Putting our children first

Phil Palfrey, the Principal of Manurewa East Primary School for the last 17 years.

Give me three words that come to mind when I say ‘South Auckland’?

Vibrant, exciting, challenging.

How long have you lived here and where are you originally from?

I’ve lived here for 17 years, and am originally from Christchurch.

What do you like best about South Auckland?

I like the diversity and I like being and educator in the community.

I’ve been a principal for about 22 to 23 years, altogether, but at Manurewa East Primary School for 17 years.

What do you like least and how can we fix it?

I think that I least like parents who don’t put their children first.

I believe and have always lived my life as a child-centred person.

If society realised that childcentredness would make us a great nation, we’d be onto it.

But, unfortunately, there are many who put adults or the family first, but it’s never going to work.

If you’re in a new relationship, and your partner doesn’t care about the children, it’s probably a good idea not to be with that person because your children are the ones that will stay forever.

They’ll be your children till the day you die.

Where’s the best place to buy dinner in the South?

Everywhere. At the moment I really like going to Indian shops.

There’s a new one round the corner - Mahala Indian Takeaway.

A lot of people who amaze me are some of my colleagues.

One of my best friends who was a principal - he’s one of the most intelligent, fabulous people I’ve ever met in my life.

His name is Phil Harding.

If I were Auckland’s mayor I’d...

It would be my dream really. I

I just read and spend time with my family.

I read everything, newspapers, novels ... I would spend about half an hour a day leisure reading.

The spot in South Auckland I’d recommend to tourists is…

Wero Whitewater Park is amazing. It’s just the most beautiful place.

It’s one of the most scariest

Before you think of taking on any study, do an apprenticeship or a trade.

It will make you independent. Then you will have a skill and some money to go to university.

What’s one trial or struggle that you’ve overcome?

Believe it or not, it is public speaking. I used to have an anxiety around public speaking, I still do. But, to overcome it, I do it more. I took on more speaking engagements.