EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST – Independent Chair of the Finance, Audit, risk and Emergency Committee

Published: 4 December 2025

Te whakapakari tahi i tō tātau Taiao – Enhancing our environment together.

Our vision is a healthy environment and a resilient and prosperous community.

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified individuals to serve as the Independent Chair of the Finance, Audit, Risk and Emergency Committee. This is an important voting governance role that provides leadership, promotes high-quality decision making, and ensures effective oversight of the Committee’s statutory and strategic responsibilities in accordance with the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

The appointment is for the electoral term of (or until the disestablishment of the committee, if earlier) with the option of reappointment.

The role requires in-person attendance at 4 meetings per year, scheduled quarterly (each approximately 6 hours), plus an estimated 6 hours of preparation per meeting.

Key responsibilities include:

• leading meetings in accordance with Standing Orders and the Local Government Act 2002

• ensuring effective governance practice, high-quality information flows, and robust decision-making

• providing independent oversight, particularly in areas requiring technical or specialist judgement

• working constructively with elected members, and senior management

• setting meeting agendas with the Chief Executive and Group Manager Corporate Services

• ensuring the Committee fulfils its purpose and statutory responsibilities, and

• maintaining impartiality and upholding the highest standards of integrity.

About the Committee

The Finance, Audit, Risk, and Emergency Committee is responsible for governance oversight and monitoring of:

• Council’s financial reporting and asset controls

• internal and external audit functions, risk management systems, and assurance processes

• funding and financial policies to minimise exposure to risk

• internal delivery of emergency management, business continuance planning, and corporate services

• compliance with laws, regulations, standards, and best practice; and

• litigation and legal risk.

The Committee includes elected members and independent appointees. The Independent Chair plays a central role in maintaining objectivity, fostering constructive debate, and ensuring compliance with good governance practices.

For more information, please review the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

Expressions of Interest are invited from candidates who can demonstrate:

• significant governance experience, preferably as a Chair

• proven independence and sound judgement in complex organisational settings

• understanding of local government legislation and governance practice (LGA 2002, LGOIMA, Public Finance/oversight principles, etc.), or willingness to rapidly develop this

• professional expertise relevant to the Committee’s scope (e.g., risk, audit, finance, assurance, emergency management, business continuance planning)

• high standards of ethical conduct and commitment to public sector values

• strong communication and relationship-management skills, and

• ability to work effectively with Māori partners and respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate independence from Council operations and elected members and must meet the Council’s conflict of interest requirements. Appointments are subject to due diligence, including reference checks.

Applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand.

What we offer | Nga huanga mōu:

Remuneration will be negotiated based on the relevant skills and experience of the successful candidate. 

How to apply | I pēhea ki te whakauru:

Applications close 3 January 2026, or earlier if the right candidate is appointed. Please note response times may be slower over the New Year period, but we will respond as soon as possible.

Please apply through Seek. It is strongly recommended that alongside your CV, you submit a cover letter outlining your interest in the role, relevant experience and declaration of any actual or potential conflicts of interest.

If you would like any further information regarding the role, please email hr@hbrc.govt.nz

About us | E pā ki a mātou:

At Hawke’s Bay Regional Council our purpose is to work with our community to protect and manage the region’s precious taonga of rivers, lakes, soils, air, coast and biodiversity for health, wellbeing and connectivity. Our organisation is diverse and our work is varied. Our structure comprises of six key business units; Corporate Services, Integrated Catchment Management, Asset Management, Māori Partnerships, Policy & Regulation, and the Executive Advisory Group which also consists of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

We focus on prioritising:

Te kounga o te wai, te haumarutanga me te mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi o te whakamarutanga | Water quality, safety and climate-resilient security.  

Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua | Climate-smart and sustainable land use. 

Kia ora, kia āhei, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki te rerenga rauropi | Healthy, functioning and climate-resilient biodiversity. 

Kia toitū, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki ngā ratonga me ngā hanganga ā-whare | Sustainable and climate-resilient services and infrastructure. 

Back to News Archive