Sarah McLachlan/cvnznews.com
Some parents at Kāpiti College are questioning the school’s decision to appoint three male students as its Heads of Kura for 2027, raising concerns about female representation in student leadership.
The lower North Island college announced the appointments at its recent prizegiving ceremony, naming three students who are all members of the school’s First XV rugby team to the senior leadership roles. The appointments were made alongside a broader student leadership team comprising both male and female students.
While parents who spoke publicly about the decision stressed they were not criticising the individual students selected, they questioned the message being sent by an all-male leadership team at the highest student level.
One parent told RNZ the issue was not the capability of the boys chosen, but what the appointments represented for younger students.
“It’s about the bigger picture,” she said, arguing schools have a responsibility to encourage female leadership rather than inadvertently reinforcing existing disparities.
Another parent said the decision risked sending a message that young women were not equally valued in leadership roles.
“I think it sends a startlingly stark message to any young woman, not only in the college, but across the community, that women are just not valued,” she said.
Kāpiti College principal David Lowe acknowledged the school had received both positive and negative feedback but defended the selection process.
Lowe said the successful candidates were chosen not merely because of sporting involvement but for a range of leadership qualities, including mentoring younger students, supporting school productions, participating in fundraising activities and serving the wider community.
In correspondence to parents, Lowe said the appointments resulted from a comprehensive process involving written applications, workshops, pastoral reviews and interviews. Candidates were assessed on service, teamwork, academic balance and their commitment to the school’s values.
The school moved away from traditional head boy and head girl positions in 2022, adopting a model designed to support gender diversity while selecting leaders on merit rather than quotas.
Lowe said the college had listened carefully to concerns raised by parents and would consider representation as part of a review of the leadership selection process before the 2028 appointments.
He also noted that female students continue to hold many leadership positions across the wider student leadership structure, including academic, cultural, service, political advocacy and wellbeing roles.
“Our newly appointed Heads of Kura have stepped forward with genuine hearts to serve their peers, and they deserve to feel deeply proud and fully supported by our community,” Lowe said.
