Special Character of School is legally defined as follows:

Ponatahi Christian School, the School with the Bible, has been established to uphold the values and doctrines of the Christian Religion as determined from time to time by the Consistory of the Reformed Congregations of New Zealand at Carterton.

The school reflects this by:

• Upholding the honour of the LORD in all curricula and expected conduct and work habits of both students and staff.
• Teaching young people that they are born as lost sinners and can only be reconciled to God the Father by a supernatural work of regenerating grace whereby the Holy Spirit grants faith to receive of the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Assisting young people, where possible, in developing the skills and attitudes needed to diligently use the Word of God as the means of God’s grace.

Importance of Special Character:

• Any Board Of Trustees decision, which the Consistory finds to be contrary to the Special Character, is an illegal decision.
• The Special Character over rides curricula and policies which the Government makes compulsory for State Schools.
• The Special Character or any other clause in the Integration Agreement can not be changed by a future Government without the consent of the Ponatahi Christian School TRUST.

Board Of Trustees:

According to Government Regulations the Board Of Trustees membership is as follows.

• Four Parents’ Representatives are elected by the parents every three years. (Currently: Mrs M Vergunst, Mr Teunis Van der Put, Mr E Snoek, and Dr J M Evers.)
• Three Proprietors’ Representatives appointed by the Ponatahi Christian School Trust. (Currently Mr A Bosch, Mr A Verheij,and Mr W Bosch.)
• One Staff Representative elected by the staff. (Currently Mr H Optland).
• The Principal. (Mr P Bertram)
• One Student Representative who is elected annually by the Y9-13 students. (Rebecca Bertram in 2010)

All nine Board Members have full voting rights, although the Staff Representative and the Principal may not partake in Board decisions regarding their personal employment, and the Student Representative does not participate in any employment matters.

The Chairman is voted for annually by all Board members and is currently Dr J M Evers.

The BOT ordinarily on the third Monday of each month except January.

Ponatahi Christian School Trust:

All members are appointed by the Church Consistory. From time to time the Consistory has based the appointment decisions around voting in the Annual Member’s Meeting.

Current members are A Bosch, P Bertram, secretary, Teunis van der Put, M van der Put, A Verheij, minutes secretary, W Bosch, B Groeneweg and D Bertram.

Trust Chairman is appointed by Church Consistory and is currently Mr A Bosch.