2021 Director Sentiment Survey

What directors told us in 2021

The 2021 Director Sentiment Survey captured responses from over 900 governance leaders across Aotearoa New Zealand during a period still heavily impacted by COVID‑19. Conducted from mid‑September to early October—amid Alert Level 3 in Auckland and parts of Northland and Waikato—the survey offers enduring insights into how directors navigated pandemic challenges while planning for the future.

Although around 60% of directors reported COVID‑19 had negatively affected their organisations, a majority remained optimistic about their own performance—even as they anticipated wider economic deterioration. Labour and capability shortages, border restrictions, vaccine policy decisions, and supply chain disruption emerged as top concerns.

Key highlights:

• • Over 60% expected the national economy to worsen in the next 12 months
  • Over 50% still anticipated their organisation’s performance would improve over that period
  • 70% of boards were regularly discussing board composition and renewal 
  • 90% of boards considered stakeholder interests as a core responsibility 
  • 52% believed their boards and partners consistently adhered to ethical standards 

These findings offer a valuable benchmark for governance leaders reflecting on ethical leadership, board renewal, workforce planning, and resilience in times of sustained disruption.

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We hope you find this Director Sentiment Survey report insightful. We would love to hear your thoughts. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to discuss the report. 

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The Director Sentiment Survey is brought to you by the Institute of Directors and ASB.