Thursday, 10 September 2026
Description
Attend and earn 1 PLD/CPD Hour
This Session is included in the Te Mahere Whanake Tumuaki Principal Development Plan list of Courses and Programmes on the Education Workforce website.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the respective governance and management roles of Boards and Principals and how clear responsibilities, communication and trust contribute to an effective working relationship
- Apply practical strategies to strengthen Principal–Board relationships, manage tensions, avoid common governance pitfalls and build a productive, future-focused partnership
Chair
Tim Fox, Deputy Principal, Hutt Valley High School
Tips and Best Practice for Creating a Good Principal/Board Relationship
A strong, trust-based relationship between the Board and Principal is central to school success in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Explore how a clear, respectful partnership between governance and management drives better outcomes for learners, staff and communities
- Unpack common pitfalls such as blurred roles, poor communication and unmanaged tension
- Showcase what best practice can look like in the New Zealand context, drawing on current NZ guidance and case experience
- Gain practical tools, questions and examples you can take away to strengthen trust, avoid common traps and build a productive, future-focused partnership
Presented by Bruce Hart MNZM, NZSTA Advisory Support Centre Lead, New Zealand School Boards Association - GovHub
Presenters
Bruce Hart MNZM, NZSTA Advisory Support Centre Lead, New Zealand School Boards Association – GovHub
Bruce have had a career in education as a teacher, senior leader and latterly as a long-serving high school principal. During this time, he served on many school boards, as a staff representative, elected parent rep and for six years as a presiding member. He also represented secondary principals on a diverse range of advisory and reference groups including NZQA, The NZ Police and Education Partnership and various Ministry of Education reference and consultation groups including special education. His current role is to lead the NZSTA Advisory Support Centre providing governance and employment advice to schools through out the country. He is a passionate believer in self-managing schools and community-based board members.
Tim Fox, Deputy Principal, Hutt Valley High School
Tim Fox is the Deputy Principal of Operations & Community Relationships at Hutt Valley High School in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. He leads discussions on discipline, often balancing punitive and restorative responses to ensure students are treated fairly. He also chairs the Health and Safety committee, where he investigates issues and recommends improvements to practices.
