Governance
Good governance is critical to building strong organisations and delivering quality opportunities for participants across our region. Success starts at the top, and we know that most people in governance roles across our region are volunteers.
People volunteer to do good work. The resources on this page are designed to help your board do exactly that and ensure that members get enjoyment and satisfaction from their efforts and the time they give generously.
On this page you will find:
- Guides, templates and examples
- Online Governance 101 training
- Video toolkit for board chairs
- Board assessment and evaluation
- Nine steps to effective governance
Are you looking to gain governance experience? Get in touch now and register your interest in receiving additions guidance for aspiring directors.
For further guidance on governance development in your organisation, please email our Community Development Team at info@nukuora.org.nz
Guides, templates, and examples
Nuku Ora acknowledges that the majority of sport and recreation organisations have no or very few paid staff. Therefore, many boards are wearing many hats at once.
These short guides from Sport NZ explain that in any setting there is a distinct governance function to be performed and that is separate from your contribution as a volunteer helping with day-to-day matters.
Introduction
Introduction and Terminology | guide
What is this thing called Governance? | guide
The role of the Board | guide
What is policy? | guide | Board Charter and policies template
Cultural Understanding | guide
Diversity and Inclusion | guide | Board gender diversity
Foundation documents
Strategic Plan | guide | template | example
Business Plan | guide | template
The Constitution/Trust Deed| guide | Constitution template | Trust Deed template
Preparing a Budget | guide | template
People
Recruitment | guide | overview
Role Descriptions | guide | President | Secretary | Treasurer | Health and Safety Coordinator
Skills Matrix | guide | template
Induction Programme | guide | example
Inside the Boardroom
Insights-driven decision making | guide | tool
Making Meetings Count | guide
The Minutes | guide | template | further info
The Action Register | guide | template
The Annual Workplan | guide | template
Risk Management and Register | guide | template
Integrity and Accountability
Financial Accounts and Reporting | guide
Conflicts of Interest | guide | register template | discloser template
Evaluating Meetings | guide | template
Legal Compliance | guide
Stakeholders | guide
Online Governance 101 training
A new introduction to governance course is now available on SportTutor. This course is entirely online and should take 2-3 hours to complete. The course covers six modules:
- What's my job? The role of the director
- What's our job? The strategic role of the board
- Who does the job? Recruiting and retaining the best people
- Let's meet. Inside the boardroom
- Who do we work for? Accountability, ethics and integrity
- What's next? Actions and further resource
The modules are relevant to the wider not-for-profit sector as they are broadly generic with limited sport specificity. Find out more here or enrol in the course now.
Video toolkit for board chairs
A series of four videos, created by a group of organisations and community leaders to create resources to support people in board roles in community organisations.
The content for these videos was created with the input of more than 30 experienced board chairs, based on their experiences about what they wished they knew when they got their first chair role.
The videos can be accessed here:
- Back to Basics
This first video is about getting back to basics. They key things you need to know to get started as Chair – what the role is all about and how to chair a great meeting. - Board Dynamics
This second video is about the dynamics around the board table and your role as Chair about ensuring the board gets on and gets working. - Getting Strategic
This third video is all about your role in helping your board be strategic and develop a great strategy. - Focus on Process
This fourth and final video is all about your role leading risk, compliance and other good board processes.
For more information about the National Action Plan for Community Governance, go to the Centre for Social Impact website.
Board assessment and evaluation
Sport New Zealand, in association with the Executive Coaching Centre (ECC), has developed an Online Governance Evaluation System (OGES) to provide boards with a comprehensive picture of governance effectiveness.
The assessment is aligned to the governance framework for the sport and recreation sector in New Zealand, and boards can work towards the achievement of the governance mark through the assessment.
The assessment includes six modules:
- Whole-of-board evaluation– to assess the board's processes, outputs and behaviours as a team.
- Chair evaluation to assess the chair's skills, performance and opportunities for development in the role.
- Individual director evaluation to assess the director’s skills, performance and opportunities for development.
- Senior team’s view of the board– to ensure the board and the executive team have a shared view of roles and expectations.
- Nine Quick Questions – simple “are we on track?” test.
- Custom question set – ability to create your own group of questions.
Find out more and start your assessment now
Nine steps to effective governance
A report and supporting materials designed to help sport and not-for-profit organisations improve governance structures. The steps include:
- Get the right people on board
- Define and agree the board's role
- Employ and support a chief executive
- Provide strategic leadership
- Make board meetings count
- Stay on top of the governance role
- Develop the workplan
- Regularly review the board's performance
- Provide purposeful director induction
Aspiring Directors
Are you looking to gain governance experience? We can help provide some guidance.
