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Types of elections#
There are 4 main types of board elections at state and state-integrated schools and kura.
- Triennial elections are held every 3 years to elect parent and staff representatives.
- Mid-term or staggered elections are held 18 months after the most recent triennial election.
- 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.
- Student elections are held in September each year by schools that have full-time students in Year 9 and above.
- By-elections are used to fill a vacancy for a parent, staff or student representative.
Triennial school board elections were last held in September 2025.
What the board needs to do#
Plan your election#
For each election, your school board must set an election date. The board should promote an upcoming election in the community to encourage involvement.
We work with GovHub (New Zealand School Board Association or NZSBA) to support the school board election process. You can use GovHub's election planning tool on their School Board Elections website to create a timeline.
Run an election – School Board Elections
Appoint a returning officer#
The returning officer is responsible for running the school board election. They can decide how to run it, as long as they follow the election rules.
School boards are required to appoint a returning officer for each election.
Appoint a returning officer – School Board Elections
Returning officer responsibilities – School Board Elections
GovHub is available to support returning officers with elections.
Email: [email protected]
Register your election#
Once a returning officer is appointed, register your school's election with GovHub.
Register your election – School Board Elections
Update us after the election#
After the election, your board must update us with new board members' details. Use the form below to do this.
Email us if you have any questions about the form: [email protected]
Who can stand in board elections#
Any adult can stand as a candidate in an election for parent representatives. They do not need to be the parent of a student at the school but do need to be nominated by a parent.
Any staff member or student can be a candidate in an election for staff or student board members.
Who is ineligible#
There are some people who are ineligible to be board members. These are listed in the Education and Training Act 2020.
Education and Training Act 2020: Schedule 23(9) – New Zealand Legislation
Getting an exemption
A person with a conviction for an offence listed in schedule 2 of the Children’s Act 2014 can apply to the Secretary for Education for an exemption to serve as a board member.
Children’s Act 2014 schedule 2 Specified offences – New Zealand Legislation
The exemption may be granted if the Secretary is satisfied the person would not be a risk to the safety of children.
A person with a conviction listed in schedule 2 that is concealed under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 does not need an exemption to serve on a school board.
Clean Slate Scheme – Ministry of Justice
Email us any queries on this process: [email protected]
School board provider services#
Your board will need to think about the cost involved in running an election and how much work it will create for the school.
While you do not need to use a provider service to run an election, some companies offer services to run school board elections.
Your school can appoint a provider as your returning officer. You will need to:
- contract the provider to run the election
- put together the roll information (how many people are eligible to vote)
- give the roll/eligibility information to the returning officer/provider.
You can appoint a staff member as a returning officer and contract a provider's services. You will need to:
- appoint your own returning officer
- be given access to the provider's systems and tools to run an election.
Electronic elections#
The Education (Board Elections) Regulations 2022 allow electronic voting for school board elections.
You cannot create your own electronic voting process. 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.
If you do not want to use an accredited provider, you must use a paper-based election option.
The timeline for electronic and paper-based elections is the same. Electronic voting could make the election easier to run for the school and the returning officer.
Accredited providers for electronic elections#
There are currently 2 accredited providers:
- My School Election
- Schooled Election Pilot.
Schooled Election Pilot website
We evaluate potential providers using our assessment criteria. Read about the accreditation application process.
Think about privacy#
When using a returning officer or election provider, your board should only share necessary information. Make sure it is kept secure and managed appropriately after the election.
Information, privacy and copyright – GovHub
Hui-based elections for kura#
Te Rūnanga Nui advises its kura on how to choose board members through hui | meetings.
Its advice follows the Education and Training Act 2020 and the board elections regulations.
Board elections funding#
We give funding to schools for running elections.
- Mid-term and triennial election funding is provided through the operational grant instalment.
- By-election funding must be claimed directly from us by schools.
Support for schools#
GovHub can help your board and returning officer with:
- running an election
- understanding election requirements
- encouraging community participation.
For help, email: [email protected]
Find more information and resources to help your board on the School Board Elections website.
Mōhiohio anō
