The Board
Governance of our school
The current members of The Board were elected to serve for a period of 3 years.
They were elected in August 2022.
Meetings are open to members of the school community. Board meeting dates for the current year are listed below. Please note, dates may change. For confirmation please phone the school office.
Board Meeting Dates for 2025:
All meetings are on a Tuesday at 7.00pm in the Board Room.
Term 1
18 February
25 March
Term 2
13 May
17 June
Term 3
29 July
2 September
Term 4
21 October
25 November
Our Board 2022 -2025
Ed Cook
Ed lives within walking distance of Mellons Bay School with his wife Jacky and two children - both of whom attend the school. Ed is a Director of Rider Levett Bucknall providing commercial management for many of New Zealand's largest construction projects. Ed is keen to help the school maintain its deserved reputation delivering high quality education in an inclusive environment, while continuing to develop opportunities for the future.
April Fang
April currently has one child at Mellons Bay School. Born and raised in Mainland China, lived in Hong Kong for over 10 years, and now settled in New Zealand since 2014, I understand and respect the cultural differences between people from various backgrounds. I joined the school’s PTA 6 years ago when my daughter started her learning Journey at Mellons Bay School. Through these years, I have helped PTA organise multiple fund raising events. At the same time, I am the Chinese community’s liaison and I have contributed in creating a platform for the school to know more about the Asian community, and provide a good service for the parents to get better understanding of school’s policies and local culture. I received my Masters of Philosophy degree in Communications in Hong Kong Baptist University, and I have a decade's worth of working experience in Advertising and Marketing, I am prepared to contribute to the board. I am determined to actively get involved in the board management, and focus to help Mellons Bay School achieve a continued success.
David Hulley
David is a father of three children, one currently at Mellons Bay School, and the two eldest ex-students of the school. David is proud to be part of the Mellons Bay School family and has a strong desire to support the board, teachers and parents, and play an active role in shaping the education of the students.
David is a Manufacturing Manager at Frucor Suntory, with 15 years’ experience in management and leadership.
Mark Steele
Mark lives in Mellons Bay with his wife Renee and their three children, one of whom currently attend Mellons Bay School. Mark is an Authorised Financial Adviser who provides investment advice and portfolio management services to individuals, trusts and companies.
He has a proud interest in the school as a past pupil himself and like all parents would like to see the school being the best it can be for benefit of the children, parents and staff.
Rita Williamson - Presiding Member
Rita is married with four children, three of whom are currently at Mellons Bay School. Rita is a local who grew up in the Howick Pakuranga area and loves the area and the community
Rita has a Bachelor of Laws degree and Bachelor of Arts degree and is currently a Solicitor at Wells & Co, located in Howick village. Rita is passionate about good quality education and ensuring that students are able to make the most of their educational opportunities.
Terina Attwell
Terina moved from South Africa to New Zealand when she was young. She is a Howick Pakuranga local who has been in the area for over 20 years.
Terina is currently a Year 5 teacher. She started at Mellons Bay School as a student teacher in 2016. It was here where she experienced the warm and friendly staff, community and students. After completing a Bachelor of Education in 2016, Terina was hired as a full time teacher at Mellons Bay School in 2017. She has enjoyed every moment of teaching and has guided many classes through their learning journeys.
Terina had a year of teaching experience in Sydney. During her time in Sydney, Terina taught in a variety of Special Education schools, public schools and Independent schools across Sydney. Terina has a strong belief in and passion for inclusive education and incorporating culture within the classroom.
Steve Harper-Travers
Steve joined Mellons Bay School as Principal at the start of 2025, and he is thrilled to step into this leadership role. As a local, he has always admired the school’s strong reputation and he is excited to become a part of it.
Steve began his teaching career in England in 1993, working in various primary schools before making the bold decision to move to New Zealand in 2008—a decision he has never regretted. Since then, he has held leadership roles at Farm Cove Intermediate, Somerville Intermediate, and most recently, as Deputy Principal at Maraetai Beach School. His return to a primary school setting reinforced his belief in the importance of community, and he is eager to foster strong relationships with students, staff, and families at Mellons Bay School.
Steve is passionate about lifelong learning, both for himself and for the children of Mellons Bay. He looks forward to leading the school with a focus on excellence, inclusivity, and community spirit.