Acknowledging The Past, Looking Forward To The Future
The Board members who will be replaced are Nigel How (Wairoa), Thompson Hokianga (Heretaunga), Jenny Nelson-Smith (Tamatea), Eruera Beattie (Northern Taurahere District) and Haami Hilton (Kaumātua). The brand new Board members who are taking on the new positions are Esta Wainohu (Wairoa), Aretha (Crystal) Edwards (Heretaunga), Anthony Tipene-Matua (Tamatea), Te Aihurangi Tangiora (Northern Taurahere) and Cordry Huata (Kaumātua). Bayden Barber (Chair) and unopposed candidates Melissa Ihaka (Wairarapa), Hayden Hape (Tamaki nui ā-Rua), Hori Reti (Te Whanganui a Orotū) and Brian Ruawai-Hamilton (Southern Taurahere District) will maintain the momentum of the Board.
Today, NKII staff and board members, whānau, friends and associates held a special luncheon to acknowledge Kaumātua Haami Hilton and his lovely wife Edina, for his 26 consecutive years of service on the NKII Board.
Former Chairman of the NKII Board, Ngahiwi Tomoana, kept the crowd engaged every second of the way as we celebrated our Kaumātua. Ngahiwi and Haami have served for the same number of years on the board. It was an emotional, fun filled afternoon as speakers shared fond memories of their time with Uncle Haami. Special gifts were exchanged and heartfelt words expressed. The following phrase was offered by Jeremy Tātere Macleod and was written on his special photo frame presented to Uncle Haami.
Ahakoa kua poto a mua, kua roa a muri, arā, kua tae ki ngā taru o Tura - ko te mahara ka tū tonu. Ko tō mātau aroha ki a kōrua kai te rangi tōna whānui, kai te moana tōna hōhonu, kai te paerangi tōna roa.
Although the path ahead is short, the one behind is long; indeed, we have reached the lands of Tura – and yet, memory will endure. Our love for you both is as vast as the sky, as deep as the ocean, and as long as the horizon.
Wise words from our beautiful Whaea Liz Hunkin, 'It's time to rest'. 'You've done so much for the iwi and we are very lucky to have had you, but it's time to rest' It was a wonderful time together.
Tomorrow, the new members will be welcomed in as a new board, bringing with them a fresh perspective, unique skills, experience, and the ability to help rejuvenate discussions about the organisation's vision and mission. After their pōhiri tomorrow, the new NKII Board will hold their first meeting at the NKII office. Kaupapa being discussed tomorrow includes dealing with the ongoing issues of a racist government, housing crisis, newly launched health and wellbeing initiatives and up and coming events including the Fish Hook Summit, 11 Matariki events and the KAHUNGUNU 2050 Vision hikoi. It's fun times ahead, but rewarding in many ways.
'Courage, and Commitment, Time and Energy describe some attributes of a good governor. Health and Wellbeing, time with whānau, are always the most important things we need to serve.
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Scoop
03-08-2025
- Scoop
Speech To National Party Conference
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon Prime Minister 2 August 2025 Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia Ora, good afternoon, everyone! How great is it to be here in Christchurch! Before I start can I acknowledge some people in the room with us today. President Sylvia Wood and the newly elected Board, thank you for your service to the National Party and ensuring that we are match fit for next year! My friend and our outstanding Deputy Leader Nicola Willis. She is working every day to rebuild this economy so Kiwis can get ahead! Can I also congratulate Chris Bishop – who has once again stepped into the role of campaign chair for next year's election. And to all of our Ministers and MPs, who are with us here today. Thank you for your sacrifices – the long hours and the time away from family working to make this country a better place. And most importantly, to all of our members and supporters who are here this weekend – who knock on doors, wave the signs, and keep our electorates humming. Thank you for your drive, your determination, and your unshakeable belief that our country's best days lie ahead of us. Two years ago, New Zealand was in utter turmoil. Inflation was at 6 per cent. Food prices had risen by 12.5 per cent in the last year. Mortgage rates had just tipped over 7 per cent and unemployment was starting to rise. Ram raids had taken over the country, violent crime was out of control, and gangs were shutting down whole towns like Ōpōtiki. Wait times in our health system had blown out, with New Zealanders waiting longer to be seen in emergency departments or to receive surgery. Meanwhile, less than half of our children and grandchildren were attending school regularly. And while young people in Australia, Singapore, the UK and so many other countries charged ahead, we were falling further and further behind. We knew turning that around would be the challenge of a lifetime. But in less than two years, we have already made massive progress. Take law and order. National's policies to prevent crime are working. More cops on the beat in our inner cities, keeping kiwis safe. Tough new laws that give Police the powers to ruthlessly target gangs and illegal guns. Longer sentences for violent and repeat offenders, and real consequences for unruly KO tenants and young criminals. New Zealand is already feeling the