Who we are

Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) is the professional body for school boards in New Zealand, representing and advocating for our members and providing services to all state and state-integrated schools and kura.

NZSBA is at the heart of school governance. We influence and inform policy and sector outcomes; we support and enable school boards to flourish; we connect like-minded people through our learning and networking opportunities; we strengthen communities by helping students achieve.

Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa was established in 1989, following the introduction of New Zealand’s largest school reform, Tomorrow’s Schools. We are a not-for-profit incorporated society with charitable trust status.

Our service delivery arm, GovHub, provides services to all board members via Ministry of Education funding, while our membership arm provides independent advocacy for school boards to the government and the rest of the education sector. Approximately 80% of all school board are members, enjoying access to exclusive regional and national events, benefits and discounts, as well as a direct say in how we advocate.

Our history

Rito (child)

Awhi rito (parents)

Tūpuna (grandparents and ancestors)

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Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa Strategic Plan 2022-2025

Our core principles

  • Whakamana ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
  • To ensure our membership is well supported, represented and respected.
  • To lead and strengthen school governance in New Zealand.
  • To work with high integrity and focus that adds value in all aspects of the mahi.
  • To advocate and represent in all aspects of the education sector.
  • To recognise and embrace diversity.

Our strategic objectives

  • Provide effective leadership.
  • Provide fit for purpose high quality resources, support and professional development.
  • Promote community and public understanding of the Board’s governance role.
  • A strong and sustainable organisation.
  • Whakamana ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Mission Vision updated
Mission Vision updated v2

Our values

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Kaitiakitanga
A sense of guardianship through being of service
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Tino Rangatiratanga
Recognising autonomy and self-determination
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Connection
Relationship, unity and whanaungatanga to people and planet
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Integrity
Where values and actions align to create a sense of wholeness
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Inclusiveness
Actively promoting equity and fairness

Our services to all school boards

As well as representing New Zealand school boards through our role as a professional membership organisation, Te Whakarōputanga also delivers a range of services to all boards, regardless of membership status, as part of a contract-for-service with the Ministry of Education.

Combining our membership and operational outputs supports our mission as the leader for effective school governance Whakamana! Whakaora! ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Our contracted services are available to all state, state-integrated and partnership schools in New Zealand.

Te Whakarōputanga is always focused on how we can best support New Zealand school boards with relevant, practical, accessible, and consistent information, resources, and learning.

Becoming an Te Whakarōputanga member board will enable school boards to access our full range of communications, publications, resources and support. Take a look at some of the benefits of membership here.