Welcome From Your President

Kia ora koutou

Welcome to the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF),  which for the past 29 years has been providing a collective and professional voice for New Zealand’s school principals as they lead learning in the 21st century.  Our job has become progressively complex with increasing demands and challenging expectations.  We are also contending with a trying political climate and school leaders need to support each other more than ever both at the local level and nationally through NZPF.

Collegiality gives confidence and supports you in your decision making.  We encourage you to make use of the NZPF services, including the Helpline, NZPF Legal Advice and other support services outlined in this brochure.

We use our extensive communications network in particular our electronic newsletter ‘The Federation Flyer’, our new-look websitewww.nzpf.ac.nz, facebook and twitter forums, and our excellent NZ Principal magazine to keep members informed, up to date and involved. We value your input and feedback and encourage you to network locally with other principals to ensure we are also supporting each other.

With over 2100 principals from primary, secondary, area, intermediate, private, state and integrated schools across the country, the collective voice of the Federation is well respected and sought.  The NZPF usually meets with the Minister of Education and the Secretary for Education as well as regularly with the CEO of the Education Review Office, officials from the School Trustees’ Association and the Ministry of Education.  We also represent you on various reference and working groups within our sector.  Our Executive, comprising 15 practising principals from across New Zealand, represents a wide range of teaching and leadership experiences.  These practitioners work hard on your behalf.

Through the NZPF you also have membership of the International Confederation of Principals.  Founded in 1990 by nine nations, the ICP represents over 150,000 educational leaders worldwide, linking and supporting school principal organisations to enhance their members’ learning and the life opportunities of their students.  New Zealand has a particular role in nurturing links with the Asia-Oceania region.  Close liaison continues especially with the UK and Australia.

I encourage you to attend our national conference, a Trans Tasman event in Melbourne in 2012, Week 9, Term 3, 18-21 September.  We have much in common with our Australian colleagues and this is a wonderful opportunity to learn from them about issues we could be about to face here and to celebrate our differences.  

I am released from Tahunanui School in order to carry out my presidential duties and consider it a privilege that you have elected me to take on this special leadership role. I look forward to meeting many of you and supporting you to face the leadership challenges that lie ahead.

Nohooramai rā

Paul Drummond