Mr Christopher Rooney, MNZM, of Auckland, for services to education
Mr Christopher Rooney worked at Liston College in Auckland for 45 years and was Principal from 1999 to 2021, overseeing growth and high achievement. Mr Rooney has overseen increased academic success of Māori and Pacific students, with Māori the highest achieving group in the school, as well as significant expansion of facilities and upgrading of sports fields. He has introduced restorative justice practices and ensured staff were trained in their use, transforming student/staff relationships in the school community and making it a more inclusive and caring environment for learning. He was Chairman of Achievement at Waitakere (A@W) from 2013 to 2015, a group of West Auckland Principals, and has been a member since 1999. He was Chairman of the National Catholic Secondary Principal’s Association from 2016 to 2021 and of the Auckland Catholic Secondary Principal’s Association from 2017 to 2021. He is on the Liston College Foundation Fund Board, the Board of Learning Network New Zealand, and a committee member of the Ned Covich Trust. Mr Rooney has been active with the Auckland Secondary Schools Principal’s Association.