Kia ora koe, welcome to the 2026 Term 2 NZ Principal magazine.
As we push further into this election year, we’ve really ramped up our advocacy work to influence political policy. The 2026 election manifesto has been a significant undertaking by the NZPF, led by our outstanding Research and Policy Officer Kim Hailwood. Moot in March provided the opportunity to refine and confirm the six priorities for education. You can read about the highlights from Moot and see some pics from the event later in this magazine. Expect to see more from NZPF and the education sector as we stand up tall, together, for tamariki across Aotearoa. We’ve included a summary of the NZPF 2026 Election Manifesto in this magazine for you to read and refer to.
Our feature story this term is on Jo Grant, principal of the new kura near Christchurch, Te Rau Horopito. What a shining light! I visited Rolleston to talk to her about her principalship, see the school, and meet the staff. They convinced me to taste the school’s namesake plant, the spicy horopito leaf (delicious, by the way – like horseradish, mustard leaves, or nasturtium). You can read about Jo’s fascinating leadership journey and how she came to be principal of one of the country’s newest schools in this magazine.
We also have some excellent articles from Steph Thompson and John O’Neill. This term they’ve provided some different takes on leadership agency, and are offering practical ideas and words of advice for school principals. Also check out the piece from Ireland. The Government there has taken quite a different approach to its curriculum refresh. The breakdown from Dublin City University researchers about how Ireland’s curriculum reforms are playing out is a great example of what we’re wanting to see happen in New Zealand. In the words of our executive member, Steph Thompson, “This, folks, is how it is done.”
Back to the reality of New Zealand’s education reforms, a significant Term 2 change is the introduction of the new ERO reports. ERO has developed a comprehensive guide for parents, as well as detailed information for schools and principals. We’ve asked high-stakes communications specialist Pete Burdon to suggest a simple model you can use to make conversations with staff and parents about ERO reports easier.
In other news, I want to shout out to NZEI’s “Make It Stop” campaign. A chorus of students playing discordant baby shark on recorders at parliament is one of the best protests I’ve seen. There are a lot of agencies, organisations, voices, and perspectives in the education sector, so kudos to NZEI for trying something a little different.
Don’t forget about the upcoming International Confederation of Principals’ Convention in September. This is in place of the annual NZPF conference and it’s been opened up to registrations for all school leaders, not just principals. Early bird pricing might still be available, so if you haven’t registered, be sure to do so. It’s gonna be an exciting event, bringing global principals and perspectives to the New Zealand stage. Head to for more info and to secure your spots.
Lastly, I’d love to thank the readers who have gotten in touch with feedback on the articles in my first magazine and suggestions for content. As a direct result, I’ve introduced the Executive Bookclub. It’s still in its infancy, but this regular section will showcase books and other reads, recommended and reviewed by our NZPF Executive. Please keep the feedback coming – is the best way to get me.