In a first for the Hanga-Aro-Rau Industry Stakeholder Group (ISG), a leading education professional has been appointed to its membership, bringing a fresh voice and perspective to this vital governance group.

Pete Jones is the highly respected and long-serving Principal of Manurewa High School which, with a student body of over 2,000 students, is the largest decile 1 secondary school in New Zealand. Mr Jones was appointed to the ISG in September and brings with him over 30 years of experience in education along with a passion for lifting up learners for successful futures beyond school.

Hanga-Aro-Rau CE Phil Alexander-Crawford said Mr Jones will be a vitally important voice to the ISG, with unparalleled experience linking secondary schools into work, vocational education and training, particularly for traditionally underserved Pacific and Māori learners. Manurewa High School has one of the most diverse student bodies with more than 50 nationalities including 53 per cent Pasifika, and 27 per cent Māori students.

“Pete is a pioneer in the secondary school system, who has co-designed with his local community and employers highly successful programmes to build strong pathways for learners into trades careers, including engineering and logistics. He will bring invaluable insight in how our industries can partner with their own communities to replicate these robust connections and success, and how Hanga-Aro-Rau can ensure the vocational education allows learners, as well as industry, to thrive.”

Originally from the United Kingdom, Mr Jones taught there for ten years before pivoting to become a director of a contract furniture consultancy. He arrived in Aotearoa in 2006 and restarted his teaching career at Manurewa High School, becoming Deputy Principal in 2009 and Principal in 2016.

Mr Jones is driven by the desire to provide a culturally sustaining curriculum that is relevant for every student and focuses on learners’ interests and passions that prepares them for a successful future after schooling. When not working, he enjoys the ‘beautiful game’ and supporting his beloved Liverpool Football Club, family time with wife Justine and three boys Billy, Sam and Joe..

The Hanga-Aro-Rau ISG was established in June 2022 to ensure industry voice is at the heart of its strategic direction and performance. The rōpū is independently chaired by Ngahiwi Tomoana (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Hawea, Ngāti Hori and Samoa) who was also appointed in September 2023 for a two-year term.

Peter Jones – Manurewa High School Principal and newest member of the ISG.