Leadership advisors

The leadership advisor service is a team of experienced current or recent principals who have been brought together to provide support for current principals. The team facilitates communication across schools and clusters to share expertise and solutions. They also provide support and clarity for changes to policy or Ministry initiatives, and coaching to help principals address the challenges they face.

Sandy Hastings, a current leadership advisor, explains it best:

For more about Sandy’s experience as a leadership advisor, read the full article on the Education Gazette website.

The leadership advisory service is a unique service designed and delivered by principals, for principals. 

About the service

The service currently has a cohort of 16 (doubling in 2026) seconded or recent principals based regionally in Te Mahau. 

Each cohort of leadership advisors draws on decades of experience with principals coming from rural and urban schools, contributing and full primary schools, and area and secondary schools. 

Ngā kura ā Iwi and Te Rūnanga Nui also provide leadership advisory support for their partnered schools.

The service has four special focus leadership advisors this year in addition to the regional leadership advisors. These include:

• an area school advisor (based in Te Waipounamu)
• a Pacific advisor (based in Tāmaki)
• a cyclone-recovery advisor (based in Hawke's Bay/Tairāwhiti)
• an advisor Māori tumuaki in Aoraki kura (based in Bay of Plenty/Waiariki).

2026 Leadership Advisory Roles – Expressions of Interest now open

We’re excited to announce the latest opportunities to join the Leadership Advisory Service in 2026. Following Budget 25’s funding and a doubling of the service, each region will now have two regional leadership advisors, supporting principals and tumuaki.

The Ministry is seeking experienced and recently retired principals to join this impactful mahi. Advisors will support leadership capability in both English- and Māori-medium settings. Secondments are available for 12to 24 months, with current or most recent remuneration maintained.

Special Focus Roles for 2026

In addition to regional roles, we’re recruiting for eight specialist positions to support key areas of the sector:

• Two roles to support Pacific Tumuaki and Pacific Education. One role based in Tāmaki (supporting Auckland and Northland) and one based in the Lower North Island.
• Two roles to support area and composite schools (one North Island and one South Island).
• Two roles supporting rural and small school teaching principals (one North Island and one South Island).
• Two roles to support Tumuaki Māori and Rumaki Reo Rua principals. One role based in Tāmaki/Northland and one based in the lower North Island.

These roles bring targeted expertise to strengthen leadership where it is needed most. 

To find out more and apply, please visit the Ministry Careers website or visit the Education Gazette website.

Applications need to be made through the Careers site, completing the online application form and attaching two documents:

• Completed expression of interest with attached endorsement from the board and
• A resume.

What the service provides

The leadership advisors share their first-hand knowledge of school leadership to support other principals across New Zealand. 

Support can be practical or strategic, with each advisor bringing their own and the wider team’s experience to your table. 

The service supports principals in areas such as:

• developing leadership capability
• leading learning and teaching
• supporting attendance and engagement initiatives
• addressing school management and system issues
• recruitment and staffing
• principal and staff wellbeing
• school board and community relationships
• governmental change programmes.

Leadership advisors also help broker the right advice across the wider Te Mahau team and Ministry.

Tailored support

The team provides support in ways that work best for you. 

Most support is offered kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face), with phone and teams also used to keep in touch. 

Support can be provided in your school or at a place most suitable to you and your needs. This could be one to one or with a cluster, association, Kāhui Ako or Professional Learning Group.