The Principals (Aotearoa | New Zealand)

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’ Hi...

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 So...

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 capa...

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 ever...

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 Row...

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 ...

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 ...

This episode continues discussing the challenges of recruiting te reo speaking kaiako, and the ways those challenges have been dealt with in the past, including hiring fluent freezing workers as LATs, along with ways to ensure te reo thrives in your kura.

Mārama’s guests are:

• Robin Fabish, former tumuaki and current Leadership Advisor for the Ministry of Education
• Nori Parata, tumuaki of Kahukuranui and Tolaga Bay Area schoo...

This episode discusses the challenges of recruiting te reo speaking kaiako, and of creative ways of addressing the issue.

Mārama’s guests are:

• Robin Fabish, former tumuaki and current Leadership Advisor for the Ministry of Education
• Nori Parata, tumuaki of Kahukuranui and Tolaga Bay Area school

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway f...

In this episode, Mārama discusses the challenges and opportunities of tumuaki Māori leading a school in an English-medium system.

Mārama’s guests are:

• Robin Fabish, former tumuaki and current Leadership Advisor for the Ministry of Education
• Tom Paekau, tumuaki of Te Kura o Tūtarawānanga Merivale School in Tauranga Moana.

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuak...

In this episode, Mārama Stewart discusses leading a school within te ao Māori through the lens of our guests’ own journeys through the education system in Aotearoa. 

Mārama’s guests are: ● Robin Fabish, former tumuaki and current Leadership Advisor for the Ministry of Education ● Tom Paekau, tumuaki of Te Kura o Tūtarawānanga Merivale School in Tauranga Moana. 

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te A...

Kia hakatōmuri te haere whakamua: ‘I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past’

In this episode, Mārama continues the kōrero with her aunty, Ani Mohi (or Mrs Mohi to many), about her experiences as kaiako Māori, tumuaki Māori, and the beginnings of kura kaupapa Māori and kura ā iwi.

This episode is a personal tribute to those who walked before us, and a reminder that our stories — our whakapapa — are not just his...

Kia hakatōmuri te haere whakamua: ‘I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past’

In this episode of The Principals Podcast, Mārama Stewart, tumuaki and former Leadership Advisor, sits down with someone incredibly special to her — her aunty, Ani Mohi (or Mrs Mohi to many), a proud Māori principal whose story continues to shape and inspire Mārama’s own journey. This kōrero spans generations as they reflect on Mrs Mo...

In this episode, we’re continuing to talk about school budgets, and      we’re covering financial reporting and audits as well. Just a reminder that your school finance advisors are there to help – lean on them if you have questions about school finances.

My guests are:

• Hannah Levy, Ministry of Education finance advisor – Otago/Southland
• Mārama Stewart, former tumuaki and Ministry of Education leadership advisor
• Adrian Edwar...

Today we're going to talk about school budgets, what's included in them, what's not, and what you'll need to do to prepare them.

My guests are:

• Hannah Levy, Ministry of Education finance advisor – Otago/Southland
• Mārama Stewart, former tumuaki and Ministry of Education leadership advisor
• Adrian Edwards, Ministry of Education finance advisor.

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tī...

There are a number of things that can trip new principals up when it comes to school funding, and this episode covers some of them. Remember you’re not expected to know everything right away – contact your Ministry of Education finance advisor if you have questions or concerns.

My guests are:

• Hannah Levy, Ministry of Education finance advisor – Otago/Southland
• Martyn Wetherall, principal of Laingholm School
• Mārama Stewart, f...

State and state-integrated school funding is made up of various components that have different eligibility rules and funding structures. Staffing for your school is based on your roll, but there are also additional allowances and staffing that you are eligible for.

Being aware of what’s available to your kura is crucial for accessing the funding and staffing you are entitled to, and for making the best use of these resources.

My ...

Today we’re talking about state school property projects. All schools have to plan for maintenance and upgrades, as well as planning for new capital projects – like new or improved buildings. But who leads which projects, how are they planned for and funded, and what’s it like to be involved in or to lead a property project?

My guests are:

• De Thomson, Ministry of Education Infrastructure manager Otago/Southland
• Hugh Gully, (...

Today we’re talking about state school property maintenance. School boards, which include the tumuaki, are responsible for overseeing the maintenance of their kura. Good maintenance keeps schools safe, and prevents small problems from escalating into big ones needing expensive repair.

My guests are:

• De Thomson, Ministry of Education Infrastructure manager Otago/Southland
• Nick Read, tumuaki of Havelock North Primary School
• Al...