impact. Violent crime is falling. Youth crime is falling. And ram raids have collapsed. Yes, there's always more to do, but in two short years, Paul Goldsmith and Mark Mitchell have ended an historic era of lawlessness in this country. And take education. We campaigned together on giving every child in New Zealand the very best possible start in life, with an education grounded in the basics of reading, writing, and maths. Yes, every child is now getting an hour a day in each of those subjects and we have banned mobile phones to keep our kids focused. But the change we have delivered is so much larger than that. As of today, 30,000 teachers have been trained in structured literacy, ensuring hundreds of thousands of students are getting more out of every day at school. Just last year at this conference, we promised a sea change in the way we teach maths at primary school, to make sure children in New Zealand didn't keep falling behind. Since then, we have rolled out a whole new curriculum and trained more than 20,000 teachers in structured maths – with 3,500 year 7 and 8 students receiving extra support to help them catch up. There is always more to do, especially at high school – but in just two years, primary school education has been transformed in this country. Erica – thank you for your relentless energy and positivity, fixing education in this great country. And take healthcare. It's not just the record health funding, or more doctors and nurses hired, or the dozens of new medicines we have delivered for cancer and other illnesses. We aren't just spending and hiring more – we're actually delivering more. Wait lists for elective procedures are falling. Wait lists for a first specialist assessment are falling. Kiwis are spending less time waiting in emergency departments. And child immunisation rates are continuing to climb. There are more choices to see a doctor with 24/7 digital care, we're delivering the largest funding boost for GPs in New Zealand's history, and we've got initiatives underway to further lift the number of doctors and nurses. Labour might have restructured Health NZ by simply slapping a new logo on a letterhead, but Simeon Brown is actually fixing it. Simeon, thank you for the massive contribution you make to our team and our country. Finally – the economy and the cost of living. We always knew this would be a mammoth task. The conditions New Zealanders inherited from the last government were the worst in a generation. The national debt had tripled. Inflation hit a thirty-year high. Homeowners were crushed by a surge in interest rates. And critical growth industries – like agriculture and energy – were under constant siege. In the period since, our economic team – led by our outstanding Minister of Finance Nicola Willis – has worked relentlessly, under huge pressure to turn the ship around. We have been making real progress on that front, and I am confident that progress will continue in the months and years ahead as interest rates continue to fall and pro-growth reforms bed in. But global conditions have also been challenging. The impact of tariffs and offshore events in recent months has had a real impact on our economy here at home. Yesterday's latest update from the US is a fresh reminder of how life as a small, trading nation like New Zealand is very different today than it was in recent years. But we can't just batten down the hatches and hope for the best. Kiwis are ambitious, resilient, and adaptable – and our job is to put them in the very best possible position to succeed. Our team is laser-focused on the plan to do just that. We will spend carefully, we will back Kiwis that back themselves, and we will invest in New Zealand's future. It's why we have delivered more than $40 billion in savings across two Budgets, supporting inflation and interest rates to fall. It's why we have driven a relentless programme of reform and relief, restoring confidence to the sectors that need it – like agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. It's why we're carrying out an ambitious programme of infrastructure investment, delivering growth and opportunity to communities all over New Zealand. And it's why we're championing New Zealand on the world stage, giving a platform for Kiwis to export, attract investment, compete and win. Of course, in the very near term, so many New Zealanders that I meet are still struggling to keep up with the cost of living. It's easy to understand why. Under Labour, inflation hit its highest level in thirty years. That pressure and those costs don't just unwind overnight. It's why over the long run, we're so focused on unleashing our economic potential, so we can create jobs, increase wages, and back Kiwis to get ahead. But right now, Kiwis need support – and we're doing what we can. We froze petrol taxes, and abolished the Auckland regional fuel tax, saving every motorist at least 9 cents a litre at the pump, and 21 cents a litre in Auckland every time you fuel up. We have delivered personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, which has saved an average family nearly $1,600 since this time last year. We have introduced and expanded FamilyBoost, providing even more financial support for the cost of childcare for tens of thousands of families. And this week, we have announced we are taking action on card surcharges. Thanks to a