Reading the signals: what mattered most to the governance community in 2025

What the governance community chooses to read is often a good indicator of what they are grappling with in the boardroom. The Institute of Directors’ most-viewed news articles of 2025 reveal a profession navigating heightened scrutiny, regulatory complexity and growing expectations about the role boards play in society.

One clear signal from this year’s readership is that regulation has moved firmly into the strategic realm. Strong interest in articles on water reform, tax changes and the banning of certain digital applications suggests the governance community is no longer treating regulatory change as a downstream compliance issue. Instead, they are recognising that policy settings increasingly shape operating models, investment decisions and long-term viability. The line between governance and public policy continues to blur, and directors are paying attention.

Another consistent theme is performance – not just of organisations, but of directors themselves. High engagement with analyses of director performance and reputation points to a growing appetite for transparency and accountability in the boardroom. Expectations are shifting. Tenure, experience and credentials still matter, but they are no longer enough on their own. The governance community appears increasingly open to conversations about effectiveness, contribution and how board performance is perceived beyond the board table.

The governance community also showed strong interest in future-focused economic thinking. Articles exploring how to future-proof New Zealand’s economy resonated at a time when short-term pressures remain intense. This suggests many boards are consciously lifting their gaze, recognising that resilience, productivity and long-term value creation require deliberate strategic focus, even when immediate challenges compete for attention.

Perhaps most telling was the level of engagement with stories on values-led governance and leadership. Articles addressing kaupapa Māori governance, leadership humility and governance in the charity sector attracted significant readership. This reflects a growing awareness that how decisions are made – and how boards engage with stakeholders – has a direct bearing on trust and legitimacy.

Finally, health and safety continues to act as a governance touchstone. Clarification of director duties and the international recognition of New Zealand’s governance guidance drew sustained interest. Despite years of focus, health and safety remains a domain where boards know expectations are high and failure is costly, both humanly and reputationally.

Taken together, the most-read IoD articles of 2025 suggest the focus is less on governance as a checklist and more on judgement, accountability and leadership under pressure. What the governance community is reading tells a story of governance maturing – and of boards that understand the stakes have never been higher.

The 10 most-read IoD news articles of 2025:

1. A path forward for New Zealand’s water reforms
2. New platform ranks NZX directors by performance and reputation
3. Strategic focus needed to future-proof New Zealand’s economy
4. Tax reforms stir debate among NFP directors
5. “You listened us to agreement”: leading with humility
6. Charity governance reviews: a requirement and an opportunity
7. Balancing governance, kaupapa Māori and commercial success
8. From Aotearoa to Arup: NZ’s health and safety governance guide goes global
9. IoD welcomes clarification of health and safety duties
10. App ban: the right move?