Vote Crown Research Institutes

Crown company monitoring advice to the Minister for Crown Research Institutes and Minister of Research, Science and Technology

Significant work completed during the year

• Completed the 2006/07 strategic planning round, which includes analysing and reporting on each company’s draft SCI and strategic plan so that shareholding Ministers are able to provide informed feedback to boards. The 2007/08 strategic planning round was also substantially completed by 30 June 2007.
• Completed Crown Company Quarterly Performance reports for the June, September, December and March quarters, which were presented to Cabinet.
• Contributed to the 2007 Operating Framework for CRIs.
• Managed a number of company issues, and the provision of advice to Ministers on them, including:
  • the acquisition and disposal of various assets by a number of CRIs
  • shareholder consent for AgResearch’s purchase of Canesis Network Ltd
  • progress on the facilitator’s review of the organisational and purchase arrangements supporting New Zealand’s weather, climate and environmental forecasting functions provided by MetService and NIWA
  • CRI intellectual property reward share policies
  • CRI submissions to the Waitangi Tribunal on the Wai 262 claim
  • input into guidelines for CRI reporting on their good employer practices
  • the rationale for a return on equity requirement for CRIs
  • review of CRI reporting on entitlement to and use of CRI Capability Fund monies
  • the Crown’s offer to AgResearch for reimbursement of costs to remediate contamination at Wallaceville
  • extension of the Venture Investment Fund programme mandate.
• Continued to take a “lead agency” role in the establishment of an international best-practice sharing network of organisations with a similar role to that of CCMAU, including the completion of the website.
• Continued to participate actively in the wider governance officials’ forum.
• Hosted two core training programmes for recently appointed or aspiring directors.
• Hosted three networking functions and three professional director updates for existing Crown directors.
• Hosted a one-day induction seminar for new CRI directors.
• Managed expressions of interest from candidates wishing to be considered for Crown governance roles.
• Continued to provide assistance to other agencies regarding nominations.
• Provided advice to Ministers on a number of appointments and governance issues, including:
  • the 2007/08 CRI appointment round
  • the appointment of a new Chair and Deputy Chair for NZVIF
  • the 2006/07 directors’ fees for the CRIs, NZVIF and REANNZ
  • generic advice to boards on the mechanisms for paying directors’ fees and associated tax implications.