The ongoing governance development for our Regional Sporting Organisations (RSOs) through the support and knowledge gained from the Northland Sport Governance Forums and workshops continues to produce positive outcomes. This has been highlighted by the Northland Cricket Association Board who recently called a Special General Meeting to pass a resolution to replace its existing Constitution.

The most critical change to its Constitution was the way Northland Cricket now appoints its Directors.

Clubs and other members who are entitled to vote will no longer elect Directors.  Instead Directors will be appointed by an appointments panel made up of three people.  Sport Northland, the Cobham Oval Trust and the Northland Cricket Association will each appoint one person to the appointments panel.

Clubs will be able to nominate Directors and expressions of interest will be sought by public advertisement.  The nominees and those who applied through public advertisement will be interviewed by the appointments panel.  The appointments panel will appoint two Directors to the Board.

Prior to the call for nominations for Director positions, the General Manager will review the skill mix of the Board, excluding those Directors whose term is concluding.  This will include the completion of a skill/gap experience analysis.  The appointments panel will receive this analysis which helps them identify the skills and competencies which are required to compliment those non-retiring Directors for a balanced, diverse and well-functioning Board.

Why the change?  It was felt that the existing method of electing Directors is vulnerable to club parochialism and had a short-term focus. Added to this, clubs did not necessarily vote in Directors with the skills that were missing on the Board in mind. “An independently appointed Board will bring impartiality, people who want to be there and fill those areas of expertise the Board is lacking.  The changes made are also in line with current best practice” says Vaughan Syers, NCA Chairperson.

The other big change is that only two Directors will be appointed annually rather than election of six on an annual basis as was the case.  A Director once appointed, will serve three years on the Board.

This rotation of Directors will help reduce entrenchment, encourage new leadership, and assist with including new talent, whether that be by way of experience, age, gender or ethnicity. 

The appointments panel for this coming AGM comprises:

• Andrew Golightly (appointed by the Cobham Oval Trust)
• Vicki Allen (appointed by the NCA Board of Directors)
• Nigel Brereton (appointed by Sport Northland)

NCA’s Chairman Vaughan Syers, along with Derek Slater (Junior Chairperson and Senior board representative) and Stephen Cunis (General Manager) have led these positive changes for the organisation, along with taking up the opportunity to utilise the Northland Sport Governance centralised database in search for potential new board members.

It is great to see the ongoing development in the regional sport system, with knowledge and insights around good governance continuing to be adopted by our Regional Sports Organisations in Te Tai Tokerau.