We offer programmes, workshops, in-person classroom support, online support and resources to help strengthen language learning in New Zealand schools.

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National Language Advisers

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Cultural competencies

Pacific-Led Education

Empowering educators, students, and communities to shape a future of educational excellence that is firmly rooted in Pacific identity and aspirations.

Tui Tuia Kī Tapasā

Tapasā: Strengthening Pacific Cultural Competencies

Meet the team

Recent mahi

Rauemi | Resources

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Improving instructional dexterity

Literacy and Numeracy

We work with schools to build the literacy and numeracy capability of school leaders and teachers to accelerate learning outcomes for all students.

English medium

Reading Recovery

Kura Māori & Māori medium

Te Reo Matatini

Success Stories

Rauemi | Resources

National Centre for Educational Leadership

Te Pā Rea Rangatira

Together with our sector-based peak body representatives and key strategic partners, we’re excited to share our vision of a kaupapa that is Aotearoa New Zealand-centric and focuses on growing the capability of school leadership.

Steering group members

Leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand

Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa is what connects us. Regardless of our origin, lived experience and unique needs, we are connected by our experience living in a Pacific nation, with Te Tiriti o Waitangi as our guide for a uniquely Aotearoa New Zealand Leadership Centre.

Our focus is supporting Middle Leaders, Aspiring Principals, Deputy Principals, and Principals in schools across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Central to our kaupapa is the ability to move forward together, connecting educational leaders to networks of shared expertise, with the intent of elevating best practice and supporting one another on this journey through leadership.

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Steering group members

Whakataukī

Māori

English

Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere.
Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōnā te ao.

The forest belongs to the bird who feasts on the miro berry. The world belongs to the bird who feasts on education.

Curriculum framework

We have identified seven professional leadership domains in a framework designed to respond year-on-year to the opportunities and problems of leadership experienced by school leaders.

Culturally Sustaining Practices

Grow educators' and leaders' capability to create culturally sustaining and inclusive education environments.
‍Inspire educators and leaders to prioritise the commitment to language, culture, and identity.
‍Support educators and leaders to work alongside whānau, iwi and hapū as they give practical effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te reo Māori me ōna tikanga, and mātauranga Māori.

Professional & Pedagogical Practice

Grow educators and leaders to use curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment in ways that lead to excellent and equitable student outcomes.
Inspire educators and leaders to establish a long-term vision and strategic planning to bring out the best in learners, whānau, communities and educators.
Support educators and leaders to be relational, reflective, confident, evidence-based, practitioners.

Inclusive, Equitable & Ethical Practice

Grow educators' and leaders' capacity to develop learning environments that enable every learner to reach their full potential including the most vulnerable members of our community.
Inspire educators and leaders to provide an educational setting that supports young people and their whānau to have choices that reflect their needs and aspirations.
Support educators' and leaders' moral purpose and ability to act ethically in the service of others.

Connecting with Learners, Whānau & Communities

Grow educators' and leaders' capacity to connect with and serve their communities and grow inclusive, supportive school cultures.
Inspire educators and leaders to engage learners, whānau, colleagues and communities to build productive, reciprocal relationships and collaborative ways of working.
Support learners, educators and leaders to develop reach and impact beyond their local experience, through nationwide and global connections.

Hauora

Grow educators' and leaders' capacity to develop environments where everyone can thrive.
Inspire educators and leaders to promote wellbeing practices.
Support educators and leaders to reflect and take action on one's own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.

Personal & Continuous Improvement

Grow educators and leaders to understand and refine their own beliefs, values, and leadership approaches to improve education outcomes.
Inspire cycles of professional inquiry and evaluation.
Support educators and leaders to share their experience as lifelong learners, mentor others and work across schools to develop the next generation of leaders, and uplift the growing number of Māori and Pasifika leaders in education.

Operational Effectiveness

awheawhe e haere ake nei

Discover your development pathway

Upgrade your skills and knowledge with our range of evidence-based, professional learning opportunities.

