Important information for schools holding elections
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the Ministry of Education has granted an extension to a range of election timetables and processes, which were underway when the government made changers to COVID alert levels.
This extension applies to your kura or school if you were running:
- your annual student representative election
- a by election for a staff or parent representative
- the first election following establishment of the school
- the first election following the revocation of an intervention.
This extension applies to the closing of nominations and all subsequent actions.
This extension applies to schools OUTSIDE the Auckland region. Auckland schools are asked to continue to pause their election processes.
If any part of your election process had begun between 18 August and 8 September, and was then impacted by changes to your region’s alert level, then:
- The close of nominations for your election is now Friday 24 September
- voting for your election will now close at 4pm on Wednesday 27 October.
You can use the election planner tool to help you plan and understand key dates and required actions.
If you have a question or concern about an election process at your school, please email us: electionsadvice@nzsta.org.nz
Important message:
The timeframe for any election is now 63 days. This includes all by-elections for parent, staff and student representatives. Use the online election planner tool and download the updated Returning Officers’ Handbook.
View the board elections regulations - changes here.
Elections
NZSTA works in partnership with the Ministry of Education to support the school board election process and promote community engagement and participation.
School board elections involve the largest number of candidates and voters of any democratic process in New Zealand.
Triennial Elections: Every three years, state and state-integrated school communities elect their parent and staff representatives to help govern their schools.
2022 Triennial Elections: The Minister has determined that these school board member elections must be held on and during the period from: 02 May 2022 until 20 May 2022.
The “Common,” or recommended Election Day date is Wednesday 4 May 2022. Using this date is optional for your board, but it ensures that key dates in the election timetable fall on weekdays and during term time.
Use the online election planner tool to work out the key dates in your 2022 Triennial Elections timetable.
Staggered (mid-term) Elections: Some boards opt into the staggered (mid-term) election cycle. This means that these schools hold triennial elections for some of their parent representatives and mid-term elections for the remaining parent representatives. The mid-terms are held 18 months after the triennial elections. The next mid-terms are due to be held towards the end of 2023. You can find out more here.
Student Representative Elections: Boards of state and state-integrated schools with students above Year 9 must hold a student representative election in September each year. The recommended date for the 2021 Student Representative Elections is 22 September. This means, Boards need to appoint a Returning Officer by 21 July. You can find out more here.
After the elections
View information on welcoming your new board members here.