We were proud to celebrate the 2026 ISNZ Honours Awards, presented in Auckland at the Ovation Hospitality Services Gala Dinner. Sponsored by Cambridge, these distinguished awards recognise the very best in innovation, leadership and excellence across our Independent Schools network. It was a truly glamorous evening, filled with anticipation and excitement as each recipient was announced and welcomed to the stage.
What sets these awards apart is their inclusivity, honouring the wide range of roles that contribute to the strength and success of our independent schools. From classroom teachers and administrative staff to heads of departments and pastoral care leaders, every individual plays a vital role in helping students reach, and often exceed, their potential. The ISNZ Honours Awards proudly highlight this breadth of contribution, acknowledging the dedication and expertise that drive our sector forward.
This year’s recipients embody exceptional skill, commitment and influence. They create learning environments that inspire students, colleagues and the wider school community. They are the changemakers, raising standards, fostering inclusion and championing a culture of excellence across every facet of school life.
As ISNZ Chief Executive Guy Pascoe notes, “The ISNZ Honours Awards are reserved for exceptional people who elevate every corner of our independent schools’.
We warmly congratulate the ten extraordinary outstanding individuals who received a 2026 ISNZ Honours Award. Their impact is felt in classrooms, laboratories, performing arts centres, outdoor education programmes and pastoral spaces across Aotearoa.
Ainslie Sauvao (Whitby Collegiate) is honoured for her exceptional pastoral leadership. Students say she “makes every student feel seen, heard, and most of all welcome,” and colleagues affirm that “Ainslie’s strength shields our students.” Her work has shaped a culture of compassion, connection and empowerment.
Brett Clark (St Andrew’s College) is recognised for transforming learning support through the Accelerated Learning Programme. His Principal notes the programme has “changed the educational trajectories of hundreds of students,” with outstanding NCEA outcomes and life changing confidence for learners.
David McEwan (King’s School) is celebrated for more than thirty years of visionary educational leadership. Colleagues share that “Dave believed in me long before I believed in myself,” reflecting his profound influence on teaching, thinking and character education.
David Stent (Dilworth School) is honoured for sector leading performing arts education. Under his leadership, Dilworth has achieved national recognition, with staff noting that “his passion and drive are infectious.”
Jane Hazelton (Samuel Marsden Collegiate School) is recognised for 27 years of exceptional Education Outside the Classroom. Her Principal says she “has thought through the details… ensuring health, safety and wellbeing,” while students affirm she “makes every student feel valued.”
John Lockyer (Kristin School) is celebrated for 33 years of teaching excellence and over 300 published titles. Colleagues describe him as “one of the few people who still considers teaching to be a noble profession.”
Laura Bennett (OneSchool Global) is honoured for transforming curriculum quality and strengthening student agency across 1,600 learners.
Nicola Boyens (St Cuthbert’s College) is recognised for pedagogical innovation that helped the College become a World-Class High-Performance Learning School.
Simon Christie (Selwyn House School) is celebrated for pioneering STEM pathways that connect engineering, empathy and real world problem solving.
Susan Jackson (Diocesan School for Girls) is honoured for sector leading mathematics innovation; colleagues call her “a rockstar.”
Congratulations to all ISNZ Awards winners, ka pai tō mahi!
