Tena Koutou katoa,

E mihi ana au ki a koutou, e hoa mā, o te tau hou!

Welcome to the new school year - a start like no other!

To colleagues affected by the significant weather events in Auckland – we are all thinking of you and hope that the damage and chaos the floods have created, will be swiftly cleaned up. Kia kaha to you all. 

I have contacted many of you in the Auckland region this past week. Thank you for helping me understand the issues you are facing. As your spokesperson, I have been able to represent your challenges and communicate these to the National and Auckland Ministry of Education Officials. I also commend The Auckland Primary Principals Association (APPA), which has communicated directly with principals, offering support and guidance. I encourage all those affected by the flooding to seek help from your local associations and local Ministry offices. Kia Kaha e hoa mā.

Whether this week or next, you will very soon be back at school, surrounded by young people who think you are marvelous. Enjoy the positivity that comes with the start of the new year, and even though some of you may be facing immense challenges, your young people will be excited to be back at school.

Thank you for electing me to be your NZPF President for 2023. It is an honour and a privilege to serve you, our members. I acknowledge my Kura, Manaia View School, and am grateful to the Board of Trustees for releasing me to take on this critical leadership role. My thanks to Wendy Rudolph, for accepting the Acting Principal role in my absence. I know that you will continue to receive the same generous support from principals that I have had for so many years.

My mantra is simple: To Listen, To Learn, and To Act. 

To listen to you so that the Federation understands exactly what you, as professional leaders, need. 

To learn what we need to know to make the best decisions. This may be gathering data, looking for models of good practice, referring to local and global research, or seeking information from other sources but, most importantly, from you. 

To act strongly and swiftly and with absolute clarity.

Over the last two weeks, I have met with many Sector Leaders, including the National Association Presidents from NZAIMS, APPA, Te Akatea, Catholic Principals Association and the Rural Principals Association, the CEO of the Teaching Council, the MAC facilitators, NZEI and NZSTA Presidents.  I have been listening. I have a full calendar for the next few weeks to meet with many more groups. My thanks to all sector leaders for giving me the opportunity of Whanaungatanga during the holiday break and for sharing ways we can work together on collective challenges, including well-being of Principals, equity of resources, Curriculum Refresh implementation, attendance, ongoing covid responses, learning supports, Professional Growth Circles, workforce, major property issues, Rauhuia (leadership), ITE and Disciplinary changes, principal leadership support and PLD.

Purpose of NZPF and the work of the Executive

The purpose of NZPF is twofold:  To serve and be the most influential advocate for school principals; and provide principals with professional learning and development opportunities.  I want to honour the foundational work of those who came before us and add even more value and mana to the Federation.  While the national executive may be the faces and voices at the main table, it must always be you, the membership, in the driving seat.

Shortly an email will arrive in your inbox. It will include a subscription link so that you can join NZPF for 2023.

The NZPF Executive met in mid-January. The issues already raised through my initial sector leader meetings are now included in NZPF strategic planning for 2023. Our Strategic plan covers four Annual Goals: Ngā Pou E Whā

Pou tahi: Leadership, 

Pou rua: Curriculum, 

Pou toru: Akonga/ Inclusive Education

Pou wha: Legal/ Constitution/ Policy. 

The Executive has four working groups - each covering a different Strategic Pou. Each Pou will report on their work through this newsletter. In this way, you will be well informed about the mahi of Executive members. Members of each Pou will also represent you on associated working parties and national task force groups. You will hear about that work through their reports.

The real strength of the Executive lies in the fact that we are a team.  Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini - My strength is not that of a single warrior but that of many. We are a team guided by the kawa and values that our predecessors developed.

Election year

The resignation of Prime Minister Hon Jacinda Ardern sent shock waves across Wellington. We thank Ardern for her leadership, especially for the way she represented Aotearoa on the global stage. Her mantra of empathy and kindness, whilst maintaining strength and determination, has resonated with world leaders everywhere, as a new style of leadership. We wish her all the best for her next phase of life.

The Federation congratulates former Education Minister, Hon Chris Hipkins, on his promotion to Prime Minister. We also note that Minister Hon Jan Tinetti has been appointed Minister of Education alongside Associate Minister of Education Māori, Hon Kelvin Davis, and Associate Minister of Education; Pacific Peoples, Hon Aupito William Sio.

We now have two former school principals leading Education portfolios which gives us confidence that we will not have unrealistic and out of touch education policies imposed on us. Both Minister Tinetti and Minister Davis know only too well what works in schools and what doesn’t.

NZPF Moot 2023

This year our Regional Presidents will not just hear from the Minister of Education but will have the opportunity to learn about every political party’s vision and plans for education.

A panel comprising the education spokesperson of each political party currently in Government has been invited to participate and answer questions put by our regional presidents and the national executive. The session will be chaired by well-known journalist Jehan Casinada.

Principal Collective Bargaining

Our Principal Collective contract is currently in the negotiating stage. I encourage all NZPF members to sign up as a member of either NZEI or PPCB. I would also encourage you to attend the PUMS on offer. 

NZPF acknowledges the negotiating teams for the mahi they are doing on behalf of Principals.

Enacting Te Tiriti o Waitangi

For you to give full effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in your schools, you need resources, personnel, connections and support. NZPF has been advocating for improved resources for some years and will continue this mahi.

To better understand how to enact Te Tiriti o Waitangi, NZPF maintains strong links with Te Akatea Māori Principals’ Association and the Māori Achievement Collaborations (MACs). The MACs are a highly successful PLD programme for principals who aspire for their Māori ākonga to succeed as Māori. 

Communications

This year the NZPF “Communication Strategy Team,” will review the NZPF website, social media (facebook) platform, and other communications channels with a view to increasing interaction with you, our members.  

This Principal Matters publication will be emailed to you fortnightly.  You can expect to receive it every second Wednesday during term time. Principal Matters will give you the information you need.

This is the longest bulletin you will receive, as I promise to keep them short and specific. We recognize that your time is precious, and you don’t need lengthy emails clogging up your inbox. 

From time to time, there will be crisp targeted bulletins.

Principal Wellbeing

Across research surveys both in New Zealand and in Australia, the number one issue for principals is principal wellbeing. Piki Te Ora - the well-being of our colleagues needs to be a priority.

The Federation wants to promote that seeking and giving help is part of developing our leadership capabilities. In the next month, we will reach out to Regional Presidents to get input to launch a 'National Hauora Campaign Strategy" - Principals supporting Principals. This will not exclude us from advocating for Principals with our Sector partners.