John is a previous principal of Naenae College. Under his leadership the school grew, the morale improved and staff have stepped up to take on more responsibility, becoming leaders themselves. With a strong passion for learning and children he continued as principal for a total of 11 years.
John went on to become a Leadership Advisor mentoring beginning secondary school principals. He has also served as a commissioner of the Tertiary Education Commission and was honoured with a MNZM award in 2019.
This award honours New Zealanders aged 70+ who continue to shape Aotearoa through wisdom, action, and care. Far from winding down, they are still building legacies – using their experience to lead, serve, and make lasting impact.
Nominees of this Award must:
Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:
2025
Finalists
Previous
winners
Contact
office@nzawards.org.nz
media@nzawards.org.nz
PO Box 1158
Christchurch 8140 New Zealand