NZ Rugby makes changes to promote diversity

New Zealand Rugby’s affiliate bodies have voted 84-8 in favour of constitutional changes which will promote diversity.

The changes will see a new makeup of the New Zealand Rugby board, with the number of appointed members rising from three to six.

Three members of the board will be appointed by the Appointments and Remuneration Committee, with a view towards appointing people with a more diverse set of skills in life and business.

At least one woman will be part of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee from now on.

New Zealand Rugby held a special general meeting. Leading the agenda was a proposed amendment to the New Zealand Rugby Union constitution, altering the way in which the board is selected.

Of the nine members on the board, six were directly elected by affiliate unions.

Under the changes voted for on Tuesday, only three spots will be voted for by the affiliate unions, with six to be appointed.

New Zealand Rugby chairman Brent Impey said the changes were sparked by a horrid 2016 for the union, which had to deal with multiple off field issues.

Chief among them was the stripper scandal which embroiled the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise, as the game’s respect for women came under scrutiny.

A recent governance review highlighted issues with New Zealand Rugby’s diversity.

‘‘It gives an opportunity for the New Zealand Rugby board... to get with the times,’’ Impey said.

‘‘We’re looking to do two things. One, as New Zealand Rugby faces its challenges and opportunities going forward, we need to get more skills on our board, a wider skill set.

‘‘It also enables us to achieve some of our diversity goals. Whether that be gender, ethnicity, age, whatever, so that the board better represents who is playing the game, who our fans are, the rugby community if you like.’’

The vote didn’t pass smoothly as it could have.

Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Football Union chairman John Mowbray objected to the vote being cast verbally or by roll, instead asking for there to be a secret ballot.

Three other Heartland unions, King Country, South Canterbury as and Buller, as well as Mitre 10 Cup union Hawkes Bay, joined Mowbray in asking to cast votes via secret ballot.

Impey indicated that the eight votes against the amendment came from four Heartland rugby unions, and sought to alleviate any fears those unions had following the vote.

The suggestion was some Heartland unions saw the changes as a ‘‘threat’’, Impey said, ‘‘but that could not be further from the truth’’.