NZSL Fund - Questions and Answers

The NZSL Fund invests in projects that develop and enhance the abilities, access and rights of the NZSL community.

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Common questions about the NZSL Fund

What is the NZSL Fund?

In May 2014 Cabinet agreed to the establishment of a NZSL Board and Fund to maintain and promote NZSL.

The NZSL Board has a range of responsibilities including the oversight of the NZSL Fund, and making recommendations to the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) on the allocation of funds from it to promote and maintain NZSL.

In Budget 2014 $1.5 million per year (on-going) was made available for the NZSL Board and Fund. Of this, $250,000 annually is for the establishment and on-going costs of the NZSL Board, including secretariat support from ODI, and the remaining $1.25 million will be allocated from the Fund to support initiatives that promote and maintain NZSL.

There have been four rounds of funding:

The NZSL Fund Policies and Criteria, approved annually by the Minister for Disability Issues, specify the aims of the NZSL Fund, and the factors and processes to be used by the NZSL Board when making recommendations on its allocation.

How does the NZSL Board manage potential or actual conflicts of interest in carrying out its duties?

The NZSL Board has processes in place to manage potential, perceived and actual conflicts of interest for all NZSL Board business including NZSL Fund applications. These conflict of interest management processes are set out in the NZSL Board’s Terms of Reference and the Conflict of Interest policy. Both the NZSL Board’s Terms of Reference and the Conflict of Interest policy are in accordance with the guidelines published by the State Services Commission and the Office of the Auditor General.

Processes to manage conflicts of interest for all NZSL Board business including NZSL Fund applications include maintaining a register of members’ interests, and discussing it as the first agenda item for each meeting including NZSL Fund application review meetings.

Prior to NZSL Board discussions on NZSL Fund applications, the NZSL Board Chair checks the Conflicts Register (the register) and confirms those who declare a conflict of interest. The NZSL Board Chair then asks for any further conflicts of interest to be confirmed, and these are added to the register. NZSL Board members with a conflict of interest regarding funding applications are not able to vote. Where the NZSL Board Chair has a conflict of interest the board collectively selects another NZSL Board member to facilitate the discussion on that application. For full information go to: