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 September 2025.
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 7:00 pm 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 2025 -2028
Mike Asbridge
Mike is a dad of four - one currently at Mellons Bay, one starting next year, and two now at intermediate and high school. His family is proud to be part of the local community, and Mike is keen to support the school, staff, and families in creating a positive environment for all students.
Mike is the Chief Financial Officer at MediaWorks and brings over 20 years of global experience across a range of roles and industries to his role on the board.
Alesha Marnewick
David Hayes
I’m delighted to serve on the Board of Trustees at Mellons Bay School, where my son Finn has nearly completed his Year One journey. Having spent most of my life in the Howick area, I know the community well, and with family in the area—including at MBS—we’re committed to a long-term relationship with the school and its community.
Professionally, I am a construction project manager and co-owner of a consulting business. This experience gives me daily exposure to strategic planning, risk management, financial reporting, health and safety legislation, stakeholder engagement, and working with Council and Crown agencies. I’m looking forward to contributing these skills to support the school and help ensure the best possible outcomes for our students and school community.
Kester Ko
Kester Ko is the father of two children at Mellons Bay School, and his family has been part of the school community for the past six years.
Passionate about the partnership between the school and its community, Kester has enjoyed being an active parent, including volunteering for the Year 6 school camp. He is dedicated to supporting the board and staff to ensure Mellons Bay continues to be a place where every child can thrive.
Professionally, Kester is the director of Rockhopper Limited, a property development and advisory company. As a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, he brings extensive experience in strategic planning, financial oversight, and decision-making.
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.
Jacqui McKearney
Jacqui was born and grew up in South Auckland, New Zealand, and it was here that she began her teaching career in 1995.
After heading overseas and teaching as a day relief teacher in a variety of schools and at a variety of levels across London, as well as spending 6 months teaching in Omagh in Northern Ireland, she returned to New Zealand and settled in East Auckland to have and raise her family. She began teaching at Mellons Bay School in 2016, and all 3 of her children are past pupils of Mellons Bay School. During this time she has held a range of positions, including Learning support and ESOL teacher, Within-School Lead (WSL) teacher, Across-Schools Lead (ASL) teacher, and Year 0/1 classroom teacher.
Mellons Bay is a school she cares deeply about, both professionally and personally, and she feels privileged to have nurtured and guided so many students on their learning journey at Mellons Bay.
Jacqui is a dedicated and passionate teacher who believes building connections and strong relationships with whānau and tamariki, clear, open communication, and student-centered education are the essential foundations to student hauora (well-being) and academic success.
She looks forward to working alongside Steve and the other board members to represent the staff at the governance level.
Rita Williamson