All of New Zealand's state schools have a board of trustees (BOT). The BOT is the Crown entity responsible for the governance and the control of the management of the school, and are accountable for the school’s performance.
The BOT is responsible for determining the strategic direction in which the school is heading (in consultation with parents, staff and students). The board must also ensure that its school provides a safe environment and quality education for all its students. Boards are also responsible for overseeing the management of personnel, curriculum, property, finance and administration.
The Principal is the Board's chief executive in relation to the school's control and management. The Principal is required to comply with the Board's general policy directions; but has complete discretion to manage the school on a day to day basis.
Who is on the BOT?
At Matakana School, our Board is made up of:
The Principal of the school
One elected staff representative
Five parent elected trustees
Co-opted trustees (as needed)
Trustees are elected by the parent community and staff members. Elections for parent and staff trustees are held every three years. A by-election can occur at any stage in the 3 year election cycle if an elected trustee resigns from the board and thereby creates a casual vacancy.
What does the BOT do?
Every Board must prepare and maintain a School Charter. The purpose of a School Charter is to establish the mission, aims, objectives, directions, and targets of the Board in relation to the Government’s national education guidelines (NEGs), national administration guidelines (NAGs) and the Board’s local priorities.
The school board has the overall responsibility for the school, including meeting certain legal obligations, responsibility for property, personnel, financial management, reporting to the Ministry and school community, and meeting national requirements set by the Ministry of Education.
The BOT makes decisions that the Principal and staff then put in place. It must also monitor and report annually on its progress towards those goals.
BOT Meetings...
Boards typically meet once a month between February and December. Meetings are open to the public, however, they are not public meetings where everyone has the right to speak. Speaking rights can be granted in advance by the Board Chair. Sometimes parts of Board meetings are closed to the public when the Board is discussing confidential matters. BOT members are also involved in Board sub-committees which meet as required to discuss issues. Recommendations from these meetings are presented to the full board for approval.
Can I get involved?
Standing for the BOT is a great way to get involved in your child’s education. Training and support are available to make carrying out this responsibility easier.
Elections are run every three years and in order to stand for the board you must confirm that to the best of your knowledge you are eligible to be a school trustee. The website of the New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA) has and excellent website with lots of great information for current or potential trustees. www.nzsta.org.nz
If you are interested in standing for election, a good idea is to talk to a current BOT member. You may also like attend a couple of BOT meetings to get a better idea of what goes on at the meetings and about the responsibility involved.
Matakana School Board of Trustees
| Chairperson / Treasurer | Alastair McAuley | Fundraising / Sponsorship | Rebecca Lane |
| Fundraising / Sponsorship | Kacey Murphy |
| Policy | Sarah Martin |
| Property | Scott Allen |
| Principal | Darrel Goosen |
| Staff Representative | Wendy Chittenden |
Alastair McAuley - Chairperson / Treasurer
My wife Kerridyn and I decided to make the Matakana area our home to raise our family in 2016. We, along with our daughter Amelia and son Finn love being part of the Matakana school community and we have found their attendance at school has been a great way to meet other families and engage with the community.
I am a mechanical design engineer and have worked for 25 years in the medical device industry in New Zealand and the USA, holding various management roles.
I work from my home office and look forward to serving on the school board, representing the community, to give all the children the best start the school has to offer.
Scott Allen - Property
My family and I have lived in Matakana for the past 13 years. My wife, Claire, has been a teacher at Matakana School throughout this time after we discovered and fell in love with this area.I have a background in the construction industry with years of knowledge and experience in all forms of residential design, early childcare and light commercial developments.
The Matakana community is a tight knit group and we have always been a part of school events in some form or another. I am excited to be working with the other board members, school management and teaching staff to keep our school a MAGIC place and the pride of the community.
Rebecca Lane - Fundraising
Sarah Martin - Policy
I have lived just out of Matakana for the past 11 years but both my husband (Mike Bigwood) and I are born and bred Rodney locals. Mike and I both attended Mahurangi College and have a real passion for this local area and community. We love the lifestyle, community and vibe that all of this area has to offer. We have two children at Matakana School (Lucy and Benny) and I am looking forward to contributing to the School Board. I am a solicitor and Partner at Simpson Western Lawyers so bring to the table analytical, legal and practical skills. I look forward to working with the Board and meeting many more parents of the school community.
Kacey Murphy - Fundraising
My family and I started calling Matakana home in 2020 after moving back to NZ from Australia where I had spent the prior 12 years. We chose Matakana as we had visited this area during a trip home and immediately fell in love with it due to the vibe, beaches and the lifestyle. Our 2 sons (Wyatt & Jude) now both attend Matakana School and thoroughly enjoy it, as do we being a part of the school community.
Many years ago I was the Student Representative on my high school Board of Trustees and enjoyed being able to contribute to the school environment and now with 2 sons at school I wanted again to be able to get involved with my kids education and that of all other students at school. I am looking forward to working with the teaching staff, other board members and the school community to continue to make Matakana school a great place for our children.
Wendy Chittenden - Staff Representative
Darrel Goosen - Principal
New Zealand became my home in 1998 after spending the first part of my life in Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. I have never been happier than to call New Zealand home!
I taught at several outstanding schools in Auckland before taking on the Principal’s role at Matakana School in July 2010.
There is an old Hebrew saying that I hold very close to my heart ‘Confine not your children to your own understanding, for they were born in a different time’. That’s what makes understanding children’s learning so important to me.
My wife, Janet is a teacher and I have two adult children, Selkirk and Erynne. I love friends, family, fishing, tramping, reading, movies and gastronomic delights!
To contact a member of the Board of Trustees, please email bot@matakana.school.nz or write care of the School Office. Emails will be directed to the Board Chair. You may also leave a message at the office on 422 7309.