About us

Charter School Agency | Te Tari Kura Hourua

The Charter School Agency negotiates and manages contracts with school sponsors and delivers funding. It engages with stakeholders, including those who are interested in being charter school sponsors.

It supports the Authorisation Board, which approves sponsors for new and converting charter schools.

Our te reo Māori name

We worked with the Māori Language Commission |Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori to develop a te reo Māori name for the Charter School Agency.

Kura refers to schools, while hourua means having two hulls. In this context, ‘te tari’ means ‘the agency.’

Charter schools | kura hourua reflects a unique partnership. Just like a waka hourua that carries people safely across vast oceans through teamwork and balance, charter schools | kura hourua can symbolise the collaboration between charter school operators and the government, and between the schools and their communities. These schools are built on different groups coming together, like the twin hulls of the canoe, to navigate the journey of education and support the learning of young people.

The Authorisation Board is Te Poari Whakamana Kura Hourua which means the board that authorises or enacts charter schools.

Charter School Agency Leadership

Jane Lee - Chief Executive

The Charter School Agency is led by Chief Executive Jane Lee, who has extensive experience in the education sector and the public service. She was most recently a Deputy Chief Executive at the Education Review Office. She was recently seconded to the Public Service Commission as an Assistant Commissioner, working alongside Chief Executives. 

Jane has worked in the public sector for more than 30 years, starting her career as a teacher. She is of Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe and Waitaha descent has whakapapa back to Rakiura Stewart Island. Jane is a member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.