GuidesA closer look

What does a school board do?

Who sits on a school board, what the board is responsible for, how board elections work, and how parents can get involved.

Every statement on this page comes from an official source: Ministry of Education, New Zealand Legislation and Education Review Office.

What is a school board?

The school board is the group of people that make the big decisions and set the overall direction of the school.¹ Every state and state-integrated school or kura has a board.² Under the Education and Training Act 2020, a board is the governing body of its school.³

You may still see the name “board of trustees” in older documents. The Act treats “board of trustees” and “board” as the same thing: a board set up under that Act.⁴

What is the board responsible for?

The board governs the school. A board is responsible for governing the school, including setting the policies by which the school is controlled and managed.⁵

According to the Ministry of Education, the board's work includes:

It sets the strategic direction and targets for the school or kura.⁶
It consults with the community to make decisions.⁷
It oversees curriculum, finance, property, and health and safety.⁸
It employs staff at the school or kura.⁹

The board must comply with the Education and Training Act 2020 and all other legislative requirements.¹⁰

The board and the principal

The board governs; it does not run the school day to day. The board does not get involved in operational issues.¹¹ The principal is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school.¹² In law, the principal is the board's chief executive for the school's control and management.¹³

What are the board's objectives?

A board's paramount objective in governing a school is to ensure every student at the school can attain their highest possible standard in educational achievement.¹⁴ The board's objectives cover educational achievement (the paramount objective), student attendance, monitoring and evaluating student progress and achievement, student safety, being inclusive of and catering for students with differing needs, and equitable outcomes for Māori students, teaching te reo Māori and New Zealand's cultural diversity.¹⁵ These objectives are set out in section 127 of the Education and Training Act 2020, and were changed in November 2025.¹⁶

Who sits on a board?

Boards typically have between 3 and 7 parent representatives, elected by parents of students at the school.¹⁷ The number depends on the size and structure of the school or kura.¹⁸ Boards also include the principal or tumuaki, a staff representative, and a student representative in schools with students in Year 9 and above.¹⁹

Boards of state-integrated schools, kura kaupapa Māori and designated character schools can have different memberships.²⁰ For example, state-integrated schools usually have 4 members appointed by the school's proprietor.²¹ Boards may co-opt extra people for gender, skill or ethnic balance, and the Minister of Education can appoint an additional board member.²²

Board membership is not a paid position, but members may receive compensation for their time.²³ Some people are ineligible to be board members; these are listed in the Education and Training Act 2020.²⁴

How do board elections work?

There are several kinds of board election.

Triennial elections are held every three years to elect parent and staff representatives.²⁵
Mid-term or staggered elections are held 18 months after the most recent triennial election.²⁶
Student elections are held in September each year by schools that have full-time students in Year 9 and above.²⁷
By-elections fill a vacancy for a parent, staff or student representative.²⁸

A board that opts in to mid-term elections can have half its parent representatives elected in a triennial election year and the rest at a mid-term election.²⁹ Triennial school board elections were last held in September 2025.³⁰ All parent representatives are elected for a term of three years.³¹

Who can vote and stand: All parents of children attending the school can vote in the elections.³² Any adult can stand as a candidate for parent representative.³³ Candidates do not need to be a parent of a student at the school, but they do need to be nominated by a parent.³⁴ Any staff member or student can be a candidate in an election for staff or student board members.³⁵

The Education (Board Elections) Regulations 2022 allow electronic voting for school board elections.³⁶ A school that wishes to use electronic voting must use an accredited provider and make paper voting forms available to voters who want them.³⁷

Te Rūnanga Nui advises its kura on how to choose board members through hui (meetings).³⁸

How can parents be involved?

Board meetings are held regularly and are open to anyone to attend as an observer.³⁹ If you want to speak at a meeting, you need to arrange this with the board in advance.⁴⁰ Meeting minutes should be available from the school on request.⁴¹

Boards should communicate with parents regularly about school business.⁴² A board must consult on matters such as rule changes and the strategic plan.⁴³ Before making a bylaw, a board must consult its staff, its students (as far as the board considers appropriate) and the school community.⁴⁴

If you have a matter to raise with the board, contact your school to find out how best to do this.⁴⁵ If talking with the school has not resolved a concern, for most school concerns the next step is to follow the school's complaints process, which may mean writing to the school board.⁴⁶

Boards also take part in ERO reviews of their school. School boards review and respond to unconfirmed ERO reports, and can provide feedback or further evidence.⁴⁷

The code of conduct for board members

The code of conduct sets minimum standards that all members of state and state-integrated school and kura boards must meet.⁴⁸ The code's requirements apply to each individual board member, not the board as a group.⁴⁹

Among the standards in the code:

Only a member authorised by the board may speak on behalf of the board.⁵⁰
Members put students' wellbeing, progress and achievement first, unaffected by their personal beliefs or interests.⁵¹
Members identify, disclose, manage and regularly review all interests.⁵²
Members do not endorse or campaign for a political party or candidate in their capacity as a board member.⁵³

GovHub, part of the New Zealand School Board Association, supports boards with their roles and responsibilities.⁵⁴

Sources

Every statement on this page comes from an official page, quoted in full here.

