Cricket community asked for feedback on draft constitution

Feedback is being sought on New Zealand Cricket’s new constitution that has been drafted after input from a wide cross section of the cricketing community.

Draft NZC Constitution 05 April 2013 (PDF)

While the proposed constitution is a new document, it does maintain many of the provisions contained in the current constitution as well as introducing a number of changes regarding the election of Directors says drafting committee chair Don Mackinnon, in the absence of NZC Board Chair Chris Moller who is overseas.

“We had a very positive and constructive meeting in early March with all Major Association Chairmen and CEOs to ensure that we had a full understanding of the views of the MAs before we started this process,” said Mackinnon.

“The MAs had a number of good ideas on improvements that could be made to the Board election process and we’ve incorporated those views into the new constitution.”

The draft constitution was prepared by NZC’s legal advisors Minter Ellison with oversight from the drafting committee of Mackinnon (Chair) - NZC Director and former Auckland Cricket Board Member, Greg Barclay - NZC Director and former Chair of Northern Districts Cricket, Cran Bull - Chair of Canterbury Cricket, Blair Robinson - Chair of Central Districts Cricket, Andrew McRae - Chair of South Canterbury Cricket, Jock Sutherland - former Chair of Nelson Cricket, and Craig Presland - NZC Chief Operating Officer.

Some of the new elements/changes in the draft constitution include:

• A skills matrix for the NZC Board which can be updated to address the rapidly changing environment.
• All Board Directors to be elected with no appointed members. Vacancies will be advertised publicly and anyone can apply.
• All Board candidates to be assessed by the Appointments Panel with the best applicants short listed for interview by the Panel.
• The Appointments Panel to comprise five people – a convenor (nominated by the NZC Board), three MA Chairmen (rotated each year from the six MA Chairmen) and one person nominated by Sport New Zealand.
• Each candidate recommended for election must receive more than 50% of the votes cast at the AGM to be elected.
• Provision to be made for remuneration to be paid to NZC Directors if the Appointments Panel recommends it and it is approved at the AGM.
• Mackinnon said the main reason for adopting this governance model was to ensure NZC had the best people in key roles.

“First and foremost it is designed to attract the best possible candidates by opening nominations to all parties and having a confidential process akin to a job interview with limited scope for politicking once the Appointments Panel has made its recommendations.”

“It is also important to recognise that this is only a draft and NZC invites all interested parties to comment on the proposed constitution,” said Mackinnon.

The deadline for feedback from the MAs and District Associations is 15 May with the aim to convene NZC’s Special General Meeting in July.