On behalf of the New Zealand Principals Federation and the 2018 Conference Committee, we invite you to join us at the NZPF Conference scheduled for Wellington from 23 – 26 October 2018.

We are bringing you three and a half days of learning and creative inspiration for this conference.

Set against the backdrop of Wellington Harbour in our nation’s capital, the conference title – Creative Leaders, Flourishing Futures – signals a desire to encourage and celebrate creative and courageous leadership in our schools, which allows children to flourish.

Similarly, the conference whakatauki – Ko te ahurei, o te tamaiti, arahia o tatou mahi (Let the uniqueness of the child guide our work) – sums up the desire to focus on the holistic nature of education and achieving success for every child, in his or her own way; listening to their voice and finding ways to be culturally and contextually responsive to them.

The themes for Conference 2018 centre around creativity in its broadest sense – creativity of thought, endeavour, spirit and leadership. We want to explore the ways in which we can be creative, while acknowledging the tension between this and the need to be compliant with Ministry policy.  As always, the NZPF kawa (way of working) will guide our work.  This incorporates manaakitanga (leading with moral purpose), pono (having self-belief), ako (being a learner) and awhinatanga (guiding and supporting).

The programme is structured with a combination of 45-minute and 60-minute plenary sessions at the venue and we hope to be able to arrange the plenary room in a more creative way than is the norm.  Creative breaks will be on offer each day as part of the programme. This year we will begin our conference on Tuesday afternoon with a formal welcome to Wellington at Pipitea Marae, Thorndon Quay, followed by a special evening of less formal events to get everyone into the creative spirit.  The conference dinner will be held on Thursday evening, at a brand-new Wellington venue which will incorporate a sense of creativity and cultural sparkle.  Come prepared to engage and step outside the norm!

The conference venue is Shed 6 and the TSB Arena on Wellington’s waterfront.  Wellington is known for its cultural, arts and culinary passions, so we plan to make the most of these aspects to link to our conference themes.

The conference hotel is the Intercontinental Hotel, Wellington. A range of other accommodation options are available in downtown Wellington, within walking distance of the venue.

The NZPF Executive and Conference Committee feel it is a privilege to host you, and we are eager to make the 2018 NZPF Conference very memorable, both educationally and socially.  We hope it will be a creatively inspiring experience, in a great location, leaving you with a rejuvenated sense of leadership and purpose.

We are looking forward to warmly welcoming you and hosting you in October 2018.  Please join us.

Click here for more information.