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Your executive team
John Robinson
John has over 25 years of experience teaching across New Zealand, beginning his journey in education in Pukekohe before later relocating to Otago where he lives with his family. Specialising in Digital and Workshop Technology, John also has teaching experience across the board, with a background in Maths, Physics, Social Studies and Science.
Throughout his career, John has come to really appreciate just how necessary it is for teachers to have strong, uncompromised union support. Having worked in different challenging environments, he believes that although teaching is rewarding it can also be difficult and stressful - which is why he’s taken on the role as TPANZ President.
John is passionate about raising the next generation of Kiwis to be proud of their country, and wants to help restore the education system to more accurately reflect our nation’s history and what it means going forward. He is an advocate for reform and believes that the systemic issues in our school system are making life harder for teachers, stunting the growth of students, and shutting out parents from their child’s education.
Having become uncomfortable with the ideological campaigns of other unions, John wants to help provide educators across the country with a credible alternative which focuses on its members, not party politics. John is pleased to be heading up a common sense union which will represent its members’ interests and fight for what they want.
Maxine Prinsloo
Maxine is a dedicated teacher with more than twelve years of classroom experience. Since beginning her teaching career in 2012, she’s passionately worked to build inclusive learning environments where every student feels valued, supported, and capable of success.
Having grown up in South Africa, Maxine has embraced her relocation to New Zealand which has renewed her commitment to education. As Vice-President of the TPANZ, Maxine brings both local and international experience to campaign for fair working conditions, strong professional support, and meaningful systemic improvement across the education sector.
She believes that strong schools are created on the foundation of well supported teachers, and that real change will happen when teachers have the voice, resources, and respect they deserve. Motivated by a desire to make a meaningful contribution to the current state of education in New Zealand, Maxine brings great energy and enthusiasm to this role.
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Sam Walker
Sam Walker is an experienced part-time Maths teacher in Hamilton, with over 30 years of teaching experience. She has also taught and trained in the UK. Sam is a passionate advocate for educators' rights and mental health. Her expertise lies in teaching students with extra needs, especially autism. She runs her own successful tutoring business in Cambridge.
Sam's dedication to education is evident in her extracurricular activities, such as running the equestrian team and participating in school bands. Her love for nature and animals is reflected in her vegetarian lifestyle and her involvement with the SPCA.