Guides and resources

Accelerating AI – Leading with confidence

Download the 2025 Governing AI Forum reader.

Cyber risk: a practical guide 2025

Cybersecurity is not just an IT issue, it is a strategic one. The 2025 edition will help you lead on cybersecurity around the board table. 

• Cyber security
• Digital

Food safety governance guide

This guide, developed by New Zealand Food Safety, helps you to understand your responsibilities in relation to food safety.

• Health and safety

Board Evaluation – A quick guide

A five-step quick guide to help you consider the key aspects of a board evaluation to ensure it delivers real value.

• Board evaluation

Climate forum reader

This reader presents articles and resources selected to help directors thrive in a climate-changed future. 

• Climate change
• Leadership

Guides for Faith-based Boards

View our essential guides for faith-based boards.

• Not for profits

Governing AI

Resources to help boards understand and apply AI technology effectively.

• AI
• Cyber security
• Digital

Health and Safety Governance: A Good Practice Guide

A guide to improving your organisation's health and safety.

• Compliance
• Health and safety

Director insights: Starting the climate journey

Begin your climate governance journey with actionable insights from directors' experiences and innovative strategies.

• Climate change

NACD resources on AI and Board Governance

Equipping directors with practical AI governance resources for informed decision-making.

• AI

Putting AI to work for better board management

For today’s boards, the ability to make sound, strategic decisions have never been more complex or more critical. Directors must be able…

Cybersecurity resources for boards

The reliance on online technology since 2020 has increased the risk of data privacy breaches, fraud and cyber attacks.

• Cyber security
• Privacy

Interests register and declaration of conflicts

IoD templates for directors to help manage conflict of interests.

• Conflict of interests
• Transparency

Mastering the art of managing conflict of interests

Recent cases show the pitfalls of disclosing and managing conflict of interests. Avoid unnecessary drama with IoD guidance for directors.

• Conflict of interests

Cyber incident response executive checklist

Includes checklists for boards and management. 

• Crisis management
• Cyber security
• Risk oversight

Hautū

Start your journey into te ao Māori with our new app.

• Te Ao Māori

Digital transformation quick guide

GNDI quick guide to help directors lead successful digital transformation.

Board appointment checklist

Self-assess your suitability for a board role.

• Board evaluation
• Due diligence

Conflicts of interest practice guide

This guide helps directors manage conflicts of interest in the boardroom and model good practice.

• Conflict of interests

Climate risk - key resources for boards

Boards must respond to climate-related issues to ensure the sustainability of their organisations.

• Climate change
• Reporting
• Risk oversight

D&O checklist

Assess the effectiveness of your D&O insurance cover.

• Insurance
• Liability

ABC of D&O insurance

Understand D&O policy structures.

• Insurance
• Liability

Chairing the board - video resource for community organisations

Video series designed to help leaders of community organisations step up to the role of chair. 

• Board dynamics
• Chairing
• Compliance

Forecasting the future board

Boards have a critical role in leading sustainable success for business and society – but they are under pressure.

• Board-management relationship
• Digital
• Purpose

Co-operatives in New Zealand

Co-operatives are a major part of New Zealand’s economy. We provide an overview of the sector and governance values and principles.

• Board composition
• Director duties

Audit quality – a director’s guide

The FMA's 2020 guide sets out how directors can contribute to an audit, as well as what they can expect from the FMA and auditors.

• Audit
• Compliance
• Reporting

Takeovers Code quick guide

This guide helps directors meet their obligations under the Takeovers Code.

• Director duties

The new Privacy Act - key resources for directors

The Act comes into force from December 2020. Is your board and management team ready for the changes in compliance?

• Privacy

Global resources for not-for-profits

We’ve compiled a list of key global resources that are relevant to NFP board members in New Zealand.

• Director remuneration
• Not for profits

Global resources for members

Key recent reports and resources from member organisations that will also be of interest to board members in New Zealand.

• Cyber security
• ESG
• Future-proofing

The board's role in a crisis

Findings from interviews with chairs, board members and chief executives who have experienced major crises over the last 10 years.

• Crisis management
• Decision making
• Leadership

Solvency test checklist for directors

IoD checklist for directors which sets out considerations for assessing solvency.

• Liability

Governance resources for SMEs

The IoD, working with business.govt.nz and the Companies Office, has produced a new suite of governance resources for directors of SMEs.

• SME

Develop your director skills

The IoD offers many ways to enhance your director skills. With comprehensive resources, formal training, networking opportunities and more.

Board evaluation tips

Regular evaluation of board performance is governance best practice. These 10 tips help you get the most from your board evaluation

• Board evaluation

Reporting cybersecurity to boards

This guide helps management improve reporting to the board on cybersecurity.

• Cyber security
• Digital
• Risk oversight

Top ten tips for better board papers

The impact of board papers can have a strong influence on the efficiency and effectiveness of the board, read for guidance for board papers.

• Board meetings
• Decision making

The essentials of being a director, Ngā mea Waiwai o te Tūranga Whakataka

This guide is a quick reference and overview of the main director responsibilities.

• Director duties
• Due diligence
• Te Ao Māori

Sample letter of appointment

Sample letters of appointment for your board.

• Talent

Risk management

A sample risk matrix for boards which can be used to assess the likelihood of risks and their consequences.

• Risk oversight