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.
34,662
56/100
52/100
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 | 7,843 | 55 | 8.3 yrs | 9% | 5.2 |
| Religion | 5,703 | 53 | 8.7 yrs | 7.1% | 5.1 |
| Social Services | 4,653 | 57 | 8.8 yrs | 8.4% | 5.3 |
| Community Development | 4,617 | 56 | 8.8 yrs | 8.3% | 5.5 |
| Arts & Culture | 3,812 | 59 | 8.5 yrs | 9.5% | 5.8 |
| Health | 3,156 | 56 | 8.2 yrs | 7.5% | 5.8 |
| Sports & Recreation | 2,557 | 61 | 7.5 yrs | 10.7% | 5.8 |
| Environment | 1,411 | 58 | 8 yrs | 8.2% | 5.6 |
| Other | 367 | 49 | 12.5 yrs | 5.1% | 5.6 |
| Animal Welfare | 365 | 51 | 8.1 yrs | 5.4% | 4.8 |
| International Aid | 142 | 51 | 9 yrs | 5.6% | 4.9 |
| Advocacy | 36 | 49 | 10.9 yrs | 1.9% | 5.6 |
Highest-scoring boards based on available governance data.
| Charity | Sector | Score | Board Size | Avg Tenure | Turnover | Chair Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Community Support Trust | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 5 | 5.2 yrs | 20% | 4.2 yrs | |
| Queen Elizabeth The Second National Trust | Environment | 100 — Strong | 7 | 4.2 yrs | 14% | 6.2 yrs | |
| Pest Free Kaipatiki Restoration Society Incorporated | Environment | 100 — Strong | 7 | 3.7 yrs | 14% | 3.4 yrs | |
| Maungaharuru-Tangitū Charitable Trust | Environment | 100 — Strong | 8 | 3.3 yrs | 19% | 6.1 yrs | |
| Southland Beneficiaries and Community Rights Centre Incorporated | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 8 | 5.5 yrs | 13% | 5.8 yrs | |
| Dunedin Performing Arts Competitions Society Incorporated | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 8 | 5.7 yrs | 13% | 3.9 yrs | |
| Abbeyfield Motueka Incorporated | Community Development | 100 — Strong | 6 | 5.7 yrs | 25% | 4.2 yrs | |
| Momentum Waikato Community Foundation | Community Development | 100 — Strong | 9 | 3.1 yrs | 17% | 3 yrs | |
| Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club Incorporated | Sports & Recreation | 100 — Strong | 8 | 2.5 yrs | 25% | 3.2 yrs | |
| Altrusa International Inc of Invercargill | Community Development | 100 — Strong | 5 | 5.1 yrs | 20% | 6.3 yrs | |
| Auckland Secondary Schools Heads Association Incorporated | Sports & Recreation | 100 — Strong | 9 | 3.6 yrs | 17% | 5.4 yrs | |
| Raukawa Charitable Trust | Health | 100 — Strong | 5 | 5.1 yrs | 10% | 5.2 yrs | |
| Oxfam Aotearoa | International Aid | 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 | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 9 | 5.4 yrs | 11% | 3.1 yrs | |
| The Kapiti Citizens Services Trust | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 7 | 3.9 yrs | 14% | 4.8 yrs | |
| Worser Bay Life Saving Club Incorporated | Sports & Recreation | 100 — Strong | 8 | 3.1 yrs | 13% | 4.2 yrs | |
| New Zealand Muslim Association | Religion | 100 — Strong | 5 | 3.5 yrs | 20% | 3.2 yrs | |
| The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Foundation | Education | 100 — Strong | 7 | 6.8 yrs | 21% | 4.5 yrs | |
| Amputee Society of Top of The South Incorporated | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 9 | 5.4 yrs | 11% | 4.9 yrs | |
| Connections Community Trust | Community Development | 100 — Strong | 5 | 6.3 yrs | 10% | 3.2 yrs | |
| TAP LAB INCORPORATED | Education | 100 — Strong | 9 | 3.4 yrs | 22% | 5.4 yrs | |
| Sonning and Waikato Diocesan Old Girls' Association Incorporated | Education | 100 — Strong | 9 | 4.6 yrs | 17% | 3.4 yrs | |
| Special Olympics Greenhithe Charitable Trust | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 5 | 6.9 yrs | 10% | 6.5 yrs | |
| Oak Development Trust | Community Development | 100 — Strong | 5 | 6 yrs | 10% | 5.6 yrs | |
| Te Kopuru Community Trust Incorporated | Community Development | 100 — Strong | 7 | 5.3 yrs | 14% | 5.6 yrs | |
| Auckland Music Theatre Incorporated | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 8 | 4.5 yrs | 13% | 5 yrs | |
| Arohanui Strings-Sistema Hutt Valley | Education | 100 — Strong | 7 | 5.9 yrs | 21% | 5.3 yrs | |
| Lister Home Incorporated | Health | 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 | |
| Northland Society of Arts Incorporated | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 6 | 4.1 yrs | 17% | 4.4 yrs | |
| Papakura Volunteer Coastguard Incorporated | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 9 | 10 yrs | 17% | 6.7 yrs | |
| Cantemus Community Choir Incorporated | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 7 | 2.5 yrs | 21% | 6.2 yrs | |
| The International Muslim Association of New Zealand Incorporated | Religion | 100 — Strong | 8 | 3.7 yrs | 19% | 6.9 yrs | |
| Lions Club of Omokoroa and Districts Charitable Trust | Education | 100 — Strong | 6 | 6.8 yrs | 17% | 3.5 yrs | |
| Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (NZ) Incorporated | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 9 | 3.6 yrs | 22% | 3.4 yrs | |
| Christian Spiritualist Church Christchurch Incorporated | Religion | 100 — Strong | 8 | 3.1 yrs | 13% | 6.9 yrs | |
| Farm Environment Award Trust (BOP Region) | Environment | 100 — Strong | 9 | 5.7 yrs | 11% | 5.1 yrs | |
| Burnside Community Transformation Trust | Community Development | 100 — Strong | 6 | 3.9 yrs | 25% | 6.6 yrs | |
| Titoki Montessori School Incorporated | Education | 100 — Strong | 9 | 4.5 yrs | 22% | 4.6 yrs | |
| Voice for Life Bay of Plenty Charitable Trust | Education | 100 — Strong | 6 | 9.2 yrs | 25% | 4.9 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 | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 7 | 4.7 yrs | 14% | 4.1 yrs | |
| Focus Paihia Community Charitable Trust | Community Development | 100 — Strong | 7 | 4.5 yrs | 14% | 3.2 yrs | |
| Birch Lane Dental Limited | Health | 100 — Strong | 6 | 5.7 yrs | 17% | 6.3 yrs | |
| John Paul II Centre For Life Trust | Social Services | 100 — Strong | 5 | 5.7 yrs | 10% | 4.2 yrs | |
| Animal Rehab Central Incorporated | Animal Welfare | 100 — Strong | 5 | 4.9 yrs | 20% | 6.6 yrs | |
| North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust (The PumpHouse Theatre) | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 8 | 4 yrs | 25% | 4 yrs | |
| Ngati Apa Ki Te Ra To Charitable Trust | Arts & Culture | 100 — Strong | 6 | 2.6 yrs | 25% | 3 yrs | |
| Every Nation Ministries | Religion | 100 — Strong | 5 | 5.2 yrs | 10% | 5.4 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 5 Oct 2026 · refreshed weekly from the Charities Register data we hold