The Principals (Aotearoa | New Zealand)

Student attendance has become one of the big challenges facing New Zealand schools. With new Attendance Management Plans becoming mandatory from 2026 and expanded attendance services on the horizon, principals are under increasing pressure to find effective solutions to chronic absenteeism. But some schools are beating the odds. In this episode, we sit down with principals who have successfully turned around poor attendance in their schools.
Hosted by Eleisha McNeill.
My guests are:
Mandy Dodds, tumuaki of Kumara School on the West Coast
Chris Bean, principal of Tangaroa College in Otara, Auckland
James Christie, tumuaki of Mauku School in the Franklin district
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
 
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

In this episode of The Principals Aotearoa, Eleisha speaks with Jan Robertson, author of Coaching leadership: Building educational leadership capacity through partnership, discussing how coaching partnerships between educational leaders create powerful opportunities for reflective practice, help bridge the gap between what principals say they believe and what they do, and how coaching partnerships can transform school culture while building leadership capacity across the education system.
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
Additional information The three Rs for coaching-learning relationships https://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Culture/Leading-staff/Coaching-learning-relationships
Coaching with a peer partnerhttps://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Culture/Developing-leaders/Coaching-leaders 

In this episode, our guests reflect on their first few years of principalship, discussing what it means to lead an entire school community, and providing tips for balancing strategic vision with daily operations, building resilience in high-pressure roles, and developing future leaders.
My guests are:
Jacqui Brown, principal of New Plymouth Girls’ High School
Prisca MacDonald, tumuaki of Tawa Intermediate School
Elena Moretti, Director Engagement and Impact, Education Review Office.
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
 
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
 
Additional information
ERO report summary: Guide for aspiring and new principals: ERO's new principals research
 
ERO full report: ‘Everything Was New’: Preparing and Supporting New Principals
 
Principal Development Map https://workforce.education.govt.nz/principals-and-schools/professional-development-and-support-principals/principal-development-map

The transition from teacher or senior school leader to tumuaki is more than just a title change – it's a professional and personal transformation. This episode talks about the transition into principalship, the differences between senior leadership and principalship, and ERO research into pathways new principals take, and their sense of preparedness for the role.
My guests are:
Jacqui Brown, principal of New Plymouth Girls’ High School
Prisca MacDonald, tumuaki of Tawa Intermediate School
Elena Moretti, Director Engagement and Impact, ERO
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
 
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
 
Additional information
ERO report summary: Guide for aspiring and new principals: ERO's new principals research
 
ERO full report: ‘Everything Was New’: Preparing and Supporting New Principals
 
Principal Development Map https://workforce.education.govt.nz/principals-and-schools/professional-development-and-support-principals/principal-development-map

From recognizing the subtle signs of leadership readiness to providing meaningful development opportunities, we’ll discuss how our guests have successfully mentored teachers into leadership roles and built a culture where potential leaders feel supported to step up.
Our guests are:
Ian Taylor, principal of Manurewa Intermediate and author of "All the time, Every Time, All of us, Everywhere!"
Denise Torrey, former tumuaki of Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo in Christchurch, and now principals’ support officer for the Primary Principals’ Collective Bargaining team.
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
 
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Welcome to Season 2 of The Principals, a podcast series for tumuaki and aspiring tumuaki in Aotearoa New Zealand, hosted by Eleisha McNeill. It’s great to be back.
What does leadership potential look like in your staff, and how do you nurture it? In this episode, two experienced principals share how they got to where they are, what they look for in potential leaders, and why it's so important to build leadership capability and capacity in the New Zealand school system.
Today’s guests are:
Ian Taylor, principal of Manurewa Intermediate and author of "All the time, Every Time, All of us, Everywhere!"
Denise Torrey, former tumuaki of Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo in Christchurch, and now principals’ support officer for the Primary Principals’ Collective Bargaining team.
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
 
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

The Principals podcast is coming back for a second season! A big thank you to all our listeners for your feedback and for your amazing support.
 
