Council composition

The parameters of TEI Council membership are specified by the Education Act 1989, with the details noted in an institution's constitution of Council, and published in the New Zealand Gazette.

Section 222AA of the Education Act 2009 specifies special provisions relating to the constitution of polytechnic councils.

The council of a polytechnic must comprise of:

• four members appointed by the Minister for Tertiary Education
• four members appointed by the council in accordance with its statutes

Section 222AC of the Education Act also states that a member of a polytechnic council may be appointed as a member of another polytechnic council.

Section 171(1) of the Education Act 1989 provides for TEI Councils to consist of between 12 and 20 members. Note: subsections (1) through to (11) do not apply to the constitution of a polytechnic council.

Each university and wānanga council must include:

• four persons appointed by the Minister for Tertiary Education
• the Chief Executive of the institution
• one to three permanent members of the academic staff of the institution, elected by the permanent members of that staff
• one to three permanent members of the general staff of the institution, elected by the permanent members of that staff
• one to three persons who must be appointed
• student association membership where compulsory, in accordance with the constitution or rules of the association
• in any other case, following an election (conducted in accordance with statutes made by the Council) by the students at the institution
• one person appointed in consultation with the central organisation of employers within the meaning of the Labour Relations Act 1987
• one person appointed in consultation with the central organisation of workers within the meaning of the Labour Relations Act 1987
• if the Council considers it appropriate, one or more persons appointed in accordance with the Council's constitution to represent professional bodies.

The above provides for at least ten of the minimum twelve members of a council. In addition to these, the constitution of a council may also include provisions:

• allowing the council to co-opt up to a specified number of persons
• allowing the appointment, in accordance with the provision, of up to a specified number of persons
• allowing the election, in accordance with the provision, of up to a specified number of persons.

Section 171(4) of the Education Act 1989 states that a council should reflect, so far, as is reasonably practicable, the ethnic and socio-economic diversity of the communities served by the institution as well as gender balance. In addition, the Minister and Council, when appointing and co-opting members, are to strive to ensure that the Council has a sufficient number of members with expertise in governance.