Leadership advisors

The leadership advisory 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 recent 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 through Te Mahau. 

About the service

The service currently has a cohort of 32 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.

Each Te Mahau region has 2 Leadership Advisors. There are a range of Leadership Advisors with special focus sector responsibilities. These include:

• two area and composite school advisors (one based in the North and South Islands)
• a Pacific advisor (based in Wellington)
• two rural and small school leadership advisors. one based in the North and South Islands
• a Tumuaki Māori leadership advisor based in Tāmaki/Te Tai Tokerau and one serving the central North Island. 

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, including change and strategic leadership
• 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 or Professional Learning Group.

Contact us

If you have any questions, we're here to help.

See our Contact us page for more information on how to get in touch.