We’re just starting to record interviews for our second season, and we’re  really keen to hear what’s top of mind for you - what can we cover in the podcast that would help you in your journey towards - or through - principalship? Do you know of a principal with an amazing story that everyone should hear? Drop us an email at principals.podcast@education.govt.nz with your ideas – we’d love to hear them. I’ll pop the email address in the show notes too.
 
We’ll be back on the 29th of July with new episodes – perhaps on a topic you suggest! See you then!

In this episode, we’re talking with two Pasifika principals and a non-Pasifika tumuaki leading a school with a high Pasikifa population about leading authentically, and things you can do to make sure your Pasifika ākonga feel seen and supported, along with the tools available to school yourself in the Pasifika realm.
Mārama’s guests are:
Jenny Bernard, principal of Otahuhu Primary School, Auckland
Karl Vasau, principal of Rowandale School in Manurewa, Auckland
Graeme Norman, principal of Te Kōmanawa Rowley School, Christchurch.
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.
 
You can learn more by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
 
The New Zealand Pasifika Principals’ Association (NZPPA) has its own podcast – search it up on your favourite platform.
 
Episode themes:
What it was like for Jenny and Karl as Pasifika ākonga in New Zealand.
Finding your identity as Pasifika.
The importance of names.
Leading as non-Pasifika, ways you can educate yourself on the culture and the community you’re in, and available PD to help you.
The importance of building up those around you as leaders, of letting people’s expertise and knowledge shine in your school.
Additional information
NZPPA - https://www.nzppa.co.nz/
 
Tautai o le Moana - https://www.tolm.co.nz/

Kō ngā tahu ā ō tapuwai inanahi, hei tauira mō āpōpō
Leading an organisation as tumuaki Māori has its own unique challenges and opportunities. We often use the whakatauki Poipoia te Kākako kia pūawai to emphasise the importance of nurturing our tamariki, 
A pressing issue right now is how we’re nurturing our aspiring and new principals, in particular our young tumuaki Māori. How do we, as experienced and leading principals, curate leadership journeys that empower new and aspiring tumuaki Māori to last the challenges of the current day?
Mārama’s guests are:
Marissa Peters, Principal of Tarawera High School in Kawerau Eastern Bay of Plenty
Mikaere October, Principal of Trident High School, Whakatāne
Leanne Otene, President of New Zealand Principals’ Federation and Principal of 30 years of service this year.
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.
 
You can learn more by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
 
Episode themes:
What it was like to be tumuaki Māori in the 1990s and how it has changed
Learning that walking in both the pākeha and Maōri worlds is a strength, not a weakness
The importance of having good role models
The importance of knowing who you are and being authentic in that, of finding your voice and standing up for yourself and for your kura and tamariki

Kō ngā tahu ā ō tapuwai inanahi, hei tauira mō āpōpō
Leading an organisation as tumuaki Māori has its own unique challenges and opportunities. We often use the whakatauki Poipoia te Kākako kia pūawai to emphasise the importance of nurturing our tamariki, 
A pressing issue right now is how we’re nurturing our aspiring and new principals, in particular our young tumuaki Māori. How do we, as experienced and leading principals, curate leadership journeys that empower new and aspiring tumuaki Māori to last the challenges of the current day?
Mārama’s guests are:
Marissa Peters, Principal of Tarawera High School in Kawerau Eastern Bay of Plenty
Mikaere October, Principal of Trident High School, Whakatāne
Leanne Otene, President of New Zealand Principals’ Federation and Principal of 30 years of service this year.
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.
 
You can learn more by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
 
Episode themes:
What it was like to be tumuaki Māori in the 1990s and how it has changed
Learning that walking in both the pākeha and Maōri worlds is a strength, not a weakness
The importance of having good role models
The importance of knowing who you are and being authentic in that, of finding your voice and standing up for yourself and for your kura and tamariki