National Council elections process
Can you help New Zealand Red Cross by volunteering to be a member of our highest governing body?
Can you represent Red Cross people in your area by voting on important decisions, including electing our key leaders?
We're looking for five Red Cross people from each of our seven areas (a total of 35 people) to be members of the 2026/27 National Council, and form area delegations to attend our National Council Annual General Meeting in November.
Opportunities to represent your area as a National Council member take place through an annual, two-step process: step one is nominations, step two is elections.
To learn more about the role and responsibilities of the National Council, please refer to:
Step one: Nominations
Nominations open on Monday, 15 June 2026 and close on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
This opportunity is only open for Red Cross members. New Zealand Red Cross employees and people who are younger than 18 years old can’t be part of National Council.
Before filling out the nomination form, you will need to read the National Council member role description and our candidate guidance.
This guidance covers how to:
- Make sure you are eligible for the role
- Make sure we have either a current official vetting check for you on file, or supply the right details to run a Ministry of Justice check
- Self-assess your personal strengths and how these relate to the National Council member role
- Identify and contact two other current Red Cross members to support your nomination
- Fill in the online nomination form
- Submit a photograph of yourself that can be used in our communications to members who will vote in these elections
Please read the guidance and complete the steps it outlines. Then use this information to fill out our online form with the information you have prepared.
View and complete the nomination form
What happens after I submit my nomination?
We will assign a case manager to review your nomination. They will check to make sure we have all the information required and will reach out to you if we need anything else.
Step two: Elections
If an area has more than five eligible candidates for the National Council member roles, the area will proceed to an election in August 2026. These elections for area representative members of the National Council will be held using a secure online voting system.
If the number of confirmed eligible candidates in an area either matches, or is less than, five total then all the candidates will be confirmed as elected unopposed.
Voting in our National Council elections
If elections are required in one or more of our areas, online voting will take place. All Red Cross members who are not employees are eligible to vote, and we will need an up-to-date email address or mobile phone number to send you information about this.
You can update your own details using our online form, or by calling us on 0800 RED CROSS.
Update your membership details online
More about our National Council
The National Council is the highest authority of New Zealand Red Cross. The role of the National Council is to develop the high-level direction of our organisation to ensure the New Zealand Red Cross meets its objective to prevent or alleviate human suffering with complete impartiality without any form of discrimination. The National Council is also responsible for other duties as outlined in the Constitution (Chapter 3) and Regulations (8.1).
Members of National Council attend our Annual General Meeting, which is an important event in our governance calendar. Robust governance is essential to maintaining the trust of our communities, partners and the public. It supports New Zealand Red Cross to fulfil our mission to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity and enhancing community resilience.
See a list of our current members of National Council for 2025/26