Board dynamics and tenure analysis across NZ charity boards, based on available officer appointment data.
Scores are indicative and based on publicly available appointment and discharge dates. They may not capture all aspects of board governance.
34,651
55/100
50/100
5.4
8.5
8%
Distribution of governance effectiveness scores across all scored charity boards.
Average score per component across all scored boards. Each component contributes up to 20 points.
Average governance effectiveness by sector. Sectors with fewer than 5 boards may not be representative.
| Sector | Boards | Avg Score | Avg Tenure | Avg Turnover | Avg Board Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | 8,478 | 57 | 7.4 yrs | 10.2% | 5.3 |
| Religion | 6,419 | 55 | 8.4 yrs | 7.8% | 5.2 |
| Health | 5,915 | 59 | 7.3 yrs | 9.4% | 5.7 |
| Arts & Culture | 4,627 | 58 | 8.4 yrs | 9.9% | 5.7 |
| Other | 3,627 | 40 | 11.9 yrs | 1.9% | 5.1 |
| Social Services | 2,670 | 56 | 8.6 yrs | 8.2% | 5.3 |
| Community Development | 1,393 | 50 | 11 yrs | 5.9% | 5.4 |
| Environment | 951 | 56 | 8.1 yrs | 8.2% | 5.5 |
| International Aid | 256 | 50 | 9.9 yrs | 6.8% | 5.3 |
| Animal Welfare | 147 | 54 | 9.7 yrs | 6.9% | 5.5 |
| Advocacy | 113 | 55 | 9.3 yrs | 6.5% | 5.8 |
| Sports & Recreation | 54 | 59 | 8.8 yrs | 10.4% | 6.1 |
| Unknown | 1 | 30 | 17.1 yrs | 0% | 4 |
Highest-scoring boards based on available governance data.
| Charity | Sector | Score | Board Size | Avg Tenure | Turnover | Chair Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth The Second National Trust | Health | 100 — Strong | 7 | 4.2 yrs | 14% | 6.2 yrs | |
| Pest Free Kaipatiki Restoration Society Incorporated | Health | 100 — Strong | 7 | 3.7 yrs | 14% | 3.3 yrs | |
| Maungaharuru-Tangitū Charitable Trust | Religion | 100 — Strong | 8 | 3.3 yrs | 19% | 6.1 yrs | |
| Abbeyfield Motueka Incorporated | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 6 | 5.7 yrs | 25% | 4.2 yrs | |
| Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club Incorporated | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 8 | 2.5 yrs | 25% | 3.2 yrs | |
| Auckland Secondary Schools Heads Association Incorporated | Education | 100 — Strong | 9 | 3.6 yrs | 17% | 5.3 yrs | |
| Wellington Regional Orchestra Foundation Incorporated | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 7 | 4.1 yrs | 14% | 5.3 yrs | |
| Raukawa Charitable Trust | Health | 100 — Strong | 5 | 5.1 yrs | 10% | 5.2 yrs | |
| Oxfam Aotearoa | Environment | 100 — Strong | 7 | 3.3 yrs | 14% | 3.3 yrs | |
| Ngati Kahu Social & Health Services Charitable Trust | Health | 100 — Strong | 5 | 4.3 yrs | 10% | 4.5 yrs | |
| RNZE Charitable Trust | Education | 100 — Strong | 9 | 5.4 yrs | 11% | 3.1 yrs | |
| The Kapiti Citizens Services Trust | Community Development | 100 — Strong | 7 | 3.9 yrs | 14% | 4.8 yrs | |
| Worser Bay Life Saving Club Incorporated | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 8 | 3 yrs | 13% | 4.1 yrs | |
| Holocaust Centre Of New Zealand Incorporated | Education | 100 — Strong | 8 | 2.6 yrs | 13% | 3.1 yrs | |
| The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Foundation | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 7 | 6.8 yrs | 21% | 4.5 yrs | |
| Connections Community Trust | Education | 100 — Strong | 5 | 6.3 yrs | 10% | 3.2 yrs | |
| TAP LAB INCORPORATED | Education | 100 — Strong | 9 | 3.4 yrs | 22% | 5.4 yrs | |
| Special Olympics Greenhithe Charitable Trust | Education | 100 — Strong | 5 | 6.9 yrs | 10% | 6.5 yrs | |
| Oak Development Trust | Religion | 100 — Strong | 5 | 6 yrs | 10% | 5.6 yrs | |
| Te Kopuru Community Trust Incorporated | Health | 100 — Strong | 7 | 5.3 yrs | 14% | 5.6 yrs | |
| The Canterbury Fiji Social Services Trust | Health | 100 — Strong | 5 | 8.6 yrs | 10% | 3.8 yrs | |
| Auckland Music Theatre Incorporated | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 8 | 4.5 yrs | 13% | 5 yrs | |
| Arohanui Strings-Sistema Hutt Valley | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 7 | 5.9 yrs | 21% | 5.3 yrs | |
| Lister Home Incorporated | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 8 | 4.3 yrs | 19% | 6.1 yrs | |
| Community Education Trust Auckland | Education | 100 — Strong | 8 | 3.6 yrs | 19% | 3.3 yrs | |
| Cantemus Community Choir Incorporated | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 7 | 2.5 yrs | 21% | 6.2 yrs | |
| Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (NZ) Incorporated | Education | 100 — Strong | 9 | 3.5 yrs | 22% | 3.4 yrs | |
| Creative Waikato | Education | 100 — Strong | 9 | 2.5 yrs | 17% | 3.4 yrs | |
| Farm Environment Award Trust (BOP Region) | Environment | 100 — Strong | 9 | 5.7 yrs | 11% | 5.1 yrs | |
| Burnside Community Transformation Trust | Education | 100 — Strong | 6 | 3.9 yrs | 25% | 6.6 yrs | |
| Voice for Life Bay of Plenty Charitable Trust | Health | 100 — Strong | 6 | 9.2 yrs | 25% | 4.8 yrs | |
| Perinatal Mental Health New Zealand | Health | 100 — Strong | 9 | 5 yrs | 11% | 5.4 yrs | |
| The Widowed, Separated and Divorced Support Group Kapiti Incorporated | Religion | 100 — Strong | 7 | 4.7 yrs | 14% | 4.1 yrs | |
| Birch Lane Dental Limited | Health | 100 — Strong | 6 | 5.7 yrs | 17% | 6.3 yrs | |
| North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust (The PumpHouse Theatre) | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 8 | 3.9 yrs | 25% | 4 yrs | |
| TOA Pacific Incorporated | Health | 100 — Strong | 5 | 4.3 yrs | 10% | 4.3 yrs | |
| Ngati Apa Ki Te Ra To Charitable Trust | Education | 100 — Strong | 6 | 3.1 yrs | 17% | 3 yrs | |
| Every Nation Ministries | Education | 100 — Strong | 5 | 5.2 yrs | 10% | 5.4 yrs | |
| Otaki Waka Hoe Charitable Trust | Health | 100 — Strong | 8 | 4.8 yrs | 19% | 3 yrs | |
| Rotary Club Of Downtown Auckland Inc. Charitable Trust | Health | 100 — Strong | 6 | 4.1 yrs | 17% | 4.6 yrs | |
| Muriwai Environmental Action Community Trust | Education | 100 — Strong | 7 | 6.2 yrs | 14% | 3 yrs | |
| Rosetown Lions Club Of Te Awamutu Charitable Trust | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 5 | 4.1 yrs | 10% | 4.2 yrs | |
| Alzheimer's Society Tauranga Incorporated | Education | 100 — Strong | 6 | 3.1 yrs | 25% | 6 yrs | |
| Matawai Memorial Hall Association Incorporated | Education | 100 — Strong | 7 | 7.8 yrs | 21% | 5.5 yrs | |
| Devonport Methodist Childcare Centre Trust | Religion | 100 — Strong | 7 | 3.3 yrs | 14% | 6.9 yrs | |
| Ako Mātātupu Teach First NZ Trust | Education | 100 — Strong | 6 | 4.2 yrs | 17% | 3.6 yrs | |
| Wildlife.ai Trust | Education | 100 — Strong | 6 | 5 yrs | 17% | 7 yrs | |
| Kilmarnock Enterprises Limited | Education | 100 — Strong | 7 | 3.7 yrs | 21% | 6.1 yrs | |
| The Troopers Memorial Corner Charitable Trust | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 7 | 4.6 yrs | 14% | 3.8 yrs | |
| START Trust Board | Health | 100 — Strong | 7 | 5.4 yrs | 14% | 5.8 yrs |
The Governance Effectiveness Score is a composite indicator (0–100) derived from five equally weighted components, each scored out of 20. It is based on publicly available officer appointment and discharge dates from the Charities Services register. Charities must have at least 3 current officers to be scored.
Ideal range: 5–9 trustees (20 pts). 3–4 or 10–12 (15 pts). Fewer than 3 (5 pts) or 13+ (10 pts). Based on NZ governance best practice guidance.
Rewards a mix of new (<2 yr), mid-tenure (2–6 yr), and experienced (6+ yr) trustees. Bonuses for average tenure in the 3–7 year range and no member exceeding 9 years. Deductions if all members are in the same tenure band.
Healthy annual turnover of 10–25% scores highest (20 pts). 0% turnover (stagnant) or >50% (unstable) both score 5 pts. Turnover is annualized from departures in the past 2 years.
Chair tenure of 3–7 years scores highest (20 pts). 1–3 years (15 pts). Over 10 years may indicate need for succession planning (10 pts). No identifiable chair scores 5 pts.
Rewards boards with a mix of recent and long-tenured members, the presence of a deputy/vice chair, recent appointments in the past 2 years, and a pipeline of experienced former trustees (served 3+ years).
This score is an analytical tool based on available data and should not be interpreted as a definitive assessment of governance quality. Many important governance factors (meeting attendance, strategic oversight, stakeholder engagement) are not captured in public appointment records.
Data sourced from Charities Services register officer appointment and discharge records. Our datasets may not be complete. Automated analysis can produce errors. If you believe any data on this page is incorrect, please contact us at hello@charitydata.co.nz. For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.
Data as at 1 Oct 2026 · refreshed weekly from the Charities Register data we hold