Introducing: Raetihi's' new principal

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 422, 4 February 1992, Page 5

Introducing: Raetihi's' new principal

Raetihi School's Principal Neil Hammond, brings a wealth of teaching experience and a success story of personal endeavour to the Ruapehu region. From humble beginnings as a 15-year old school leaver in Auckland, he spent five years successfully completing an apprenticeship in cabinet making. He took up a challenge to sit a mature-age entry exam to Auckland Teacher's College at age 23 and since graduating in 1967 has gone from strength to strength. Mr Hammond trained for two years and taught for three years in New Zealand schools before going overseas. While overseas he completed extensive post graduate studies. His impressive

resume includes a Bachelor of Education,

Masters Degree in Education and Advanced Diploma of Teaching, specialising in multicultural education and bilingual studies. For the past 25 years Mr Hammond has taught in New Zealand, three states of Australia and in

England, in a variety of English-speaking and multi-cultural primary and secondary schools. A dedication to teaching and a personal commitment to excellence took him from one challenging position to the next. Research work has also taken him to educational institutes in numerous other parts of the world. Awarded a scholarship while in Australia in 1975 to complete an advanced diploma in Aboriginal Education, his paper had the distinction of being the first of its kind to be formulated. Mr Hammond was seconded from the South Australian Education Department for three years to work as a lecturer and co-ordinator at the Adelaide Aboriginal Community College,

providing adults of aboriginal descent with a "second chance" at education. As a principal for 13 years in South Australia, he managed an area school and two primary schools. His first position as principal was at Aparawatatja in the north-west corner of South Australia, where 97 percent of the pupils were non-English speaking Pitjantjatjara people. Mr Hammond said he studied the language while at the same time completing his advanced diploma in teaching. With a deep interest in "gifted" children, he implemented special programmes at several schools to help those children who he believes are often passed over, with support given to the underachieving child.

Mr Hammond retumed to New Zealand on a five-year absence-without-pay leave from a principal's position in Adelaide, to rediscover his Taha Maori heritage and embrace the culture. With heightened perception plus 25 years' experience • as both a teacher and principal, he plans on making a strong contribution to New Zealand ! education. Mr Hammond said he ! has a close affiliation with the Ruapehu region, with both his father and grandmother born in the Taumarunui area. A boon to his recent arrival was the Powhiri, or Welcome onto the local Marae and a chance meeting with previously unknown relatives - in particular a first cousin, Joan Pirere, now 64 and living in Ohakune.