Registrations for the 2018 AGM have now closed.
Vote in the 2018 YHA New Zealand Elections
2018 Elections
The Returning Officer received four nominations from Rose-Anna Feist, Mark Ebrey, Hayley Groves and Gerard Dunne for the two National Board vacancies. Learn about the National Board
An election is therefore required and is being conducted by internet and postal voting. Voter packs, which include information about each candidate, will be sent on Friday 28 September to all members on the YHA electoral roll. Voting will close at 12 noon on Friday 19 October 2018.
No nominations were received for Honorary Vice-President. The Constitution allows for Honorary Vice-President vacancies to be filled by invitation from National Board through until the next AGM.
Voting Regulations
As with other years, the 2018 Elections will be carried out using the Single Transferable Vote system.
Learn more about this system
Go Paperless!
Did you know that a postal vote costs YHA more than three times the cost of an electronic vote? If you have an email address please let us know so that we can use our limited budget wisely.
To update your details, please contact Customer Services: email membership@yha.co.nz or phone 0800 278 299.
Service and Merit Awards
Each year YHA formally recognises those members who have volunteered their time to the organisation by presenting service and merit awards at the AGM. Nominations for these awards may be made by National Board, a Branch Committee, a Members Group, a group of six senior financial members, or the Awards Committee.
Nominations for 2018 closed 3 August. Nominations for 2019 will open in May.
Certificate of Merit
May be awarded to persons (who need not be members who have made a significant voluntary contribution to YHA at a local level.
Distinguished Service Award
May be awarded to Senior Financial Members who have made an exceptional voluntary contribution particularly at a Branch or Member Group level.
Honorary Life Membership
May be awarded to persons (who need not be members) who have made an exceptional voluntary contribution to YHA. This contribution would generally be at a national level, for the benefit of the organisation as a whole, and usually over an extended period of time.
Constitutional and General Notices of Motion
Disputes Resolution
Last year a member-proposed Constitutional Notice of Motion regarding Disputes Resolution was submitted for voting by members. The wording of this Notice of Motion was not supported by the Board and this was conveyed to members in the information accompanying the voting documents. Votes for the resolution did not meet the 66% threshold and it was therefore not carried.
At the time, the Board advised members that a full review of the Constitution will be required once the new Incorporated Societies legislation is finally passed into law, and a Dispute Resolution clause would form part of that review.
The Board has given this further thought and concluded that as there is a desire amongst some members for a more detailed disputes resolution clause to be written into the Constitution, then the Board could assist by proposing a Notice of Motion that it could support. This proposed amendment is therefore a proactive response to the issue raised by a group of members last year.
This wording was drafted by YHA’s legal advisers to align with that proposed in the Incorporated Societies Bill. The Board has reviewed this and approved the Notice of Motion, which will go out for member voting in late September.
Member involvement
The Whangarei Branch also considered two Notices of Motion regarding the AGM quorum and the number of members required to call a Special General Meeting. In discussions with the Branch Committee, it was felt that a better way forward may be to start a conversation about how members can become more actively involved and have their say. Any suggestions or feedback on member involvement is most welcome – please post on the Facebook page or email to national.secretary@yha.co.nz. In addition, AGM attendees will be able to discuss member involvement further as it has been added to the Agenda as an item of General Business.
Constitutional and General Notices of Motion may be received from any Branch Committee, National Board, or a group of eight senior financial members.
Submissions for 2018 closed 3 August. Submissions for 2019 will open in May.
Learn about YHA's Formal Documents
