50 Independent Catholic School Principals in NZ

Updated 2026-08-13.

This independent directory brings together 50 principals, headmasters and rectors leading Catholic schools across Aotearoa New Zealand. It includes colleges and primary schools, from Auckland and Wellington to Christchurch, Dunedin and smaller communities.

School leadership is practical work. These leaders shape culture, support teachers, work with families and help young people grow in faith, confidence and capability.

If you are looking for a school leader, a speaker for an education event or a stronger leadership culture, this list gives you a useful place to begin.

Why Catholic school leadership matters

Catholic schools bring education, character and community together. The principal or head is often the person who turns those ideas into the daily experience of students, staff and families.

The leaders below work across different regions, school types and communities. Their titles vary, but the work has a common thread: helping a school become a place where people can learn, contribute and belong.

50 Principals and Heads

1. Andrew Mackenzie

Principal | Sancta Maria College | Auckland

Andrew Mackenzie is the principal of Sancta Maria College in Auckland. The school is a Catholic co-educational school for Years 7 to 13.

2. Sarah Kemble

Principal | Carmel College | Auckland

Sarah Kemble is the principal of Carmel College in Auckland. The school is a Catholic girls college for Years 7 to 13.

3. Catherine Bamber-O'Malley

Principal | St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College | Drury, Auckland

Catherine Bamber-O'Malley is the principal of St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College in Drury, Auckland. The school is a Jesuit Catholic college in south Auckland.

4. Patrick Walsh

Headmaster | Sacred Heart College | Auckland

Patrick Walsh is the headmaster of Sacred Heart College in Auckland. The school is a Catholic Marist college.

5. Keith Simento

Headmaster | St Paul's College | Auckland

Keith Simento is the headmaster of St Paul's College in Auckland. The school is a Catholic school shaped by the Marist tradition.

6. Stephen Dooley

Principal | Liston College | Auckland

Stephen Dooley is the principal of Liston College in Auckland. The school is a Catholic boys school with a strong focus on presence, love, courage and excellence.

7. Nixon Cooper

Headmaster | Rosmini College | Auckland

Nixon Cooper is the headmaster of Rosmini College in Auckland. The school is a Catholic boys school.

8. James Bentley

Principal | St Peter's College | Auckland

James Bentley is the principal of St Peter's College in Auckland. The school is a Catholic secondary school in Auckland.

9. Sarah Dwan

Principal | St Mary's College | Auckland

Sarah Dwan is the principal of St Mary's College in Auckland. The school is a Catholic integrated school for girls.

10. Jan Waelen

Principal | McAuley High School | Auckland

Jan Waelen is the principal of McAuley High School in Auckland. The school is a Catholic secondary school for girls.

11. Margaret Leamy

Principal and Tumuaki | St Peter's College | Palmerston North

Margaret Leamy is the principal and tumuaki of St Peter's College in Palmerston North. The school is a Catholic school serving students in Palmerston North.

12. Christine Cosgrove

Tumuaki and Principal | St James' Catholic School | Palmerston North

Christine Cosgrove is the tumuaki and principal of St James' Catholic School in Palmerston North. The school is a Catholic school focused on growing Christian young people.

13. Catherine Gunn

Principal | Sacred Heart Girls' College | Hamilton

Catherine Gunn is the principal of Sacred Heart Girls' College in Hamilton. The school is a Catholic girls college in Hamilton.

14. Gareth Duncan

Principal | St Columba's Catholic School | Hamilton

Gareth Duncan is the principal of St Columba's Catholic School in Hamilton. The school is a Catholic school in Hamilton.

15. Justin Harper

Principal | John Paul College | Rotorua

Justin Harper is the principal of John Paul College in Rotorua. The school is a distinctly Catholic Year 7 to 13 school.

16. Jarlath Kelly

Principal | Verdon College | Invercargill

Jarlath Kelly is the principal of Verdon College in Invercargill. The school is a Catholic college with Marist and Dominican charisms.

17. Chris Comeau

Principal | Roncalli College | Timaru

Chris Comeau is the principal of Roncalli College in Timaru. The school is a Catholic college in Timaru.

