We manage the process of appointments to a number of Crown entities, statutory boards and advisory groups on behalf of the responsible Ministers. These are important governance roles where members can make a real difference to education in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Expressions of interest for appointment to Education Sector boards in 2026#
The Minister of Education will be making appointments to the following boards in 2026:
New Zealand Qualification Authority | Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa (NZQA)
Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ)
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura).
We are seeking expressions of interest in these appointments. The appointments are expected to be for 3-year terms, with the possibility of reappointment.
Four member terms are ending during 2026. We are seeking expressions of interest for these positions.
The education system is undergoing wide-ranging changes with significant impacts on NZQA. These changes include the:
future replacement of NCEA
increased use of AI
Vocational Education and Training reform.
NZQA is also updating its quality assurance framework and is working on a major IT infrastructure replacement project.
We are looking for the following experiences and skills:
change management experience
knowledge of AI and digital transformation.
Board members have an expected 30 days per annum commitment for meeting attendance and other board business. The member fee is currently $22,680 per annum, but this is being reviewed and may increase.
ENZ is New Zealand’s government agency for promoting and marketing New Zealand education internationally. It works with a range of stakeholders to support the goals in the Government’s International Education Going for Growth Plan.
For more information on ENZ’s role and functions, see Education NZ.
About the role
The following experiences and skills are being sought:
knowledge of international education in the school sector
knowledge of strategic marketing, within either international education, or other sectors
experience of working with multiple stakeholders on shared outcomes.
Board members have an expected 30 days per annum commitment for meeting attendance and other board business. The fee is currently $16,800 per annum, but this is being reviewed and may increase.
Te Kura is New Zealand’s state distance education provider, previously known as The Correspondence School.
Te Kura offers a wide range of programmes from early childhood through to NCEA Level 3. Te Kura is New Zealand’s largest school, with well over 30,000 cumulative enrolments a year. It plays an important system role in the education of at-risk and disengaged learners. Its school roll is continuing to grow.
Te Kura is governed by a board of 8 members including a staff representative. Te Kura is a Crown entity as well as a school and is required to meet many of the same obligations as face-to-face schools and comply with the Code of Conduct for State School Board Members.
Board members will help shape and implement Te Kura’s strategic direction. Previous governance experience is expected along with expertise in one or more of the following:
education, pathways, distance education
leadership and strategy
digital technologies.
In terms of time commitment and fees, Board members have eight board meetings per year, and an expected 30 days per annum commitment for meeting attendance and other board business. The fee is currently $15,582 per annum, but this is being reviewed and may increase.
We also assist with appointments to a number of Ministerial advisory groups.
Statutory appointments are made by the responsible Minister, or the Governor-General on the recommendation of the responsible Minister. The Minister must present candidates to the Cabinet Appointment and Honours Committee.
If you've been nominated for a position, the outcome of the process can't be confirmed until after appointments have been considered by the Cabinet Appointment and Honours Committee and Cabinet. This is likely to take up to 6 months from when your nomination was submitted.
Public servants aren't usually appointed to statutory boards.
More information is available in the Cabinet Office circular CO(02) 5: Appointment of Public Servants to Statutory Boards.
