A prominent Western Bay of Plenty principal has been chosen to lead the education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa.
Ian Leckie, principal of Papamoa's Tahatai Coast School, was elected president at the union's annual meeting in Rotorua this week.
He has been elected for a two-year term in the fulltime position.
Mr
Leckie will take leave from Tahatai Coast School and base himself in Wellington from the start of next year.
He told the Bay of Plenty Times the appointment was the "pinnacle" of his career and will see him represent 50,000 NZEI members across New Zealand and become the public face of the most critical education issues facing our country today.
Mr Leckie said he was "honoured" to have the opportunity to lead the profession, though there were challenging times ahead.
New Zealand was facing some "big threats in education" and Education Minister Anne Tolley was "yet to listen" to parents and the community.
"National Standards threaten our professional integrity, the early childhood profession is being undermined by funding cuts and support staff continue to have to fight for recognition and fair pay.
"There is also growing disquiet over the Government's privatisation agenda for education and its lack of commitment to closing the pay gap with Australia through the current round of teacher and principal pay negotiations."
Mr Leckie said he had the best interests of teachers and teaching at heart and would work hard to make the Government listen to the voice of those at the coalface of teaching and learning, and the communities and children they represent.
NZEI is made up of school support staff, early childhood teachers, as well as teachers and principals from primary, intermediate and area schools.
Mr Leckie, who has been a principal since 1981 and held the helm at Tahatai Coast School since 2005, has been a member of NZEI for almost 40 years and has served on its national executive since 2004. He was NZEI vice-president in 2008 to 2009.
He takes over from Frances Nelson.
