OUR BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
The Association is governed by a Board of Management elected under the rules of the Association’s Constitution. The Board consists of a Chairperson, 6 members voted on by elected representatives of member kindergartens and one teacher representative elected by the teaching staff of the Association. The CEO has a membership of the Board in an ex-officio capacity.
The Board is accountable for and has control of, the management of the Association. The Board’s role is not a ‘hands-on’ management activity. The Board employs staff to fulfil the day to day management of professional tasks within the Association and to advance the educational interest of its children.
Board meetings are held monthly at the Association office with no fewer than ten meetings per year.

Ruth Constantine
CMKA Board of Management: Chairperson | ELCM Board of Directors: Chairperson

Rachel Cashmore
CMKA Board of Management: Vice-chairperson

Brenda Bushell
CMKA Board of Management: Teacher Representative

James Christie
CMKA Board of Management: Member

Sarah Hallie
CMKA Board of Management: Member
Sarah is an HR professional with over 15 years’ experience working across a variety of industries. She holds a Bachelor of Business with a double major in Human Resource Management & Employment Relations and Management. Her current role is Head of People, Culture & Wellbeing for a company with a network of 11 hospitality venues in Auckland and Hamilton. Her role involves looking at all factors of the running of the business, such as financials, marketing, operations and people, with a focus on retention, attraction, development and the wellbeing of employees.
“My kids love being part of the Papakura West family and as parents we have enjoyed seeing their development and readiness for school by being in the kindergarten environment.
My motivation for being on the Counties Manukau Kindergarten Board is to help ensure we provide an environment that is able to attract talented teachers who believe that children are at the heart of what we do and that we continue to be a thriving Association for our community.”
View my LinkedIn Profile

Victoria Johnston
CMKA Board of Management | ELCM Board of Directors: Director

Tom O’Neil
CMKA Board of Management: Member | ELCM Board of Directors: Director
Since then, Tom has enthusiastically served on the CMKA Board, with five years as Board Chairperson from 2015 – 2020. He has also served on the Early Learning Counties Manukau (ELCM) Board of Directors since 2015. He has overseen and supported CMKA and ELCM through huge sector change, with increased competition in the marketplace and significant legislative changes to how the industry operates.
As a business professional, Tom is a Careers Specialist and Employment Contributor to multiple New Zealand media organisations, has written four books on careers and personal development, and has been a contributor to the Harvard Business Review and the Economist Magazine. He is also qualified with a Bachelor of Social Science in Psychology, and is a full member of the Institute of Directors.
“I am a passionate believer in the wider Counties Manukau whānau, and greatly respect the roles our Teachers and Support Staff play in teaching and looking after our most cherished and venerable members of our community – our little ones.
As a Board, we must support innovative and creative thinking across all areas of our organisation, helping all members to encourage and further inspire our children.
Our organisation must continue to intelligently embrace changes that the early childhood sector and the wider world impose on us, yet at the same time, make certain we do not destroy the heart of who we are and what we are about – passionate community members who put children at the heart of all we do!”
View my LinkedIn Profile
Contact the Board
A new email has been created for the CMKA Board of Management and the ELCM Board of Directors: board@cmka.org.nz.
Content of all correspondence received to this email address will be treated as highly confidential and directed to the Board Chairperson in the first instance. A list of correspondence received by the Board is included in the minutes of the Board meetings each month.