decision by the Commerce Commission last week, small businesses are set to save tens of millions of dollars on bank interchange fees from the 1st of November. Now we're taking the next step and making sure those savings are being passed on to consumers by abolishing card surcharges. They are small changes, but they all add up – both for the businesses who have been stung by excessive fees, and for customers who have been meeting the cost at the checkout. And we aren't stopping there. We are pulling every lever we can, including going after councils exorbitant spending and progressing a cap on rates – so families struggling with the cost of living see real relief. Clearly though, in the years to come, immediate action on the cost of living isn't enough. The last Government spent billions of dollars in failed handouts, only to watch inflation roar and the economy falter. We have to keep our eyes on the prize. We can have more jobs, higher wages, and a chance for every New Zealander to get ahead, but that means restoring a culture of ambition, aspiration, prosperity, and achievement. It means backing every farmer, every small business owner, every innovator, and every entrepreneur to compete and win. It means backing every Kiwi who backs themselves. And it means taking the action necessary to make it happen. Just look at our farmers and growers – and the action we've taken to unleash growth in rural New Zealand. Look, you might have noticed that dairy prices are pretty strong right now. Our dairy exports are up 16 per cent, meat and wool exports up 8 per cent, and horticulture exports up 19 per cent. But ask any farmer and they'll tell you prices come, and prices go. Hope isn't a strategy – and just letting the good times roll on isn't enough. If we're serious about unleashing the potential of our rural communities, we need to make our own luck. And ultimately that means unshackling farmers from the red and green tape holding their businesses back. I could run through all the policies and detail – but I'll give you one example of where it's making a difference. Here in Canterbury, broken freshwater rules introduced by the previous government effectively shut down dairy conversions, leaving New Zealand's most profitable industry utterly unable to grow. Now that Todd McClay and Chris Bishop have fixed it, 15,000 more cows have been approved here in Canterbury in just six months. We can have more growth, more exports, more jobs, and higher wages for every New Zealander – but we have to say yes to letting it happen. Construction and infrastructure are also top priorities. Years of rampant inflation, high interest rates, and the resulting painful recession have taken their toll on New Zealand's construction industry. I understand the frustration. We can't keep replicating the boom-bust cycle driven by unsustainable levels of spending, that as Labour showed, only ever ends in skyrocketing debt and record interest rates. The construction industry deserves a credible, sustained pipeline of projects, so they have the confidence to invest long term. Equally though, the public deserve real, cost-effective projects – that make a difference in their community at a good price. Let's get real – taxpayers can't drive to work on a business case, or an engagement survey. Endless paperwork and bureaucracy might keep consultants in business, but it won't do anything for economic growth. Unlike Labour, I can't promise the roads or bridges we design will win awards for urban design and cultural protection, but unlike Labour you will actually drive on them. And I can say that confidently, because our party, the National Party, has a track record of delivery. Spend one day here in Christchurch and you'll see exactly what I mean – modern, reliable highways, criss-crossing the city that just work. Or visit Waikato, or Kapiti, or the expressway north of Auckland to see the impact our Roads of National Significance programme has made for those communities. After years of pain, it will take time for the impact of falling interest rates to be felt in the construction industry. But we're doing everything we can to get the industry moving now. Before Christmas this year, more than $6 billion of projects will get underway. Projects like the Brougham Street upgrades here in Christchurch! The Otaki to Levin expressway! The Melling Interchange! Or – Ryan Hamilton and Tama Potaka – brand-new medical school at Waikato University! Private sector construction activity is also critical. New roads make a difference because people and freight are there to use them. That's why we have a massive programme of work clearing away the jungle of red tape which is slowing construction down in New Zealand. We've already achieved a lot – and more reform is happening right now. Fast Track is rolling, with more than 50 applications underway. And I'm incredibly excited to say that just yesterday the very first consent was released for upgrades at the Ports of Auckland, with construction set to kick off as soon as possible. A flood of legislative amendments will become law by the end of this month, unshackling construction of housing, renewable energy, infrastructure, and a range of other sectors. We're backing businesses to invest in more plant and equipment through Investment Boost, so the trucks, machinery, tools, and utes they need to grow are more