Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Chair
David Graham, Principal, Goodwood School
Learning Objectives:
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Understand key employment dispute processes affecting schools, including personal grievances, mediation, Employment Relations Authority proceedings and applications for interim reinstatement and other interlocutory orders
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Apply lessons from recent employment cases to identify and manage employment relationship risks and minimise the likelihood of disputes escalating
Description
Attend and earn 0.5 CPD hour
Employment Law Update: Staying Out of Trouble
In this session we will take a close look at employment relationship problems and dispute resolution processes, with the aim of identifying and minimising the risks to you and your school. We will examine:
- What is a personal grievance
- What happens at mediation
- How does the Employment Relations Authority work
- What is a claim for interim reinstatement, and other interlocutory Orders
We will then review some recent employment cases to understand how the processes work in practice.
Presented by Fi McMillan, Special Counsel, Anderson Lloyd
Presenters
David Graham, Principal, Goodwood School
David Graham is an experienced school leader having led primary schools across the Waikato for over 25 years. He is currently the principal of Goodwood School (a primary school of 400 students). In 2026, Goodwood School won the New Zealand Education Excellence Award for School Leadership (Large Primary School). David is a mentor in the National Aspiring Principals’ Programme and has an interest in supporting school leaders to manage multiple and often competing legislative demands.
Fi McMillan, Special Counsel, Anderson Lloyd
Fi specialises in employment and education law. She is the legal advisor to the NZPF "Principals' Advice and Support Scheme." Prior to becoming a lawyer Fi worked as a primary school teacher in New Zealand and in the UK, and completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Child Advocacy. She has also worked on several Boards. This experience puts her in a strong position to advise on legal issues affecting schools. Fi is committed to working with her clients to find the best possible outcome, whether that can be achieved by constructive discussions and resolution of issues or through more formal processes.
