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Student Elections 2025

School Boards needed to have appointed a returning officer for student elections by Monday, August 4 if they are using the recommended election day of Thursday, September 4.

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Triennial Elections - Staff and Parents

 All schools should have called for nominations by now for both staff and parent elections.

If you have not yet registered your election, for either staff and/or parent elections or called for nominations, please get in touch with our elections advice team at  electionsadvice@tewhakaroputanga.org.nz or freephone 0800 782 435.

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Staff representatives

The staff representative is elected by school staff at the staff election. This is held every three years at the same time as the parent election. Together, they are called the triennial elections.  The staff representative is on their board until the next triennials.

Every school board must have a staff representative. They are the staff voice on the board, just as the parent and student representatives are the voices for the parent and student communities of the school. 

The role of the staff representative is no different to that of any other board member. They have equal standing, voice, accountability, and vote, but they can't be the presiding member (neither can the principal or student representative). 

If the staff representative cannot fulfil their term (for example if they resign their teaching position at the school) then the resulting vacancy must be filled by holding a by-election.

Before anyone becomes a school board member, they must confirm they meet the eligibility criteriaopen_in_new and sign an eligibility declaration.

To find more information about how to become a staff representative, talk to your principal or presiding member. 

Also, check out our  Community member guide to the role of school boards (388 KB, Pdf)and Kōrari for Aspiring Board Members sessions.