Climate Governance in Action: Chapter Zero NZ 2025

The Institute of Directors has released the fourth annual Chapter Zero New Zealand Impact Report, highlighting progress in strengthening climate and nature governance across Aotearoa’s boardrooms in 2025.

Covering the year to 31 December 2025, it reflects continued progress alongside ongoing challenges. It shows how Chapter Zero NZ continues to support directors to strengthen governance capability on climate and nature-related risks and opportunities.

This year’s report outlines key achievements, including growth in supporter numbers, an expanded events and webinar programme, deeper collaboration across sectors and new tools and resources for New Zealand directors. Highlights include:

• • A community of more than 2,720 supporters
  • More than 2,730 event registrations across online and inperson programmes
  • Eight submissions on climaterelated policy and legislation
  • Four new bespoke resources on sustainability reporting, energy transition, stewardship and climate science

The report also details how Chapter Zero NZ is helping directors build governance capability. With physical climate risk escalating, international disclosure regimes evolving, and domestic policy settings changing rapidly, boards are under increasing pressure to demonstrate credible oversight. Directors told us they face competing priorities, yet many continue to engage proactively on climate and environmental issues, underscoring the importance of accessible, boardready guidance.

Insights from the 2025 Director Sentiment Survey reinforce this picture. While economic and political uncertainty dominated the agenda in 2025, boards continue to balance climate change and natural hazard impacts alongside, rather than ahead of, more immediate strategic disruptions and demands.

The 2025 Impact Report reflects both progress and the work ahead as boards continue to integrate climate and nature considerations into governance practice.