My School Election

About us

My School Election is owned by EducationPlus Auckland Limited,a Registered NZ Limited Company (3666031).

About 15 years ago, Bernardine Vester decided there had to be an easier way for a returning officer to run an election than dealing with papers, licking envelopes and manually counting votes. But would anyone design an app with school-based returning officers in mind?

Today, Bernardine is New Zealand’s foremost expert on running school board elections. She works with a team of over 150 Returning Officers and support staff to give schools options over how to manage a successful election.

“Why keep expertise to yourself? I believe in local control over destiny,” she said. “The Returning Officer plays a central role in community participation in education.”

We encourage the Manage-Your-Own option, but understand the reality for many school offices. This is why we also offer a Full Service for parent elections.

Managing Director

Bernardine Vester

Bernardine is the former Chief Executive of the City of Manukau Education Trust and a New Zealand Eisenhower Fellow.

A former teacher and union leader, she has served on school boards since 1989. She was a founding trustee of Ako Matatupu: Teach First New Zealand, currently chairs Sistema Aotearoa, a South Auckland charitable trust for orchestral music, serves on Te Tuhi’s Contemporary Art Foundation board, and is a Justice of the Peace. She works as an education consultant with principals and school boards and is an NZSTA contracted provider. She has been a Returning Officer for board elections since 2013.

Director

Allan Vester

Allan is the former secondary principal of Edgewater College, served for a number of years on the Principals’ Council, including as Chair.

He has been a member of the Transition Board for the Teaching Council and served on several Ministry of Education working groups, including most recently chairing the Equity Funding reference group. He is a board member for HealthCarePlus NZ (formerly the EBS), is a Rotarian, Justice of the Peace, and coaches school rowing.