The Principals (Aotearoa | New Zealand)

About The Principals (Aotearoa | New Zealand)

Experienced school leaders and officials share stories and offer tips about leading schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. This series sits alongside the online learning programme: Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki | The Beginning Pathway for Principals, which can be accessed on the Education LMS https://training.education.govt.nz.

Publisher

MOE-PLD

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Sept 2024

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

101 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Season 3, Episode 12: AI in schools - Where the curiosity begins

   In this episode, we meet three tumuaki who are already deep into using AI in their kura. They share how their interest began, what they have built, and how AI is changing planning, assessment and reporting in their schools. We also discuss what it means to keep humans in the driver's seat. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guests are: Regan Williams, tumuaki of Te Kura o Rotokawa in Rotorua Lysandra Stuart, tumuaki of Glenbrook School in South Auckland Jess Ward, tumuaki of Paraparaumu Beach School on the Kāpiti Coast Additional information ERO report: Ready or not: How are schools responding to Artificial Intelligence? Summary Report https://www.evidence.ero.govt.nz/documents/ready-or-not-how-are-schools-responding-to-artificial-intelligence-summary-report

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Season 3, Episode 11: Building on our strengths - a conversation with Professor Stuart McNaughton

   In this episode, we sit down with Professor Stuart McNaughton ONZM to discuss his book Building on our strengths: Improving education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Rather than focusing solely on the challenges facing our education system, the book argues that understanding and building on what we already do well is key to improving outcomes for all learners. We explore what those strengths are, how they translate to the everyday work of school leaders, and what tumuaki can take from the research to strengthen their own practice and their communities. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guest is Professor Stuart McNaughton ONZM, Professor of Education at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, and former Chief Education Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Education.

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Season 3, Episode 10: NZEEA winner for quality teaching and instruction – primary – Sommerville School

   In this episode, we celebrate an NZEEA win in the Quality Teaching and Instruction, Junior category with the team from Sommerville School, New Zealand's largest specialist school. We discuss the four pillars behind their award winning workforce strategy and the systems that have helped lift staff retention significantly over the past two years. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guests are: Belinda Johnston, principal at Sommerville School Emma Cooper, associate principal at Sommerville School.

Who has been a guest on The Principals (Aotearoa | New Zealand)

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Robin Fabish
• Nori Parata
• Tom Paekau
• Rowan Milburn
• Kevin Bush

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

65

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact The Principals (Aotearoa | New Zealand)

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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