Secondary Principals’ Association of NZ - SPANZ

Wishing our SPANZ whānau a great start to T1, 2026!

Season’s Greetings — Meri Kirihimete ki a koutou.

Wishing our SPANZ whānau a safe and relaxing summer break surrounded by those you love.

Michael WILLIAMS Obituary and Funeral Details for information

Williams, Michael John. Aged 66, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on 15th November 2025. A loving husband to Jenny, devoted father to Nicola, Sarah, and Matthew, and proud Poppa to Emily, Logan, Zoe, Cameron, Luke, George, and Michael. He was the son of the late Gwen and Trevor Williams, and brother to Steven, Peter, Roger and Lloyd.

A funeral service will be held at the Williams Sports Complex, Pakuranga College, on Saturday 22nd November at 11.00am.

In Memory of Mike Williams

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Mike Williams, ex-Principal of Pakuranga College and President of SPANZ from 2017–2019.

Ki ngā mate o tēnā, o tēnā, kore mutu te aroha.

Mike was a deeply respected leader whose steady guidance, integrity, and commitment to secondary education shaped our sector in meaningful and lasting ways. His contributions to SPANZ and to the wider education community will not be forgotten.

Mike’s funeral will be held at Pakuranga College on Saturday, 22 November, with the time to be confirmed.

Our aroha and heartfelt condolences go to Mike’s whānau and all who had the privilege of working alongside him.
Moe mai rā, Mike.

Secondary Principals’ Association New Zealand
MEDIA STATEMENT

10 November 2025

Secondary Principals Raise Serious Concerns Over Changes to Education Legislation

The Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand (SPANZ) met with Minister Erica Stanford at the Beehive last week to discuss current issues facing secondary education and school leaders across Aotearoa.

At the meeting, SPANZ expressed its surprise and deep concern at recent changes to the Education and Training Act, made without prior consultation, which:

• Remove the requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and
• Significantly reduce the independence and standard-setting role of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

A follow-up letter has since been sent to the Minister outlining the concerns of SPANZ members.

SPANZ President Louise Ānaru said the sudden removal of Te Tiriti obligation will have “profound implications” for boards, staff, all students, and communities:

“Te Tiriti o Waitangi is foundational to education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Removing this requirement risks undermining equity and the positive progress our schools have made. We call on the Minister to reconsider and to engage meaningfully with the sector before advancing legislative changes that will have long-lasting consequences.”

SPANZ acknowledges the need for strong initial teacher education and appropriate oversight of the teaching profession. However, the association believes the Teaching Council remains the correct body to maintain professional standards and regulatory responsibilities.

“We have seen no evidence demonstrating that the Ministry of Education could deliver better outcomes by taking on this role,” Ānaru said. “The evidence clearly points the other way - that the Ministry does not currently hold the trust or confidence of the profession in this area.”

SPANZ also raised concerns about proposed changes to the Teaching Council’s governance structure, including replacing elected representatives with Ministerial appointments.

“Reducing elected positions, particularly the position specifically held for a Secondary Principal, risks eroding balanced representation and weakening decision-making,” Ānaru said. “Increasing Ministerial appointments introduces a worrying precedent of political influence that could compromise fairness and natural justice.”

SPANZ reaffirmed its willingness to work constructively with the Minister and the Ministry of Education to strengthen the profession and support high-quality education outcomes for all learners in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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All the best for a great start
to Term 4 !!
Kia waimarie koutou mō te tīmatanga o te wahanga hou!

As we head into the term break, we’d like to wish all our members and colleagues a restful and refreshing time. Thank you for your mahi and dedication throughout a busy term.

Enjoy the chance to recharge and spend time with whānau and friends – we look forward to connecting again in Term 4!

Invitation: Nationwide School Grounds Clean-Up Gold Coin Fundraiser – Term 4, 2025
• Support SEA CLEANERS, a NZ charity dedicated to restoring and protecting our freshwater and marine ecosystems.
• Give students a hands-on opportunity to learn about plastic pollution and practice everyday kaitiakitanga.
• Leave your school grounds spotless before the summer!
It’s easy:
• Pick a date that works for your school (editable flyer provided)
• Choose to call it a m***i day or something else
• Ask each student for a gold coin donation
• Resources are provided: editable flyer + 3 min inspirational video for assemblies
🎥 Video will be shared after the upcoming holiday - we’ll make sure you receive the link!
🔗 Learn more about our work: www.seacleaners.com

For more information, contact Amandine:
[email protected]
m: +64 22 555 4779

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Graham Young on Thursday, 11 September.

Graham made an outstanding contribution to the education sector, both through his leadership at Tauranga Boys’ College and his service to the wider education community.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, 27 September at 12 noon at Tauranga Boys’ College.

Any opinions or views expressed on the SPANZ Facebook account do not necessarily represent the views, positions, or policies of the Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand (SPANZ) or its members. SPANZ does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the opinions expressed. The opinions are for informational and educational purposes only, and they are not intended to be a substitute for specific professional advice.