The Council of the Royal Society is the ruling body of the Society. It is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Society and overseeing progress towards that strategy.
| Emeritus Professor Sir John Scott KBE FRSNZ | (Chair) President, Royal Society of New Zealand; Health Sciences & Technologies (to March 2000) |
|---|---|
| Emeritus Professor George Petersen ONZM FRSNZ | Acting President, Royal Society of New Zealand (April to July 2000) |
| Sir Gil Simpson KNZM QSM | (Chair) President, Royal Society of New Zealand (from July 2000) |
| Robyn Baker MRSNZ | Science & Technology Education |
| Mr Howard Bezar MRSNZ | Primary Industry Sciences & Technologies (to May 2000) |
| Dr Ian Boothroyd | Biological Sciences & Technologies |
| Professor Paul Callaghan FRS FRSNZ | Academy Council (Academy Council President from November 2000) |
| Sir Ron Carter KNZM MRSNZ | Technological & Engineering Sciences (from May 2000) |
| Associate Professor Rosemary Du Plessis MRSNZ | Social Sciences (from May 2000) |
| Professor David Elms FRSNZ Dist. FIPENZ | Academy Council (from May 2000) |
| Dr Sally Hasell MRSNZ | Regional Constituent Organisations (from May 2000) |
| Professor Jeffrey Hunter MRSNZ | Mathematical & Information Sciences |
| Mr George Jones MRSNZ | Regional Constituent Organisations (to May 2000) |
| Mr Stuart Kinnear MRSNZ | Technological & Engineering Sciences (to May 2000) |
| Professor Dianne McCarthy MRSNZ | Co-opted Councillor (from December 2000) |
| Dr Ken McNatty FRSNZ | Academy Council (to May 2000) |
| Dr John Martin MRSNZ | Social Sciences (to May 2000) |
| Dr Neil Milestone MRSNZ | Physical Sciences & Technologies |
| Emeritus Professor George Petersen ONZM FRSNZ | Academy Council President (to November 2000); Academy Council representative (from November 2000 to November 2001) |
| Professor Jacqueline Rowarth MRSNZ | Primary Industry Sciences & Technologies (from May 2000) |
| Dr Jim Salinger MRSNZ | Earth Sciences & Technologies |
| Dr Geoffrey Savage MRSNZ | Health Sciences & Technologies (from May 2000) |
| Dr Ian Speden FRSNZ | Co-opted Councillor (to May 2000) |
| Mrs Pauline Waiti MRSNZ | Co-opted Councillor |
