About NZSTA (who we are and what we do)

Competent trustees enhance the effectiveness of boards and the performance of their schools. NZSTA supports trusteeship in this critical work through the provision of national/local representation and advocacy on behalf of member boards. NZSTA is also committed to providing essential services to support members in their governance and employer roles including the ongoing development of trustees and boards through high quality professional development opportunities.

In delivering these services NZSTA is conscious of the need to demonstrate value for members who continue to support it through annual subscriptions, course participation, and event attendance. This booklet provides full details of all services. We hope you will be impressed by the quality and value of services provided to our membership.

Who we are

The New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA) is a membership organisation of approximately 2,400 school boards of trustees comprising around 14,500 individual trustees. NZSTA is a “not for profit” incorporated society with charitable trust status. As the national organisation representing school boards of trustees,

NZSTA:

• promotes excellence in school governance in New Zealand
• provides national/local representation and advocacy on a wide range of matters of importance to boards
• delivers comprehensive support services to assist boards in their trusteeship/employer role
• promotes and facilitates ongoing professional development for trustees through education and training

How NZSTA was established

The New Zealand School Trustees Association was established in 1989 with the introduction of “Tomorrow’s Schools”. It was initially formed from the remnants of the old School Committees’ Federation (SCF), the Secondary School Boards’ Association (SSBA), and the Education Boards’ Association (EBA). Member boards of trustees took control of NZSTA following the inaugural annual general meeting in May 1990 when member boards adopted the first NZSTA constitution. Since 1990 member boards of trustees have “owned” and controlled NZSTA through a governing council/board elected by the membership.

Our credentials

Since that time NZSTA has established its credibility with members, the Ministry of Education and government, and other stakeholder groups, as the national organisation that speaks for school trusteeship within New Zealand. NZSTA is the sole recognised national organisation specifically representing the interests of school boards of trustees. As a membership driven organisation it is dedicated to serving the needs of its membership. It has no other purpose. As such, NZSTA is totally familiar with:
• education structures
• key contact points
• utilising networks
• all issues relevant to trusteeship
• the principles of good governance
• the need to provide timely, sound, relevant, and focused advice and guidance across a wide range of trusteeship issues
• the need to deliver pragmatic solutions to employment problems
• the need to front up to the school gate where necessary (unlike others, we do make “house calls”)

NZSTA's credibility has grown, along with its membership, to the point that we are now routinely consulted on, and involved in, all matters which may affect the role of boards of trustees. NZSTA is routinely involved in all relevant matters of policy formulation within the compulsory education sector and is recognised as the national organisation representing boards of trustees in its submissions to government select committees.

Quality control

NZSTA places high importance on the quality of the representation/advocacy and services it delivers on behalf of member boards. Services are delivered to national standards to ensure high quality and consistency. Membership opinion on issues important to member boards/trusteeship generally is important to NZSTA and is used in all policy considerations. Where the current views of members are not known on a critical issue then surveying is commonly used to ensure a viewpoint is identified/established. NZSTA carries out regular “user satisfaction” surveying to ensure services delivered are meeting the needs of members.

Strategic direction

NZSTA's mission statement, as adopted by the national governing body, is as follows:

Mission

To lead and strengthen school governance in New Zealand.

Core Values

• Effective community-led governance.

• Honour and embody the principles and obligations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi which underpin education in New Zealand.

• An equitably, and adequately, state funded system of education.

• Membership is well respected, represented and supported.

Constitution

Our constitution can be viewed online (and is able to be downloaded as a PDF document by member boards)

Our structure

NZSTA currently maintains regions in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Central East, Central West, Wellington/Wairarapa, MNWC, Canterbury, Otago and Southland, and a national office in Wellington. Each region has a personnel/industrial relations adviser and regional coordinator. Te Koru Puawai o Aotearoa, a national body
representing the interests of Maori, and aligned to NZSTA, is supported by a national coordinator in Hastings.

NZSTA is governed by a national board. Every two years member boards of trustees elect regional representatives to the national council, which is NZSTA's representation body. In turn the National Council elects the President and National Board.

NZSTA provides a number of services that are of direct benefit to member boards of trustees and these are found under the NZSTA Services menu and on the benefits of board membership page. However, it is important to remember, that members also directly benefit from being a critical part of a strong national organisation which gets its strength from a large collective membership. It is this collective strength which enables NZSTA to be a key part of all important education related decisions and national policy formulation. It is also this collective power of membership which allows NZSTA to obtain and operate “free to board” services.

Further information can be viewed in the benefits of board membership