Wayne Bainbridge has been at Matipo Primary since 1989, and became principal in 1990. He has a M.A. Hons degree in education and was a Fullbright Scholar.

He has been awarded a number of study and travel grants, and has a strong teaching background in special education.
His curriculum interests are in reading and he is particularly interested in teaching pedagogy and improvement in school and pupil achievement.

He has a strong commitment to social justice issues and advocacy for childrens issues.

His social interests are in music, politics, sports, travel and wine.

He was previously an industrial advocate for the NZEI (and branch secretary), president of the West Auckland Principals Association and of the New Zealand Special Education Association.

He has attended principals conferences in Boston, Capetown, Sydney and Brisbane and visited schools and universities in Britain, North and South America, Asia, the Pacific and Southern Africa.

Wayne has been appointed by both the Labour and National governments to the Board of the Correspondence School, the largest school in the country with a budget of $50 million. He helped oversee the installation of a $12 million new computer system.

He is passionate about children and is absolutely committed to Matipo being a child-centred school with the rhetoric matching the reality. He has also driven the schools I.T. vision, seeking out funding sources and sometimes taking calculated risks and ordering the equipment in the belief that the money will turn up!

Wayne has been well complimented in the school’s various ERO reports and is highly regarded by his peers. He has been a leading educational leader at local and regional level and plays a significant role in the national education arena. He is known as a lateral thinker, a strong leader and decisive decision maker.

Matipo School has a strong pastoral care programme which mirrors the principal’s commitment to social justice and humanitarian causes. Wayne has been the chair of the Kotuku Trust which provides residential and day care services to 50 intellectually disabled adults for 10 years. He also mentors and supports newly appointed principals.

He likes live music and shows, and travels Australasia to V8Supercar race meetings and musicals. He says his favourite wines are Gibbston Valley Reserve Pinot Noir and Odyssey Iliad Reserve Chardonnay.

Read articles from Wayne in our Principals Office section.