Health and Safety Board Member

COULD YOU HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE?

Neighbourhood Support Christchurch Area brings neighbours together to build connected, safe and resilient communities. We are looking for a new Board member to lead our governance of health, safety and wellbeing.

This is a volunteer governance role, not a hands-on one. You will not be writing risk assessments or investigating incidents - our Manager and staff do that. Your job is to make sure the Board is asking the right questions, receiving the right information, and taking its responsibilities seriously.

WHY IT MATTERS

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, board members are generally treated as "officers", with a personal duty to exercise due diligence to ensure the organisation meets its health and safety obligations. That duty already sits with every one of our Board members. This role helps the whole Board understand and discharge it well - for our staff, our volunteers, and the people we serve.

WHAT YOU WOULD DO

• Give the Board assurance that health and safety is being well managed across our activities, premises and people

• Review our health and safety policies and procedures, and make sure they stay current and fit for purpose

• Seek assurance from the Manager that risk assessments are in place and agreed controls are being followed

• Make sure the Board receives regular, meaningful health and safety reporting, and help the Board interpret what it is telling us

• Seek assurance that incidents and near-misses are recorded and investigated, and that the Board hears about serious events and the lessons arising

• Seek assurance that adequate training, equipment and resources are in place to keep people safe, and support the Board in prioritising these when resourcing decisions are made

• Support our compliance with relevant legislation and guidance from WorkSafe New Zealand

• Keep across changes in legislation and good practice, and advise the Board accordingly

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

No one candidate will tick every box. We are interested in people who bring:

• Experience or knowledge of health and safety management - a formal qualification is welcome but not required
• An understanding of health and safety governance, and of the due diligence duties that fall on officers
• Familiarity with the not-for-profit and volunteer sector
• The ability to interpret policy and legislation, and explain risk in plain terms
• The confidence to ask good questions and seek assurance, rather than take on operational work
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• The ability to read and contribute to Board reports
• Integrity, honesty, and a commitment to our kaupapa

We welcome expressions of interest from people of all backgrounds, and particularly from those who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve across Otautahi and Banks Peninsula.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US

• A full induction and handover

• Access to our health and safety policies, templates and tools

• Support from fellow Board members, our Manager, and external advisors as needed

TIME COMMITMENT

• Attendance at regular Board meetings
• Approximately 4 hours a month for health and safety matters
• Occasional availability for policy reviews, incident follow-up and compliance reporting
• Two-year term

This is an unpaid, voluntary governance role.

INTERESTED?

We would love to hear from you. Send a short note about your relevant experience, along with your CV, to Luke, Board Chair, at [email protected] by Friday 7 August 2026.

Happy to have an informal chat first? Get in touch at the same address and we will arrange a time.

What happens next: we will meet with shortlisted candidates in late August, with the appointment confirmed at our AGM in September.