Conservation House 
John Luke 
18 – 32 Manners Street, 
Te Aro  
[FYI request #34952 email] 
Wellington 6011 
 
doc.govt.nz 
 
Ref: OIAD-9370 
 
15 July 2026 
 
 
Tēnā koe John 
 
We note your request addressed to the Minister of Conservation and transferred in full to the 
Department of Conservation on 1 July 2026, for response. 
In your request, you stated and asked: 
“I noted, 
Reappointments to the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust Board - 2026-go3453 | 
New Zealand Gazette 
May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you have call for 
public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website. A copy of your ad as well and pay rate. Also, 
how many applications you have received for each of the role 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. 
Also, can I request to view the appointment letter if there is one sent to the  
Professor Philip Hulme, of Canterbury 
Professor Richard McDowell, of Canterbury.  
I am happy for you to remove any relevant personal information. 
Besides meeting fees, do they receive any other benefits, such as expense reimbursement (If 
so, may I request to view your expense reimbursement policy in relation to your board 
member), a laptop, ID card, phone, or similar provisions? ” 
We have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). 
The appointment round you have referenced in your request was conducted between 
5 February 2026 and 6 March 2026.   
Turning to your questions, the Department’s responses are set out below. 
1.  May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you have call for 
public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website. 
The Department undertook a public nomination process for the appointment of two members to 
the Queen Elizabeth the Second Trust Board (the Board), on behalf of the Minister of 
Conservation (the Minister). 
The Department advertised these publicly through five major newspapers, the Department’s 
website and social media accounts, Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry for Pacific Peoples, the Ministry of 
Disabled People, the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, and the Ministry for Women. 

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2.  A copy of your ad as well and pay rate. 
A copy of the advertisement is provided. It is detailed in the table below as Item 1. 
Members currently receive a fee of $11,000 per annum. 
3.  Also, how many applications you have received for each of the role from the public and how 
many you have received from other nominating agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women 
etc for your role. 
Of the twelve candidates who submitted forms, one was nominated by the Royal Society 
Te Apārangi, and one by Ngā Puna Rau o Rangitīkei. 
4.  How many you have shortlisted and how many you have interviewed 
Two candidates were shortlisted and none were interviewed. 
5.  Also, can I request to view the appointment letter if there is one sent to the 
Professor Philip Hulme, of Canterbury  
Professor Richard McDowell, of Canterbury. 
Copies of the draft appointment letters the Department supplied to the Minister on 29 May 2026, 
for Professors Philip Hulme and Richard McDowel  are provided and detailed in the table below 
as Item 2.  
6.  Besides meeting fees, do they receive any other benefits, such as expense reimbursement 
(If so, may I request to view your expense reimbursement policy in relation to your board 
member), a laptop, ID card, phone, or similar provisions? 
Board members may receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while performing their 
duties, in accordance with the Fees and Travelling Al owances Act 1951. Members do not 
receive any benefits additional to this.  
I have decided to release the documents listed in the table below, subject to personal (contact) 
details being withheld in Item 2, under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA – to protect the privacy of 
natural persons, including deceased people. 
Item  Date 
Document description 
Decision 
1 
5 February 2026 
Advertisement for nominations 
Released in full 
2 
29 May 2026 
Appointment letters for QEII Trust Board 
Released in part 
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an 
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the OIA. 
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and attached documents may 
be published on the Department’s website. 
2 
 

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Nāku noa, nā  
 
 
 
Andrew Martin 
Acting Director, Governance and Government Services 
Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai 
3 
 

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