Who we are

Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa or New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) is a membership-based organisation, representing New Zealand state and state-integrated schools and kura. We provide services to all New Zealand school boards on a contract-for-service partnership with the Ministry of Education. Find out more here.

 

Our members

NZSBA boasts a high level of membership among New Zealand school boards. We’ve achieved and maintained this high level of connection because we deliver real benefits to our member boards. The scale of our membership means we are recognised as the voice of school boards in New Zealand. We offer a range of publications, events and other benefits exclusively for member boards.

We influence government direction and policy-making decisions
We shape the future by influencing government direction and policy-making
We relentlessly advocate for our members
We champion our members with unwavering advocacy
We connect our members - sharing experiences and knowledge
We foster powerful connections by sharing knowledge, experiences and opportunities
We strengthen communities
We uplift communities by building governance capacity across Aotearoa
We create better futures for New Zealanders
All this to create a brighter future for our rangatahi – e tipu, e rea

Learning and networking events

NZSBA runs a nationwide programme of professional development and networking events exclusively for member boards. Members only events:

  • National Conference. You are invited to attend! In 2026, we look forward to welcoming you to the Aotea Centre in Tāmaki Makarau, Auckland, 17th-19th July.
  • AGM. As a member board, you can participate and vote in our AGM. These are held online, in the final weekend of May.
  • Regional mini-conferences and networking. You will get exclusive invites to events run by your Regional Executive. This is a chance to meet other board members in your area and learn about issues relevant to you.
Annual Conference
Annual Conference

The 2025 Te Whakarōputanga conference will be held at Te Pae Convention Centre in Christchurch from 10 – 13 July 2025.

Annual Conference
Annual General Meeting

The 2025 Annual General Meeting will be held as part of the Te Whakarōputanga Conference in Christchurch on Saturday 12 July.

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Gallagher Study Awards and Scholarships

Thanks to our sponsors Gallagher Insurance, we offer the following to our members: 

Gallagher School Board Member Study Awards:  

Five study awards of up to $3000 for school board members to support study programmes*  

Gallagher Student Board Representative:

Five scholarship prizes of up to $1000 to support student representatives in future study programmes beyond secondary school.

Coming soon...

Watch this space for some personal benefits available to you. Being a school board member doesn’t pay very well, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve some recognition. We are a collective of 18,000 people on member boards, our buying power is huge.

If you are a business owner that would like to offer services to NZSBA members at a discounted rate, please contact ea@tewhakaroputanga.org.nz to register your interest.

Regionally based leadership

Our members trust us to represent their values and views—because we stay connected through strong regional networks. Each of our eleven regions is led by a Regional Executive, made up of elected members who understand the unique needs of their communities.


Member boards not only have the opportunity to vote for their Regional Executive—they can also stand for election themselves. It’s a chance to lead locally, shape national advocacy, and ensure your region’s voice is heard.


Regional Executives are vital to NZSBA’s mission. They strengthen our collective impact by gathering insights, building relationships, and driving change. If you're passionate about supporting your region, we encourage you to stand for your Regional Executive and help shape the future.