The Mana Model: Creating learning environments that foster the innate mana of ākonga

Māori Education and Support

Educational Leadership

The Mana Model: Creating learning environments that foster the innate mana of ākonga

Build and enhance the cultural capability of leaders and teachers in your school, kura or early childhood centre to create learning environments that foster Māori students' success.

Feb 10, 2025

Educational Leadership

Open-to-learning™ Leadership

Open-to-learning™ (OTL™) Leadership equips leaders with the skills and knowledge required to progress school priorities while maintaining high-quality relationships.

Oct 31, 2024

Educational Leadership

Growing Great Leaders™ 2: Improving Student Outcomes

GGL™ 2: Improving Student Outcomes challenges leadership teams to work together to identify, and progress a significant student-centred improvement priority from their school.

Aug 1, 2024

Educational Leadership

Principal Wellbeing

A suite of professional learning designed to support principals across the motu in achieving their wellbeing goals with support from their peers and learn from a diverse range of experts.

Jul 30, 2024

Educational Leadership

Growing Great Leaders™ 1: Leadership Essentials

Growing Great Leaders™ 1: Leadership Essentials is a research-informed leadership development opportunity that is relevant to school leaders at all career stages.

May 16, 2024

Educational Leadership

Growing Great Leaders™: Leading from the Middle

GGL™ Leading from the Middle recognises the many unique challenges of Middle Leadership. This is reflected in a course design which has been crafted to ensure that those who complete this powerful professional learning series are equipped with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to fulfil the demands of the role, build an effective team and lead improvement.

May 1, 2024

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Our Professional
Learning Offerings

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Our team is dedicated to empowering school leaders as they pursue excellent and equitable outcomes for their students. Through research-informed and highly practical leadership development offerings, we work to affirm, challenge and enhance the skills and knowledge of school leaders at all career stages.

Aotearoa New Zealand

Providing engaging, research-informed leadership development opportunities for leaders at all career stages - middle, senior, principal, and system leadership.
Offering high quality, bespoke leadership learning to individuals and school leadership teams.
Working in partnership with Kāhui Ako to meet their community’s unique leadership development challenges.
Empowering leaders to build relationships while doing the work required to achieve excellent and equitable outcomes for all students.
Providing flexible and engaging modes of learning - face to face, online and blended.
Equipping school leaders with the skills and knowledge required to effectively lead improvement in their context.

Around the world

Designing and delivering bespoke leadership development offerings to gain excellent and equitable outcomes for all students.
Offering high quality leadership learning to individuals and school leadership teams.
Equipping school leaders with the skills and knowledge required to effectively lead improvement in their context.
Providing flexible and engaging modes of learning - face toface, online and blended.
Working in partnership with education authorities to meet their system’s contextually unique leadership development challenges.
Enhancing the leadership capabilities and understandings of senior school and system leaders.
Supporting the career development of teachers and leaders at all stages of their professional life.

whanonga pono

Our Principles

Our work is informed by rigorous educational leadership research and the practical experience of our team of researchers, past principals, and senior leaders. We are committed to improving student outcomes through building leadership expertise.

Leadership is Evidence-Based

Our work is rigorous and defensible. It focuses on valued educational outcomes and the conditions and practices most likely to impact positively on learning and the success of students.

Leadership is Adaptive and Contextual

Our work is underpinned by the notion of the Leader as an ‘Adaptive Expert’. Such leadership embraces broad capability so that it can be brought to bear in an agile manner that embraces context and complexity.

Leadership is Transformative and Student Centred

We strive for educational leadership that is student-centred and responsive to the wider social context within which it is embedded. 

Leadership is Embracing of Culture

We grow leaders' understanding of the breadth of worldviews within the communities they lead; understanding, validating, and growing leadership that is culturally sustaining is central to leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Leadership Deploys Educational Expertise

We place an emphasis on educational leadership that strengthens valued student educational outcomes. We focus on professional learning that is most influential in creating the conditions, systems, relationships, and practices necessary for students to flourish.

Leadership is Service

We recognise the importance of leaders in meeting the needs and aspirations of ākonga and their whānau. An attitude of service and partnership informs the position of a leader who leads with a moral purpose.

Leadership is Collaborative

We recognise that school leadership is too complex for any one person. Effective leadership requires a team approach; one that builds trust, shares power, and creates a sense of shared purpose, with the intention of gaining improved student outcomes.

Leadership is Authentic and Personal

Making meaning is personal. Leadership is therefore significantly influenced by factors unique to the individual. Recognising, validating, and growing a leader’s identity, values, personal knowledge, and unique capabilities are key drivers to enabling authentic, effective, fulfilling, and impactful leadership.

Our latest mahi

Explore our evidence-based development opportunities, success stories, and transformative insights that can empower your leadership journey.

Michigan State University (MSU) Study Tour

We recently welcomed MSU's esteemed academics on their journey of discovery through our unique educational landscape. We designed an engaging week-long tour packed with insights into the research and theory underpinning our curriculum frameworks, with a focus on literacy, educational leadership, and Māori & Pacific-led initiatives. Our guests also visited schools and experienced the beauty of Te Tai Tokerau Northland's iconic attractions!

If you would like to organise a bespoke study tour experience for your team, don't hesitate to get in touch.

Growing Great Leaders™ for International Partners

Take your team's leadership to the next level. Learn more about our research-informed approach to school improvement leadership for international partners!

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Principal Wellbeing

This suite of professional learning is designed to give Principals the opportunity to learn from a diverse range of experts, connect and learn from peers and embed sustainable wellbeing practices.

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Peninsula Primary School Testimonial

Hear what Peninsula Primary had to say about how our Growing Great Leaders™ workshop positively influenced their leadership team.

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Learning Schools Overview

Learning Schools is an approach to improve valued student learning outcomes by working in partnership with schools. Learn more by accessing our brochure below!

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principal wellbeing - principals talking while sitting on comfy chairs

Rangitaki

Thought Leadership

Gain fresh perspectives, innovative strategies, and deep insights into the education landscape.

Read all articles

Educational Leadership

ā tātou

Our People

Our passionate and experienced kaiwhakaruruhau facilitators are dedicated to delivering world class PLD for schools across New Zealand, the Pacific, Australia and internationally. They are supported by our Senior Leadership Team.

Dr Linda Bendikson

Leadership Consultant

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Sean Bailey

Principal Wellbeing Facilitator

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Brenda Martin

Practice Partner

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Dr Mei Lai

Director | Learning Schools

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Linda Miller

Senior Leadership Consultant

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Perry Rush

Programme Director and Stakeholder Engagement

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Esther Hall

Programme Coordinator

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Richard Newton

Senior Leadership Consultant

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Martin Turner

Leadership Consultant

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Ko ngā kōrero angitū

Making an impact

Hear from educators whose practice have been positively impacted by our innovative approach to learning and professional development.

Principal Wellbeing PLD

"It's scientific, it's based on evidence, and it's tailored. The lens is a Principal CEO lens so it's mindful of the many balls that we have in the air. I really like how it's linked to science and physiology and anatomy and that speaks to me. It is really evidence-based and it references medical journals. It's very practical; I feel like I've left the sessions with really pragmatic things that I can implement straight away and it's actually had an impact on me straight away."

‍

Paula Wine, Principal/Tumuaki of Woodstock Primary School, Hamilton

Hugely valuable

I recently attended the two-day Open to Learning Leadership workshop and found it to be hugely valuable.

It provided me with a framework to explore my own beliefs and how they inform my actions (or inactions) and therefore the way in which I engage in conversations, or perhaps avoid conversations. It challenged me around the ‘undiscussables’ that exist within groups and organisations, and how we owe our colleagues the respect of surfacing these in a respectful way but perhaps don’t always have the tools to do this.

‍

Celia Fleck

Best professional learning experience

Linda and her team led one of best professional learning experiences I have been involved with in my many roles in secondary schools. The Growing Great Leaders Level 1 course has given me clear artefacts in the form of templates and flow charts to use in a range of situations. I would highly recommend this course to all leadership teams to engage with.