affordable. And in just the last week, thousands of new building products from offshore have been approved for use, ushering in competition and driving down the cost of construction, for basic materials like plasterboard, doors, and windows. And of course, later this year is the big one – when Chris Bishop, having already achieved more reform to the RMA than any other Minister in decades, introduces legislation to finally do what so many have tried and failed to do before. Knock off the RMA, for good. The result will be transformative, as we bring an end to the red tape parade that plagues farmers, business owners, and builders all around the country. Of course, there will always be activists and opposition who don't want growth. Like the people who tried to stop cruise ships coming to Milford Sound, or an apartment getting built on a gravel pit on K Road in Central Auckland. Or people happy to shut down a gold mine in Otago, putting 700 jobs at risk. Or those defending a derelict death-trap – the Gordon Wilson Flats in central Wellington – when Victoria University has plans for more student accommodation in a city that desperately needs it. Each of those cases have now been resolved, but let's get real. If we want to make New Zealand an attractive place to build a career and raise a family, we need high-paying private sector jobs that create opportunity and keep our economy moving. Take a look at Australia. If they shut down their mining industry, or their energy industry tomorrow, as Labour and the Greens want to do here, I guarantee you would see fewer Kiwis moving across the ditch. And if the activists won here at home – pulling cows off the Canterbury Plains, taking cruise ships out of Milford Sound, or closing a gold mine in Otago, more would leave tomorrow. We can't afford to leave any stone unturned, shut down whole sectors, or just sit around and hope that conditions will improve. Creating more economic opportunities out of the underutilised DOC land is a great example of how we can make that mission a reality. It's not well known, but a whole third of this country is managed by the Department of Conservation – huge tracts from the most pristine parts of our National Parks to areas of grassland used for grazing and inaccessible land. And with such a massive footprint, it's no surprise that there are a range of great Kiwi businesses already operating on the DOC estate – from guided walks and ski fields, to filming documentaries, grazing sheep and cattle, or hosting concerts and building cell phone towers. And that includes some of our most iconic destinations, that Kiwis love, and visitors keep coming back to visit time and time again. But to do any of that you need a concession – essentially a permit – to stay within the rules and make sure the environment is protected. There's huge potential for growth on DOC land, so we're making real efforts to process those consent applications faster, with around 1,600 approved so far this year. But despite that progress, the concessions regime is fundamentally broken. Right now, an application has to clear more than 100 different plans, strategies, and documents that guide decision making – many of which are out of date and sometimes contradict each other. The process is too slow and too uncertain. All that uncertainty is degrading the quality of our visitor experience, because without a reliable process, business owners can't confidently invest in their business. At times, the impact on the ground has been baffling. E-bikes are tightly controlled because the law forces DOC to treat them in many areas more like a 4-wheel drive than a mountain bike. And growth in tourism on the Routeburn is being held up because the trail crosses artificial boundaries, with different rules and different limits. Meanwhile, DOC, who should be focused on protecting the environment, is forced to spend millions of dollars every year fighting appeals. At the heart of the issue is the Conservation Act, which is nearly 40 years old and now unworkably complex. And the effect has been to strangle economic activity on a third of New Zealand's land – when we should be unleashing growth, creating jobs, and increasing wages all across the country. So, in the spirit of saying yes to more jobs, more growth, and higher wages, today I can make two announcements. First, we're going to fix the Conservation Act to unlock more economic activity through concessions – like tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure, in locations where that makes sense. That means more certainty for businesses, less bureaucracy, and much faster decisions, so the businesses that should be operating can get up and running. There will still be restrictions to protect our amazing natural environment – so of course it won't make sense for businesses to be operating on every part of the DOC estate. But where it does make sense, we need to get to the 'yes' much faster – instead of being bogged down in process and uncertainty. If we're serious about keeping Kiwis at home, creating jobs, and increasing wages for all New Zealanders, we can't afford to keep saying no to every opportunity that comes our way. At the same time, sites that are truly special to New Zealanders should be protected. Which is why my second announcement is that we're giving DOC more support, by introducing a charge for foreign visitors