (x2)
• Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research NZ Ltd
• Kordia Group Ltd (x2)
Board
• Racing Integrity Board (x2)
• Financial Markets Authority Board
• TAB NZ Board of Directors (x2)
• TAB New Zealand Board of Directors
• National Pacific Radio Trust (x2)
• [Nomination redacted]
• Drug Free Sport NZ (x2)
This list does not include one appointment currently before Cabinet, which I am withholding details of
under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act, to maintain constitutional conventions for the time being protecting
the confidentiality of advice between Ministers and officials.
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The number of people appointed to positions after being nominated by the Office, and the position
they were appointed to, since 31 March 2020.
We only hold information about successful appointments where the agency making the appointment
has advised us of it occurring. In March 2020, we were advised that Sumati Govind was appointed to
the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board. This is the only appointment that we have been notified of in
the time frame specified in your request.
You have the right, under section 28(3) of the Act, to seek an investigation and review of this decision
by the Office of the Ombudsman. The postal address of the Office of the Ombudsman is PO Box
10152, Wel ington. Alternatively, you can phone 0800 802 602 or email
[email address].
Nāku noa, nā
PP Anusha Guler
Executive Director
Office of Ethnic Communities
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