Monday Mailing Week 19th October 2025
Few Ramblings from the Editor Leo
Chris Luxon has been quoted on multiple occasions that he 'Will not give up on our kids.' Well Chris, if that were true and you were applying an evidence based leadership approach, you should be leading the strike march on Thursday! Let's face it, the kids and schools are feeling the pain.
It has been fascinating to watch the Government response to the 'Unions' decision to strike over the past few weeks. Who would have thought that 'mis-information', delay tactics and attempting to alienate schools from their communities, would become their new norm or be fair? Surely in this era and age we can do better than muck politics? Shouldn't we leave this to Mr Trump.......
It now seems common practice for us to get self promoting emails from the Minister on Friday afternoon's reminding us of all their new initiatives and successes, letter's from the Minister directly to our Board Chairs, that we are not linked into, and to receive data celebrations (shared with the NZ public), that are small segment snapshots that do not reflect what is real. On top of this, the Prime Minister has stated we are not being supported by the unions, and Ministers like Judith Collins writing 'open letters' blaming the unions and public servants for the impact on learning. I hate to use coarse language, or let my Tourettes flow, but this is just crap.
I have stated on multiple occasions that I get the need for curriculum review, change and strategic interventions for those with need. I also agree that much of what is being introduced is needed. I understand that we have problems, that we have areas of concern and that some of our data is not flash. The problem I have is, that whilst I can read the situation and the mood in the room, the government seems oblivious to it.
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that if over a 100,000 public servants are striking something is wrong. As someone clever once stated 'No Sh.. Sherlock.'
We continue to lose good teachers and principals at an alarming rate, the numbers of teacher trainees is in serious decline, the rates of high and complex needs entering schools is increasing, school operation budget increases do not match the rates of inflation or need and worst of all, teachers wellbeing perceptions are at an all-time low.
Mr Luxon, if you do by some chance read this piece of waffly diatribe, I would challenge you to pop over to our school for a coffee. I will introduce you to a few WPA Principals and invite them to share their experiences, war stories and needs with you. I am not sure who sits on your educational advisory group but I reckon you bring them with you too. I have no doubt that if you all listened to the true stakeholders, your priorities would shift. I would also say Mr Luxon, that if you were to do the 'Basics Brilliantly' you'd be starting by supporting the teachers who make things happen, the principals who lead the mandates you pass on, and broaden the education advisory group. I hope to see you at the March on Thursday and happy to buy you a coffee.
Leo
A Message from WPA President Lesley Lomas
Tēnā tātou katoa,Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou.
We are looking forward to our final Connections Day for 2025 this week on Wednesday, the 22nd of October (moved due to the Strike Day on Thursday). Andrew Miller is our presenter for the day, and we are looking forward to Andrew being 'real, relatable, and impactful'. You can still register to attend on the WPA website.
Our final event for the year is our Waikato Principals' Association end-of-year dinner. You are invited to attend on Friday, 21st of November at Camarosa Eatery, 11 Davison Road, Newstead, Hamilton. The evening begins at 5.30 pm until late. There is no cost for principals who wish to join us for dinner however, there is a cost of $50 for partners to attend. We hope you can join us to celebrate a busy but rewarding year. Registrations for the dinner are now open on the WPA website.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Lesley
Professional Readings and Viewings
The Middle Leadership Manual
Picture this: it’s your first day as a middle leader, and your boss hands you a big folder and says, “Here’s everything you need to navigate the tough stuff—tools, frameworks, solutions. It’s all in here.”
Sounds ideal, right? Good news: that guide exists and this is it. The Middle Leadership Manual.
100+ leadership tools and frameworks to grow your effectiveness as a leader. —this book has it all. Complete with playbook and case studies to apply your knowledge, The Middle Leadership Manual will take your leadership to the next level. Sample chapter PDF: https://drive.google.com/
Leading Learning- Examples!
The Pareto Principle (80/20 rule)
What is it?
The Pareto Principle (or 80/20 rule) suggests that 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. The name Pareto comes from Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who noted that approximately 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population. It applies in business (for example) that 80% of sales come from 20% of clients. It’s a key strategic tool because it ensures organisations focus on the 20% of things that matter most.
Three (things you should know about it):
Know the difference between high-value and low-value activities to maximise outcomes. What thing (if you can get it right) might mean you make progress in 80% of what you do? Focus on that. Also, don’t get caught up in the numbers: 80% and 20% are only rough guides. Your reality might be closer to 90/10 or 70/30.
When prioritising time or resources, identify the small actions that will have the biggest impact. Use this reflection to guide decision-making.
Avoid wasting energy on low-impact tasks. These are distractions..
Two (insights or benefits):
Prioritising the “vital few” tasks improves efficiency and reduces the feeling that you’re being overwhelmed. A useful reflection is to list all tasks you’ve undertaken in the last two weeks and to ask whether they fit into the 80% or the 20%. Be ruthless, then consider how you can make time for more of the 20% by getting rid of things from the 80%.
At its heart, the 80/20 rule is about prioritising what matters, and it is a powerful way to identify (and focus on) what will truly lead to success. Does your team all agree on what your 20% is?
One (way to put it into action):
Reflect on your to-do list and identify which 20% of tasks contribute most to your goals. For example, if one of those jobs is to show others how to do something (or to be more efficient when doing it) that action will have more impact on your team's productivity than doing something on your own.
Where can I find out more?
Koch, R. (2011). The 80/20 Principle. Hachette UK.
Tiny Wins
When everything feels urgent, progress can come from focusing on small, achievable actions. The idea of “tiny wins” (from James Clear and others) reminds teachers that consistent 1% improvements compound over time, creating real momentum without burnout.
Use a “Win Board” with your team: for a series of weeks, start your team meetings by updating the win board: each breakthrough, star, or sticky note represents a step towards a larger milestone. [Learn more.]
Yin and Yang of Leadership and Management
This weeks edition of the Yin and Yang is a goodie and worth saving to the archives. In an era where we can no longer Bank Staffing, getting things right and being proactive are key! Remember, your outcomes cannot be worse if you request or explore a Staffing Review.
WPA Updates and Reminders
Please be reminded that we have our Andrew Millar Connections Day on the 22nd of October. Andrew is an inspirational speaker who will leave you with lots to ponder and take away.
We also have the annual WPA Christmas event, which is always popular. We'd love to see you all at both events and do encourage you to book now through the website.
Finally we would remind all WPA Principals to ensure their annual subs have been paid. A list of paid members can be located below.
Cambridge Raceway- Fundraising Opportunity
Few laughs and a giggle to end
I have attached a few links below to the clips that made me chuckle the most. I apologise for the 'Fart' link but the child inside made me do it.
Business Partners 2025