at high volume sites. Initially, we will be looking at four locations – Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Track, and Mount Cook – where foreigners make up more than 80 per cent of all visitors. I have heard many times from friends visiting from overseas their shock that they can visit some of the most beautiful places in the world for free. It's only fair that at these special locations, foreign visitors make an additional contribution of between $20 and $40 per person. For the conservation estate that will mean $62 million per year in revenue, which will be directly re-invested into those same areas, so we can keep investing in the sites that underpin so much of our tourism sector. At the same time, there will be no charge for New Zealanders to access the conservation estate. It's our collective inheritance and Kiwis shouldn't have to pay to see it. Finally, the man responsible for delivering all of this – Tama Potaka, our great Minister of Conservation, Hamilton legend, can you stand up! Tama, thank you for all of the incredible work you do as part of our economic team, ensuring New Zealand's best days are ahead of us. The best part of this job – by a country mile – is the people. Every week I have the privilege of getting out of the Beehive, and meeting extraordinary New Zealanders who – like me – believe our country's best days are ahead of us. The loud, proud, and excited types. And the rugged, humble, quiet types. Kiwis who – in tough times – make the impossible possible every single week. Kiwis who work all day, and often all night, just to leave a better future for their children and grandchildren. We're doing everything we can to make that a little easier. In difficult times and in a world full of uncertainty, it's never been more important to stay focused. We have the potential. We have the team. And we have the plan. So, let's keep working.
Scoop
03-08-2025
- Scoop
ACT Launches Largest Local Government Campaign In New Zealand
ACT Local has today unveiled its full slate of candidates for the 2025 local body elections: 46 practical, community-minded New Zealanders standing across 25 councils. With 37 ward and constituency level candidates, it's the largest local government campaign mounted by a political party in New Zealand, including Labour and the Greens who have stood council candidates for many years. ACT Local is standing a further 9 candidates for Auckland Local Board positions. 'These are New Zealanders who've had enough of being ignored by their councils,' says ACT Leader David Seymour. 'They're stepping up to deliver real change and lower rates. 'ACT's candidates come from all walks of life; we have business owners, tradies, healthcare workers, farmers, and many professionals. What unites them is a belief in sensible spending, equal rights, and a back-to-basics approach. They're ready to bring real-world experience and common sense to the council table. 'Many have built successful careers, but more importantly, they're local residents and ratepayers – people who've built homes, raised families, and dealt firsthand with council bureaucracy. They know what it's like to stretch a budget and deal with the challenges people face locally. 'Now they're stepping forward to bring practical solutions and a laser focus on core services like roads, water, and rubbish. 'In central government, ACT is cutting waste, defending equal rights, and taking pressure off households. Our councillors will do the same: vote against wasteful spending, stand up for democratic principles, and focus on essential services without driving up rates. 'Kiwis voted for real change in 2023, but our councils missed the memo. 'While ratepayers face eye-watering rate hikes, councils are blowing money on vanity projects, pushing ideological agendas like co-governance, and wasting time grandstanding about global politics – all while ignoring the basics. 'Every local election, voters get the little booklet with their ballot paper and tick whoever they think will do the best job. But too often, you don't know what you are going to get. Candidates promise one thing and then do another. With ACT Local candidates, you'll know exactly where they stand. 'So if there's an ACT Local candidate in your area and you want real change from your council, I hope you will give them your support.' Candidate profiles can be found here. A full list of our candidates is below: Northland Far North District Council Davina Smolders – Bay of Islands–Whangaroa Ward Whangārei District Council Matthew Yovich – Bream Bay Ward Kaipara District Council Nima Maleiki – Kaiwaka–Mangawhai Ward Roger Billington – Otamatea Ward Auckland Council & Local Boards Albany Ward and Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (Hibiscus Coast Subdivision) Samuel Mills North Shore Ward and Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Helena Roza Franklin Ward and Franklin Local Board (Wairoa Subdivision) Dene Green Howick Ward and Howick Local Board (Botany Subdivision) Ali Dahche Manukau Ward and Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board (Ōtara Subdivision) Henrietta Devoe Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (Hibiscus Coast Subdivision) Yang Qu Kaipātiki Local Board Martin Lundqvist Henderson-Massey Local Board Ben Cox Ōrākei Local Board Martin Mahler Amanda Lockyer Robert Meredith Howick Local Board (Pakuranga Subdivision) Pat Arroyo Howick Local Board (Howick Subdivision) William Goldberg Papakura Local Board Prasad Gawande Central & Lower North Island Waikato District Council Peter Mayall – Tamahere–Woodlands Ward Hauraki District Council Michelle Magnus – Paeroa Ward Andrew Pickford – Plains Ward Waipa District Council Stuart Hylton – Cambridge Ward Hamilton City Council Nidhita Gosai – West Ward Preet Dhaliwal – East Ward New Plymouth District Council Damon Fox – Kaitake–Ngāmotu Ward Napier City Council Iain Bradley – Ahuriri Ward Manawatū District Council Jerry Pickford – Feilding Ward Aaron McLeod – Feilding Ward Palmerston North City Council Glen Williams – General Ward Porirua City Council Phill Houlihan – Pāuatahanui Ward Greater Wellington Regional Council Nigel Elder – Lower Hutt Constituency Alice Claire Hurdle – Wellington Constituency Wellington City Council Ray Bowden – Onslow–Western Ward Mark Flynn – Northern Ward Luke Kuggeleijn – Eastern Ward South Island Candidates Tasman District Council David Ross – Motueka Ward Daniel Shirley – Richmond Ward Marlborough District Council Malcolm Taylor – Marlborough Sounds Ward John Hyndman – Blenheim Ward Hurunui District Council Tom Spooner – South Ward Waimakariri District Council Nathan Atkins – Kaiapoi–Woodend Ward Selwyn District Council Chris Till – Rolleston Ward Timaru District Council John Bolt – Timaru Ward Environment Canterbury Regional Council Toni Severin – South Canterbury Constituency Otago Regional Council Robbie Byars – Molyneux Constituency Dunedin City Council Anthony Kenny – Council At-large Ward
Otago Daily Times
26-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Combined model for school boards sought
Catholic schools in Oamaru are awaiting government sign-off to combine primary and secondary school boards in the town into one body. New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) Otago regional executive chairman and St Kevin's College board member Eugen Dupu said over the past 18 months, St Kevin's College and St Joseph's School — both state-integrated Catholic schools with the same proprietor and special character — had been exploring the possibility of a shared governance model. "Through wide consultation — including input from both school communities and independent facilitators — there has been strong support for a single combined board, while maintaining the individual identity and character of each school," he said. The proposed model would bring more cohesive leadership, as well as strengthened Catholic stewardship and enhanced students and whanau support, he said. "We are now in the final stages of working with the Ministry of Education, with guidance from the NZSBA, to formalise the new structure reflecting the overwhelming support received from both school communities." The school hopes the changes will be in time for the school board elections, taking place nationwide in September. Mr Dupu said school boards strengthened governance and achievement, reflected communities, monitored student wellbeing and encouraged local decision-making. "A well-governed school benefits the whole community. Better education leads to stronger social and economic outcomes. "Active community participation strengthens democracy and ensures schools are responsive to the needs of all tamariki and whānau. "Strong school governance isn't just about policies and procedures — it's about shaping environments where every child can thrive," he said. "When communities lead with purpose, schools flourish." He anticipates the St Kevin's elections will be a "positive opportunity to renew and refresh community involvement". This year, NZSBA has launched its "Get on Board" campaign before the three-yearly school board elections. NZSBA president Meredith Kennet said school boards played a critical role in our education system, making decisions that affect students, teachers and whānau across the country. "This campaign is about making sure all New Zealanders understand the value of community participation in their children's education — and feel empowered to take part," she said. Get on Board 2025 has rolled out additional resources for schools and boards, overhauled its website, and increased advertising across all platforms. Online workshops and webinars are also available on the NZSBA website, along with live sessions and online courses. Waitaki Valley School principal Jane Severinsen is looking forward to welcoming a new board of passionate parents and community members in the upcoming election. "It gives the chance for parents and the community to have a voice while guiding strategic direction," she said. "It's a wonderful opportunity for the school and local community." The school has rallied behind the new campaign, using "Get on Board" posters to advertise the election. Ardgowan Primary School principal Ryan Fraser also expects a positive election. With three positions open for the next board term, the elections would be important to the rural school. "School boards are the voice of the community and it's important to have a diverse range of voices representing." The triennial elections are scheduled from September 3 to September 19. Nominations close 35 days before each school's chosen election date. People can visit the NZSBA elections website to start the nomination process or nominate someone else. — Claire Taylor
