Terms of Reference
Context
One of the government's key priorities for the next decade is to transform New Zealand's economy into a high income, knowledge-based market economy, which is both innovative and creative and provides a unique quality of life to all New Zealanders.
The government has also made sustainability a key cross-cutting priority across all of its priorities and has articulated a vision of New Zealand as the world's first sustainable nation.
The government wishes to work in partnership with business and other stakeholders to advance the goal of a sustainable, growing economy.
The Growth and Innovation Advisory Board (the Board) is a key part of how government and business work together towards this goal.
Objective
The Board exists to provide high level, independent strategic advice to the Prime Minister and senior Ministers on growth and innovation issues.
It is a senior grouping of people in business and related walks of life who are leaders in their respective fields and who have the ability to take a strategic "NZ Inc" perspective on New Zealand’s economic development.
The Board operates in a number of different roles to give effect to the broad purpose outlined above. It acts as a:
- high level strategic advisor, e.g. on the overall shape, direction and priorities of the government's growth strategy and its various sub-themes;
- strategic advisor on particular issues, e.g. how to promote sustainable business;
- catalyst for effecting change, e.g. members using their pulling power to bring disparate interests together to address particular issues; and
- mechanism for integrating perspectives and building consensus on growth and innovation issues.
Board members are expected to draw on their own connections and networks in carrying out the roles described above.
The Board is not expected to focus on detailed policy advice, implementation and monitoring issues.
The Board has no management or executive function.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Prime Minister has delegated responsibility for the management of the Board to the Minister for Economic Development.
The Chair leads the Board and its relationship with the Prime Minister, the responsible Minister, other Ministers, senior officials, business leaders and other prominent stakeholders in the community.
The Chair is responsible for ensuring that the Board has a well-planned and focussed agenda, consistent with the Board's objective, and that the Minister is kept well-informed of the Board’s work. The Chair is also responsible for managing the Board’s external communications.
The Board is supported by a secretariat housed within the Ministry of Economic Development, and by other departments as appropriate.
Details of the role of the chair and secretariat are set out in a memorandum of understanding between the chair and the chief executive of the Ministry of Economic Development.
Operations
Meetings of the full Board occur regularly, approximately six times a year, and are usually attended by officials from relevant agencies at chief executive or deputy secretary level.
The Board may establish such sub-groups as it sees fit to advance its work programme. These may operate formally, with their own meetings and reporting arrangements, or informally, on an ad hoc basis or as virtual networks.
Deliberations of the Board are subject to the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1993, and may also be the subject of Parliamentary Questions.
Appointments
Board appointments are Ministerial appointments, not employment relationships, and may be for periods up to 3 years.
The Board does not have a fixed size or complement. As a general indication, however, it comprises between 15 and 21 members drawn from leaders in related areas of interest, including other relevant government agencies such as New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Tertiary Education Commission and the Foundation for Research Science and Technology.
Board members serve at the pleasure of the Minister. The Minister may ask a Board member to stand down at any time for reasons including, but not limited to, inability to perform the functions of the office, bankruptcy, neglect of duty or misconduct.
Fees and allowances are paid in accordance with established public service guidelines for government-appointed boards and committees.