ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2021 - UPDATE

Final Reminder :  Notice of Annual General Meeting 

Notice is hereby given that the 2021 Annual General Meeting of ACT New Zealand will be held on Sunday 23 May 2021, commencing at 10.00 am. The venue is The ASB Waterfront Theatre, 138 Halsey Street, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland  

The ASB Waterfront Theatre will be open from 9.00am for tea and coffee. 

Agenda for Annual General meeting (10.00am to 12.00pm)  

Agenda Item 7.iv  

The Board received the advice set out below from the Rules Committee on 2 May. The Board at its meeting on 5 May resolved as follows: 

Rules Committee suggestion to amend the Constitution under urgency to allow for SGMs - the current constitution does not allow for Special General Meetings (SGMs). For the reasons set out in the attachment, it is suggested by the Rules Committee that the Board resolves to amend the current constitution urgently, to allow for SGMs - so that there is further opportunity to deliberate the new constitution if it fails to be adopted at the AGM, and other suggested amendments arise. 

Moved: Danae Smith / Seconded: Roger Weldon 

Rules Committee advice: 

Under rule 28.3, where a change to the Constitution and Rules is one which in the interests of the overall Party should be implemented urgently and before the next Annual Conference the Board may resolve to adopt the change with immediate effect, but such change shall nevertheless cease to have effect at the close of the next succeeding Annual Conference unless ratified thereat. 

The Board having decided that the existing Constitution should be replaced with one which is more suited to today’s political, social, cultural, and demographic environment, has in conjunction with the Rules Committee prepared a draft replacement Constitution which has been circulated for informal consideration by Members prior to its formal submission to the Annual Conference for approval. 

Feedback having been received, the Board is making some changes to the draft, but as discussion at the Annual Conference may result in further proposals for changes to the draft, and the draft submitted to the Conference may not be approved, there needs to be the ability to convene a special meeting to consider and if thought appropriate approve an amended draft. The present Constitution contains no provision for the Constitution and Rules to be changed other than by a resolution at an Annual Conference. 

Therefore, the Board considers that it is in the interests of the overall Party for a change to the Constitution and Rules to be implemented urgently and before the next Annual Conference, so that it can be ratified at the next Annual Conference if the draft Constitution and Rules submitted to the Annual Conference is not adopted, to permit a new Constitution and Rules to be considered and if thought appropriate adopted at a Special meeting. For these reasons, in accordance with rule 28.3, the Board hereby resolves to change the Constitution and Rules in the following manner: 

Rules 28.3 (c) is hereby amended by deleting “shall refer the same to the Annual Conference for consideration,” and replacing those words with “shall refer the same to the Annual Conference or to a Special Conference of Members for consideration;” and by deleting “All other amendments shall take effect from the time they are adopted and approved by the next succeeding Annual Conference,” and replacing those words with “All other amendments shall take effect from the close of the Annual Conference or the Special Conference of Members at which they are adopted and approved.” 

Rule 28.3 (d) is hereby amended by deleting “Annual Conference,” and replacing those words with “Annual Conference or Special Conference of Members.” 

Note: The AGM is open to all current members, but only those members in attendance, who were members prior to 23 February 2021 or whose membership is less than three months into grace at the date of the AGM, may vote. Proxy voting is not permitted. If you wish to have your apology recorded, please email your details to [email protected] or contact Head Office directly on (09) 523 0470.