18. John Maguire

Principal | Garin College | Richmond, Nelson

John Maguire is the principal of Garin College in Richmond, Nelson. The school is a Catholic college serving the Nelson region.

19. Steve Hart

Principal | St Thomas of Canterbury College | Christchurch

Steve Hart is the principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College in Christchurch. St Thomas of Canterbury College is a Catholic college in Christchurch.

20. Deborah Brosnahan

Principal | Villa Maria College | Christchurch

Deborah Brosnahan is the principal of Villa Maria College in Christchurch. The school is a Catholic Mercy integrated college.

21. Jon McDowall

Rector | St Bede's College | Christchurch

Jon McDowall is the rector of St Bede's College in Christchurch. The school is a Catholic boys college with a Marist tradition.

22. Lee-Ann Nanai

Principal | Catholic Cathedral College | Christchurch

Lee-Ann Nanai is the principal of Catholic Cathedral College in Christchurch. The school is a Catholic college in Christchurch.

23. Mike Savali

Rector and Tumuaki | St Patrick's College | Wellington

Mike Savali is the rector and tumuaki of St Patrick's College in Wellington. The school is a Catholic college in Wellington.

24. Rob Ferreira

Rector and Tumuaki | St Patrick's College Silverstream | Upper Hutt

Rob Ferreira is the rector and tumuaki of St Patrick's College Silverstream in Upper Hutt. The school is a Catholic college in Upper Hutt.

25. Katrina Kerr-Bell

Principal | Sacred Heart College | Lower Hutt

Katrina Kerr-Bell is the principal of Sacred Heart College in Lower Hutt. The school is a Catholic college in Lower Hutt.

26. Sarah Parkinson

Principal | St Mary's College | Wellington

Sarah Parkinson is the principal of St Mary's College in Wellington. The school is a Catholic girls college in Wellington.

27. Amélie Kelder

Principal | St Catherine's College | Wellington

Amélie Kelder is the principal of St Catherine's College in Wellington. St Catherine's College is a Catholic girls college in Wellington.

28. Chris Theobald

Principal | Bishop Viard College | Porirua

Chris Theobald is the principal of Bishop Viard College in Porirua. The school is a Catholic co-educational secondary school.

29. Simon Stack

Principal | St Bernard's College | Lower Hutt

Simon Stack is the principal of St Bernard's College in Lower Hutt. The school is an integrated Catholic Year 7 to 13 school.

30. Kate Nicholson

Principal | Trinity Catholic College | Dunedin

Kate Nicholson is the principal of Trinity Catholic College in Dunedin. The school is a Catholic integrated college in Dunedin.

31. Ellen Devaney

Principal | Sacred Heart School | Dunedin

Ellen Devaney is the principal of Sacred Heart School in Dunedin. The school is a Catholic primary school in Dunedin.

32. Kieran Udy

Principal | St Peter's College | Gore

Kieran Udy is the principal of St Peter's College in Gore. The school is a co-educational Catholic college in Gore.

33. Fred Whata

Principal | Rotorua Primary | Rotorua

Fred Whata is the principal of Rotorua Primary in Rotorua. The school is a Catholic primary school in Rotorua.

34. Paul Coakley

Principal | St Mary's School | North Shore, Auckland

Paul Coakley is the principal of St Mary's School in North Shore, Auckland. The school is a Catholic primary school on Aucklands North Shore.

35. Marina Binns

Principal | St John's School | Mairangi Bay, Auckland

Marina Binns is the principal of St John's School in Mairangi Bay, Auckland. The school is a Catholic primary school in Mairangi Bay.

36. Tracey Kopua

Principal | St Mark's Catholic Primary School | Pakuranga, Auckland

Tracey Kopua is the principal of St Mark's Catholic Primary School in Pakuranga, Auckland. The school is a Catholic primary school in Pakuranga.

37. Daniel Pepper

Principal | St Dominic's Catholic Primary School | Blockhouse Bay, Auckland

Daniel Pepper is the principal of St Dominic's Catholic Primary School in Blockhouse Bay, Auckland. The school is a Catholic primary school in Blockhouse Bay.