Each numbered statement above is followed here by the words of the official page it comes from. Every quote was checked against its page on 5 October 2026.

“The board is the group of people that make the big decisions and set the overall direction of the school.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“Every state, state-integrated school or kura has a board.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“A board is the governing body of its school.”
New Zealand Legislation · legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/38/en/latest ↑
“board of trustees or board means a board constituted under subpart 5 of Part 3”
New Zealand Legislation · legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/38/en/latest ↑
“A board is responsible for the governance of the school, including setting the policies by which the school is to be controlled and managed.”
New Zealand Legislation · legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/38/en/latest ↑
“sets the strategic direction and targets for the school or kura”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“consults with the community to make decisions”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“oversees curriculum, finance, property, and health and safety”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“employs staff at the school or kura”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“The board must comply with the Education and Training Act 2020 (the Act) and all other legislative requirements.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“The board doesn't get involved in operational issues.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“The principal is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“A school’s principal is the board’s chief executive in relation to the school’s control and management.”
New Zealand Legislation · legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/38/en/latest ↑
“A board’s paramount objective in governing a school is to ensure that every student at the school is able to attain their highest possible standard in educational achievement.”
New Zealand Legislation · legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/38/en/latest ↑
“These cover: educational achievement (paramount objective) student attendance monitoring and evaluation of student progress and achievement student safety being inclusive of and catering for students with differing needs equitable outcomes for Māori students, teaching te reo Māori and New Zealand's cultural diversity.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“The objectives of boards in governing schools are set out in section 127 of the Education and Training Act 2020 and were changed in November 2025.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Boards typically have between 3 and 7 parent representatives, who are elected by parents of students at the school.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“This number depends on the size and structure of the school or kura”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Boards also include: the principal or tumuaki a staff representative a student representative (for schools with students Year 9 and above).”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Boards of state-integrated schools, kura kaupapa Māori and designated character schools can have different memberships.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“For example, state-integrated schools usually have 4 members appointed by the proprietor of the school.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Boards may co-opt additional people onto the board for gender, skill or ethnic balance, and the Minister of Education can appoint an additional board member.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Board membership is not a paid position, but you may receive compensation for your time.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“There are some people who are ineligible to be board members. These are listed in the Education and Training Act 2020.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Triennial elections are held every 3 years to elect parent and staff representatives.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Mid-term or staggered elections are held 18 months after the most recent triennial election.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Student elections are held in September each year by schools that have full-time students in Year 9 and above.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“By-elections are used to fill a vacancy for a parent, staff or student representative.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Opting in to mid-term elections means a board can have half of its parent representatives elected in a triennial election year and the rest at a mid-term election.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Triennial school board elections were last held in September 2025.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“All parent representatives are elected for a term of 3 years.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“All parents of children attending the school can vote in the elections.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“Any adult can stand as a candidate in an election for parent representatives.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“They do not need to be the parent of a student at the school but do need to be nominated by a parent.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Any staff member or student can be a candidate in an election for staff or student board members.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“The Education (Board Elections) Regulations 2022 allow electronic voting for school board elections.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“If your school wishes to use electronic voting, you must: use an accredited provider make paper-based voting forms available to voters that want to use them.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“Te Rūnanga Nui advises its kura on how to choose board members through hui | meetings.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“The board meets regularly, and meetings are open to anyone to attend as an observer.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“If you want to speak at a meeting you will need to arrange this with the board in advance.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“Meeting minutes should be available on request from the school.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“Boards should communicate with parents regularly about school business.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“It must consult on matters like rule changes and the strategic plan.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“Before making a bylaw, the board must consult its staff, its students (to the extent that the board considers appropriate), and the school community regarding the proposed bylaw.”
New Zealand Legislation · legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/38/en/latest ↑
“If you have a matter you want to raise with the board, contact your school to find out how best to do this.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/what… ↑
“If you have talked to the school and the issue has not been resolved, there are other options. For most school concerns, the next step is to follow the school’s complaints process. This may mean putting your concern in writing to the school board.”
Education Review Office · ero.govt.nz/for-parents/raising-concerns ↑
“School boards review and respond to unconfirmed reports, and can provide feedback or further evidence.”
Education Review Office · ero.govt.nz/for-schools-and-kura/learn-about-school-and-k… ↑
“The code of conduct sets out minimum standards that all members of state and state-integrated school and kura boards must meet.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“The requirements are for each individual board member, not the board as a group.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“I recognise that only a member authorised by the board to do so may speak on behalf of the board.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“I put students’ wellbeing, progress and achievement first and foremost, unaffected by my personal beliefs or interests.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“I identify, disclose, manage and regularly review all interests.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“I do not endorse or campaign for a political party or candidate in my capacity as a school board member.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑
“GovHub, part of the New Zealand School Board Association, is available to support boards with their roles and responsibilities.”
Ministry of Education · education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/adm… ↑