Rowandale’s Principal – NZ Pasifika Principals Auckland Meeting

Photo: NZPPA Auckland Regional gathering: Karl – Rowandale, Mel – Waimahia Int, Paeariki – Rongomai, Maxine – South Auckland SDA, Bathsheba – Homai, Sisi – Ferguson Int, Mary – Manurewa East, Sonia – Roscommon, Saane – Weymouth, Fatu – PASS, Stephanie – Mangere Bridge, Paula – Fairburn, Parehuia – PASS, Sita – Rise Up, Tone – Manurewa South, Rosalina – SDA Waitakere, Becs – Papakura Int
On Wednesday 23 May 2018 we held the NZ Pasifika Principals Association (NZPPA) Executive and Auckland Regional Meetings at Rowandale School in Manurewa.


Photo: NZPPA Executive Meeting – Faatili – Sutton Park, Steph – Mangere Bridge, Saane – Weymouth and Karl – Rowandale
The NZPPA Executive met from 2pm-4pm and this meeting was led by Faatili Iosua Esera and attended by Karl Vasau – Treasurer and Executive members Stephanie Tawha and Saane Faaofo-Oldehaver. Then from 4pm-6pm we hosted the NZPPA Auckland Regional Meeting. In Auckland there are now 36 Pasifika Principals and to have 18 of them attend was excellent. Across NZ the number is currently 52 Pasifika Principals and is growing all the time. 

Photo: Enjoying some “Soul Food”
In true Pasifika style the Principals were treated to amazing food and refreshments put on by a staff member at Rowandale School … lets just say that it was a whole heap of soul food! 
(Taro, raw fish, chop suey, curry chicken, luau …)


Photo: Enjoying some “Soul Food”

Photo: Principals sharing as part of the Auckland Regional Meeting
Then we held our NZPPA Auckland Regional meeting. This is an opportunity for our Auckland based members and Pasifika Principals to come together in a safe place and share in a forum based on the fundamentals of Talanoa. We started by doing introductions and sharing whats on top for us:
  • Whats on top for us?
    • Strengthening and embedding Quality Classroom Practice
    • PLD related to Mathematics
    • Ensuring High Standards across our school
    • Keeping things going and Learning from each other
    • Learning how to be a Finance Officer
    • Slow Down and take time to do things well
    • Balancing all the things on our plates
    • Building Leadership Capability
    • New to the job and Staying Afloat
    • Maintaining our positive position in the face of huge Change
    • Bilingual Education and provision – ready to change Govt policy
    • Keeping our high standard while going through huge change
    • Property issues related to 5YA, ILE and moving classrooms into the 21st century
    • Retaining and attracting Staff that we have invested in and ensuring they stop looking for greener grass
    • Is our Vision still valid
    • Trying to keep the Focus on my school and not have that distracted by other things
We also had a few reports presented on a variety of groups our members are on:
Photo: Principals sharing as part of the Auckland Regional Meeting
  • Charter Schools Review 
    • Jason Swann (NZPPA) is on the Authorisation Board.
    • Fatu, Parehuia and Sita all spoke about the importance to respond if you receive a letter asking for support for your local Charter School
    • Parehuia shared how she is always blown away by our members support their cause and encourage anyone to actually visit a charter school before making your judgement
    • Tomorrow’s Schools
      • Barbara Alaalatoa (NZPPA) is on the Ministerial Review Group
      • Sose Annandale (NZPPA) and Jason Swann (NZPPA) are on the Sector wide reference group
      • All members are encouraged to engage and participate in consultation and surveys
    • Curriculum Review
      • Sonia Johnston (NZPPA) is on the MAG reviewing the NZ Curriculum
      • Stephanie Tawha (NZPPA) is on the WAG reviewing the NZ Curriculum
      • No more national Standards – where to now?
      • All members are encouraged to engage and participate in consultation and surveys
    • NZEI/ Principals Collective
      • Sose Annandale (NZPPA) is on the NZEI National Principals Leadership Group and also the Principals Collective Agreement Negotiations Team
      • Karl Vasau (NZPPA) is on the NZEI National Principals Leadership Group
      • Important for ALL members to attend our June Paid Union Meetings PUMs. What ever will be on the table we need to have all our members engaged in voting on proposals or offers etc
      • How engaged is your Principal network, cluster, association, CoL, organisation etc in relation to our collective agreement negotiations and the other NZEI Campaigns? 
      • Principals need to take on a leadership role in these campaigns and promote amongst your networks the use of social media, email, newsletters, blogs, personal invites, face to face etc to bring to the forefront our campaigns and ensure other principals are aware and engaged
    • Quality Teaching and Wellbeing
      • Sepora Mauigoa (NZPPA) is on the MOE’s Quality Teaching and Wellbeing reference group
      • All members are encouraged to engage and participate in consultation and surveys
    Photo: Principals sharing as part of the Auckland Regional Meeting
    Our next meeting will be held at: 
    Newton Central School  – Term 3, Week 4 ,
    Wednesday 15 August 2018, 4pm-6pm