Council Appointments Procedures

These procedures apply to Council members and those eligible for appointment or election to Council.

This document provides further explanation and procedures for
 implementing the Council Appointments Statute 2023 (Statute).

Council Member Skills and Experiences

1. Before a call is made for notices of candidacy or expressions of interest for the appointment of a Council member, the VCRERC will propose a statement of the relevant skills and experiences to be sought from the Council member to be appointed (Statement of Skills and Experiences) for consideration by Council. Once the Statement of Skills and Experiences is approved by Council this shall be published on the University website.

Appointments by Expressions of Interest

Māori member – Interested Parties

2. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) will submit for consideration by the VCRERC, a list of iwi and other Māori individuals or groups who may have an interest in the appointment under section 2(a)(i) of the Statute of one person, being Māori and able to advise Council on issues relevant to Māori (Māori member) before a call is made for expressions of interest for the appointment of a Māori member.

3. Following approval of the list by the VCRERC, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) is to distribute to those listed a copy of the call for expressions of interest for the appointment of a Māori member made under item 4.

Calls for expressions of interest

4. A call for expressions of interest for the appointment under section 2(a) of the Statute of a Māori member, alumnus member or member able to provide skills specified by Council is to be made in the following ways:
(a) on the University website Home page;
(b) for the appointment of an alumnus member, by email to those alumni currently listed on the Alumni Database; and
(c) by any other means of communication as the Registrar may determine.

5. A call for expressions of interest made under item 4 will include notification of:
(a) the nature of the position to be appointed;
(b) the skills and experiences sought; and
(c) the closing date for submissions of expressions of interest (Closing Date), which is to be no less than three weeks after the date of the notification.

Receiving and considering Expressions of Interest

6. Expressions of interest must be no more than 1,000 words and must be submitted before the Closing Date in the form specified by the Registrar.

7. The VCRERC will consider the expressions of interest received and compile a shortlist of candidates having regard to the Statement of Skills and Experiences for the position concerned and the matters in section 2(d) of the Statute. The VCRERC may interview one or more candidates should it wish to do so. If any member of VCRERC is a candidate for appointment as a Council member, that VCRERC member will not be present or participate in any part of the appointments process for the relevant position including the receipt and consideration of expressions of interest.

8. Council is to be provided with the names of all candidates and copies of the expressions of interest of the short-listed candidates.

9. The VCRERC will make recommendations to Council regarding the appointment having regard to the Statement of Skills and Experiences for the position concerned and the matters in section 2(d) of the Statute.

10. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) is to be invited to attend meetings of the VCRERC to assist the VCRERC to perform its responsibilities in items 7 and 9 when the appointment of a Māori member is being considered.

Appointments by Election

11. An election for the appointment of a Council member under section 3(a) of the Statute will be conducted by the Registrar as Returning Officer in accordance with the Statute and the Election Procedures using an appropriate electronic voting system.

The following definitions apply to this document:

Alumnus has the meaning set out in the Definitions section of the Statute.

Candidate means a person who has submitted an expression of interest.

Council refers to the Council, the governing body of the University of Auckland.

Statement of Skills and Experiences has the meaning in item 1.

Statute means the Council Appointments Statute 2023.

University means Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland and includes all subsidiaries.

VCRERC means the Vice-Chancellor’s Review and Executive Remuneration Committee.

Include the following:

• Education and Training Act 2020
• Council Appointments Statute 2023
• Elections Procedures   

Content manager: Registrar
Approved by: Council
Date approved: 12 December 2022
Reviewed date: 11 June 2025
Next Review date: 11 June 2030