In February 2014, the NGO Health and Disability Network held five Good Governance workshops around New Zealand. These were attended by more than 150 board members from approx 85 non-profit NGOs.
Prior to the workshops in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, 159 board members completed an online survey created by Dr. Nicola Rowe. This used a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions to review governance practice and potentially problematic areas.
In a reverse of the pattern usually seen in the private sector, non-profit boards scored well on interpersonal issues, but poorly on procedural best practice. Many boards were clearly operating in isolation, with a strong wish for peer exchange.