When the Ministry is invited to nominate people for a particular board, we will search the database and match the requirements of the position with the skills and experience of people registered with us.  We then forward the names of appropriate candidates to the department or organisation concerned.

The following steps explain the nomination process:

1 - The call for nominations

An appointing department, or ‘agency’, such as the Ministry of Health or the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, calls for nominations to a specific position on an agency or board for which it is responsible.  The request sets out the skills and knowledge required and what the position will involve.

2 - The database search

We search our nominations database to identify Pacific people who fit the criteria specified by the appointing agency.

3 - Contacting nominees

We contact the people we have identified to discuss the nomination and to confirm their interest.

4 - Sending the list to appointing agencies

With permission from the nominees, we send their names (and curriculum vitae) on a list of suitable candidates to the appointing agency.

(The Ministry has no further role in the appointments process once we have sent in our nominations.  Given the large number of nominating agencies involved, the appointing agencies do not usually provide updates on progress with the appointment. )

5 - Assessment

The appointing agency (the Ministry or department) assesses nominations received from a range of sources, and considers all nominees on their merits. The agency then recommends to its Minister who should be appointed.

(The appointment process varies from agency to agency at this stage.  Some agencies contact short-listed nominees, others do not.  Some agencies interview nominees, others do not.)

6 - Appointment decided

The appointing agency’s Minister makes the final decision on the appointment. Some agencies contact nominees to inform them of their Minister’s decision but often you may not hear of the decision until it is publicly announced.

Note: It is important to note that nominations for appointment are highly competitive and there is no guarantee that you will be appointed to a board.  Equally, expressing an interest in board positions does not commit you to accepting an appointment if it is offered to you.

How can I find out more?

You can find further information about governance of the boards of central government agencies or community organisations, and about the nominations process, on the following pages: