NZPF Conference - Otautahi Christchurch 2024 - Welcome and Presidents Address.

 This year the NZPF ran a combined conference with the Australian Primary Principals Association - Tau Mai, Tau Tahi - Trans-Tasman Principal's conference.  There are close to 1000 attendees from across Aotearoa and Australia, this being the first trans-Tasman conference in close to 10 years.

The conference was opened and the welcome given by Leanne Otene, President of the New Zealand Principal's Federation.  While the event is jointly hosted by both countries, as the tangata whenua is was important to greet our Australian guests to Aoatearoa New Zealand.   In her welcome Leanne acknowledged many people, special guests, present and past members and mana whenua.  She gave information on what was coming, common themes identified between our two countries and the importance of support and collaboration between our two countries.  Following her welcome, she introduced Angela Falkenberg, President of the Australian Primary Principal's Association.

Angela's address spoke to the similarities in success and struggle that Australia and New Zealand had,
speaking candidly of the pressures that the profession in general is under.  She iterated that for all present in the room, our children were central to all we do.  A balanced curriculum, tending to the needs of students outside of just literacy and numeracy, is just as important to support students social and emotional growth is just as important as academic pursuits.  Angela acknowledged teacher burnout and retention, the struggle to find teachers which is now a global trend, and the need for governments to do something.  There is much to be done in education and with hope and collaboration we will grow.