38. Ben Fahey

Principal | Good Shepherd Catholic School | Balmoral, Auckland

Ben Fahey is the principal of Good Shepherd Catholic School in Balmoral, Auckland. The school is a Catholic primary school in Balmoral.

39. Sarah Gleeson

Principal | Marist Catholic School | Herne Bay, Auckland

Sarah Gleeson is the principal of Marist Catholic School in Herne Bay, Auckland. The school is a Catholic primary school in Herne Bay.

40. Sarah McAlpine

Principal | Monte Cecilia Catholic School | Mount Roskill, Auckland

Sarah McAlpine is the principal of Monte Cecilia Catholic School in Mount Roskill, Auckland. The school is a Catholic primary school in Mount Roskill.

41. Billy Hadnett

Principal | Christ the King Catholic School | Owairaka, Auckland

Billy Hadnett is the principal of Christ the King Catholic School in Owairaka, Auckland. The school is a Catholic primary school in Owairaka.

42. David O'Neill

Principal | St Mary's School | Christchurch

David O'Neill is the principal of St Mary's School in Christchurch. The school is a state-integrated Catholic primary school.

43. Jennifer Ioannou

Principal and Tumuaki | St Brigid's School | Johnsonville, Wellington

Jennifer Ioannou is the principal and tumuaki of St Brigid's School in Johnsonville, Wellington. The school is a Catholic multicultural full primary school.

44. Matt Kolic

Principal | St Anne's School | Newtown, Wellington

Matt Kolic is the principal of St Anne's School in Newtown, Wellington. The school is an integrated Catholic primary school.

45. Bernadette Hall

Principal | St Francis Xavier Catholic School | Whangarei

Bernadette Hall is the principal of St Francis Xavier Catholic School in Whangarei. The school is a Catholic primary school in Whangarei.

46. Lisa Broadmore

Principal and Tumuaki | St Thomas More Catholic School | Mount Maunganui, Tauranga

Lisa Broadmore is the principal and tumuaki of St Thomas More Catholic School in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga. The school is a Catholic primary school in Mount Maunganui.

47. Grant Stuart

Principal | St Joseph's Catholic School | Fairfield, Hamilton

Grant Stuart is the principal of St Joseph's Catholic School in Fairfield, Hamilton. The school is an integrated Catholic primary school in Hamilton.

48. Bernadette Murfitt

Principal | Sacred Heart Cathedral School | Thorndon, Wellington

Bernadette Murfitt is the principal of Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Thorndon, Wellington. The school is an inner-city Catholic primary school.

49. Nathan Burford

Principal | St Patrick's School | Bryndwr, Christchurch

Nathan Burford is the principal of St Patrick's School in Bryndwr, Christchurch. The school is a state-integrated Catholic primary school in Christchurch.

50. Fay Warnock

Principal | St Mary's Catholic School | Tauranga

Fay Warnock is the principal of St Mary's Catholic School in Tauranga. The school is a Catholic primary school in Tauranga.

How to use this list

Use this directory as a starting point for school leadership research, education partnerships, conference invitations and professional learning conversations. Check the school website before making contact, as leadership details can change during a school year.

The order is simply for easy reading. It is not a judgement about one school or leader being better than another.

Frequently asked questions

What does this list cover?

It covers principals, headmasters and rectors leading Catholic colleges and primary schools across New Zealand.

Does it include only secondary schools?

No. The list includes secondary colleges as well as primary schools.

Why do some leaders have different titles?

Catholic schools use titles such as Principal, Headmaster, Rector and Tumuaki. The title shown here follows the schools current public wording where available.

Can I suggest a correction?

Yes. If a school leadership page has changed, send the school name and the current public page to jonno@consultclarity.org.

Related reading

You may also find our directory of Catholic school leadership voices useful, along with this guide to professional development for Catholic schools.

A practical next step

Choose one leader from this list and read the school website before you reach out. A specific note about the schools own work will always be more useful than a generic invitation.

About the author

Jonno White is a leadership consultant, keynote speaker and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, and the author of Step Up or Step Out. He works with schools, corporates and nonprofits around the world. To enquire about a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.