Wairakei Primary School, Taupō. Permanent, full-time, starting Wednesday, January 27, 2027.

If your next step is AP or DP, this is the role that gets you there — with a team worth leading on the way.

You will lead the part of the school where everything starts. Wairakei Primary School, Taupō, is looking for a leader who knows what strong early-years teaching looks like and can get a team humming around it: explicit teaching, purposeful play, oral language, and assessment that actually changes what happens on Monday morning.

You will have room to move. Manage your team’s budget, make decisions without seeking permission for every one of them, back your own opinion, and be trusted to turn school priorities into something workable in a classroom. Recent leadership PLD will be put to use rather than filed away, and there is a genuine pathway here for someone who wants to keep climbing.

The honest part: you will be the first face many whānau meet, and the reason families stay. That means the warm welcomes and the hard conversations both land with you. Manaakitanga and accountability sitting in the same person.

The POWER values — Pride, Opportunity, Whānau, Excellence, Respect — are how the mahi gets done here, not a poster in the foyer. If you want your leadership noticed and your growth backed, get in touch.

What the appointee will do

• Lead the Raparapa team, Year 0–3, as an experienced education leader.
• Design and differentiate teaching programmes.
• Integrate culturally responsive practices.
• Manage assessment, moderation and reporting.
• Build a positive learning culture and model the POWER values.
• Contribute actively to school and corporate life, including transition to school, school-wide events, and learning and behaviour support.

Who this position suits

• A teacher holding a Tūturu (Full Practising Certificate).
• Uses te reo Māori and upholds local tikanga Māori within classroom pedagogy and practice.
• Understands diverse learners and shows the skills and strategies needed to meet the needs of students.
• Works collaboratively within and across teams.
• Shows strong evidence of community engagement.
• Is strong in managing and leading assessment for learning practices.
• Has taught and assessed within Phase 1 of Te Mātaiaho, the New Zealand Curriculum.

Also valued: BSLA structured literacy training, Oxford Maths or Maths No Problem, and te reo Māori capability.

The details

• Salary under the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement 2026-2028, with step set by qualifications and experience.
• Two permanent management units and one fixed-term management unit.
• Reports to the Deputy Principal.
• Appointment is subject to a current practising certificate and a satisfactory safety check, including a New Zealand Police vet, under the Children’s Act 2014.
• School visits are welcome on school days. Book a time through the school office. For enquiries, contact Val Mansfield, Executive Assistant, at office.ea@wairakeitaupo.school.nz.

How to apply

Apply through this listing with a CV, a cover letter and the names of three referees, including your current or most recent principal. The full job description is attached to this listing.

Applications close at 4p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

Wairakei Primary School is an equal opportunity employer.