Preamble

(1)The Royal Society of New Zealand is constituted under the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1965, and continued by the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997, for the purpose of advancing and promoting science and technology in New Zealand:

(2)The Royal Society of New Zealand wishes to—

(a)incorporate the discipline of humanities into its object and functions; and

(b)rename the Academy Council the Academy Executive Committee; and

(c)amend the standard for the election of Companions of the Society; and

(d)amend the election process for Councillors of the Society:

(3)The objects of this Act cannot be achieved without legislation:

The Parliament of New Zealand therefore enacts as follows:

1 Title

This Act is the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Act 2012.

2 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.

15 New section 23 substituted

“23Appointed Councillor

“(2)In determining who should be appointed under subsection (1), each Regional Constituent Organisation has 1 vote and the matter is determined by a majority of votes cast by postal ballot or, at the option of the Council, by ballot conducted by electronic means.

“(3)If there is an equality of votes between candidates under subsection (2) and the addition of 1 vote would entitle any of those candidates to be elected, the Chief Executive Officer of the Society appointed under clause 1 of the Schedule must determine by lot which candidate is to be appointed.

“(4)The appointed representative of the Regional Constituent Organisations is appointed for a term of 3 years.”

16 Co-opted Councillors

Section 24(2)(d) is amended by omitting “science and technology” and substituting “science, technology, and the humanities”.

17 Code of professional standards and ethics

Section 34(1) is amended by omitting “science and technology” and substituting “science, technology, and the humanities”.

21 Membership and staff

22 New section 43 substituted

“43Transitional provisions

“(1)Every person who, immediately before the commencement of the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Act 2012, is an elected Councillor under section 22 may hold office as an elected Councillor for a maximum of 6 consecutive years, starting from the most recent date that the person assumed office before the commencement of that Act.

“(2)Every person who, immediately before the commencement of the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Act 2012, is an appointed Councillor under section 23 is deemed to have been appointed for a term of 3 years.

“(3)The code of professional standards and ethics issued under section 34 that is in force immediately before the commencement of the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Act 2012 continues in force and applies to members of the Society as if references to science and technology were a reference to science, technology, and the humanities.”

23 Schedule amended

Clause 7 of the Schedule is amended by omitting “Academy Council” and substituting “Academy Executive Committee”.