‍

Martin Bennett

Michigan State University Study Tour

“We are very grateful to you and the Tui Tuia Learning Circle team for all the support and assistance provided to the MSU Global EPLP participants over the past several months. The collaborative efforts involved in planning, organizing, and preparing for the October New Zealand field experience resulted in a very successful 2023 program.

‍

The positive comments and sincere expressions of appreciation made during our wrap-up call yesterday are indicative of the impact of this years’ experience. Thanks again for your efforts and your friendship. We look forward to future collaboration opportunities.”

‍

Dan Schultz, MSU College of Education

Building leadership capacity

"It was challenging, which I think is what we needed. t's probably one of the best things that you will do to build your leadership capacity. I've got a new belief in myself as a leader."

‍

Kimberley Malloy, Team Leader at Peninsula Primary School

Positive Leadership

I learned a lot about positive and effective leadership within the education sphere, and what a good leader looks, sounds, and feels like within a school. I also got to network with lots of other teachers who shared their experiences and situations with me and had lots of advice and encouragement to share.

Understanding Leadership

I have been able to deepen my understanding on Leadership, understand the new research and build a good ground on which to inspire my team.

Good Leadership Knowledge

I have achieved a good knowledge and understanding of the key aspects of leadership.

He kaupapa anō tāu?

Seeking something specific?
Reach out and let's make it happen

We can create bespoke course offerings to suit you and your school or kura's needs. Get in touch with us today so we can tailor our approach in helping you and your learning community!

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Partner organisations

Steering group members

We have joined forces to work alongside 10 Principal Peak Bodies, and 4 Kaitiaki (Strategic Advisory Partners) to co-create an educational leadership curriculum framework.

Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools (AIMS)
Special Education Principals’ Association of NZ (SEPANZ)
NZ Pasifika Principals’ Association (NZPPA)
NZ Catholic Primary Principals Association (NZCPPA)
NZ Area Schools Association (NZASA)
NZ Rural Schools Leadership Association (NZRASLA)
Auckland Primary Principals’ Association (APPA)
Auckland Secondary Principals’ Association (ASSPA)
Wellington Regional Primary Principals’ Association (WRPPA)
Secondary Principals’ Association of NZ (SPANZ)

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Te Pā Rea Rangatira

Leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand

Whakataukī

Curriculum framework

Culturally Sustaining Practices

Professional & Pedagogical Practice

Inclusive, Equitable & Ethical Practice

Connecting with Learners, Whānau & Communities

Hauora

Personal & Continuous Improvement

Operational Effectiveness

Culturally Sustaining Practices

Professional & Pedagogical Practice

Inclusive, Equitable & Ethical Practice

Connecting with Learners, Whānau & Communities

Hauora

Personal & Continuous Improvement

Operational Effectiveness

Discover your development pathway

The Mana Model: Creating learning environments that foster the innate mana of ākonga

Open-to-learning™ Leadership

Growing Great Leaders™ 2: Improving Student Outcomes

Principal Wellbeing

Growing Great Leaders™ 1: Leadership Essentials

Growing Great Leaders™: Leading from the Middle

Our Professional Learning Offerings

Aotearoa New Zealand

Around the world

Our Principles

Leadership is Evidence-Based

Leadership is Adaptive and Contextual

Leadership is Transformative and Student Centred

Leadership is Embracing of Culture

Leadership Deploys Educational Expertise

Leadership is Service

Leadership is Collaborative

Leadership is Authentic and Personal

Our latest mahi

Thought Leadership

Dealing with Principal Isolation and Wellbeing

Your 2024 Educational Reform Playbook

Celebrating Inspiring Teachers on World Teachers’ Day

Our People

Making an impact

Principal Wellbeing PLD

Hugely valuable

Best professional learning experience

Michigan State University Study Tour

Building leadership capacity

Positive Leadership

Understanding Leadership

Good Leadership Knowledge

Poipoia te pā harakekeHe puāwaitanga anamata

Seeking something specific?Reach out and let's make it happen

Contact us

Steering group members

Tui Tuia | Learning Circle

Our Professional
Learning Offerings

Poipoia te pā harakeke
He puāwaitanga anamata

Seeking something specific?
Reach out and let's make it happen