Board appointment complaints policy

This policy sets out the framework for making complaints about members of MBIE’s Board Appointments and Governance team or the board appointment processes employed by the team.

Roles and responsibilities

MBIE’s Board Appointments and Governance team manages the process for board appointments, but decisions on each appointment are made by the responsible Minister.

All MBIE employees, contractors and consultants must meet the standards of behaviour set out in the:

Under this policy, a complaint may be made about the:

  • actions of a member of the Board Appointments and Governance team, or
  • board appointment processes employed by the team.

Complaints cannot be made about matters that are outside the team’s control, such as a Minister’s decision to shortlist or appoint a person to a board role.

How to make a complaint

Complaints should be emailed to the Board Appointments and Governance team: boardappointments@mbie.govt.nz  

Principles for managing complaints

Complaints will be managed in accordance with the following principles:

  • The complaint will be dealt with in a fair, respectful, and impartial manner.
  • Timely responses will be provided to the complainant.
  • The complaint will be resolved in a timely manner.
  • If the complaint is already being considered by the Ombudsman or a Minister’s office, or if another official process is underway on the same matter, that must be concluded first.

Additional options for complainants

If a complainant does not accept that their complaint has been responded to, or resolved to their satisfaction, the complainant may consider contacting the:

  • Ombudsman, or
  • Office of the Privacy Commissioner, if relevant. 

Contact the Ombudsman(external link) — New Zealand Government

Making a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner(external link) — Office of the Privacy Commission

When the complaint relates to an allegation of discrimination, the complainant may consider contacting the Human Rights Commission.

Making a complaint(external link) — Human Rights Commission