29 April 2025
John Luke
[FYI request #30515 email]
Dear Mr Luke
I refer to your request of 24 March 2025, which has been considered under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA). You referred to appointments to the Integrity Sport and Recreation
Commission (the Commission) and requested:
May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you have call for
public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website. Also, how many applications you have
received from the public and how many you have received from other nominating
agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women etc for your role. How many you have
shortlisted and how many you have interviewed in this recruitment round. May I also
seek a copy of the ad went out to public and the appointment letter sent to the appointee,
feel free to redact any personal information.
Background Information
Appointments to the Commission are made in accordance with section 11 of the Integrity Sport
and Recreation Act 2023 and provisions of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
The Commission currently has eight members. Nine members were appointed to the board
by the previous Minister for Sport and Recreation, Hon Chris Bishop, in May 2024. One
member, Keven Mealamu, resigned from the board in early 2025 due to his appointment to
the board of New Zealand Rugby Union Inc.
Appointments to the board were made in two tranches. The first four appointments were those
members that were already serving on the Establishment Board, a Ministerial advisory group
that oversaw the establishment of the Commission. These appointments were Don Mackinnon
(Chair), Tim Castle, Adine Wilson and Traci Houpapa. Five additional appointments were
made in the second tranche.
How were public nominations called, and on what platforms?
A public call for nominations is not required under the legislation noted above and was not
conducted.
How many applications have been received from the public?
No nominations were received directly from the public. However, for the second tranche of
appointments nominations were received from the Establishment Board, from caucus
colleagues, and by searching the Ministry for Culture and Heritage register of nominations
(which includes members of the public who have expressed interest in being Crown board
members).
How many applications have been received from other nominating agencies?
For the second tranche of appointments, a long list of 13 candidates was provided to the
previous Minister covering the range of experience and capabilities that are required for the
board. Of those candidates five were from the Ministry’s database, three were from caucus
nominations, and the rest were nominations from the Establishment Board.
How many applicants have been shortlisted?
Of those 13 candidates, the previous Minister indicated four candidates to interview. One of
the candidates was unavailable for appointment. A further name was provided to the Minister
for a candidate that had similar experience, and the Minister indicated that candidate should
progress to interview.
How many applicants have been interviewed?
Ministry officials interviewed each of the identified four candidates prior to their appointment.
The fifth appointee, Keven Mealamu, was not interviewed because he was already serving on
another Crown entity board at the time.
Advertisement and appointment letters
Copies of the appointment letters for the eight current members are provided, as requested. I
have decided to release these documents, subject to information being withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the privacy of natural persons.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this response.
Information about how to make a complaint is available vi
a www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Hon Mark Mitchell
Minister for Sport and Recreation
