As I meet with Greg Thornton in mid-May, he has had his feet under the principal's desk at Rangitoto College for just three weeks. And a busy three weeks they have been with many people to meet and names to remember in a school with a roll of over 4,000 students.
David Mackrell, presiding board member, described Greg in his letter to the school community as “an exceptional educational leader with clear strategic thinking, the ability to engage naturally with students, build effective teams, and establish strong relationships with communities.” Greg’s senior leadership background includes roles at Takapuna Grammar School, Manurewa High School and Mount Aspiring College, as well as nearly six years in Hong Kong as vice-principal of Sha Tin International College. More recently, Greg has been principal of Cambridge High School, leading the school through roll growth, curriculum change and major facilities development.
Alongside the accolades, we knew our readers wanted to learn more about the person now leading New Zealand’s largest secondary school. As we spot him chatting easily with students on the courts at lunchtime, it is clear that Greg has been made very welcome by the school community.
Coming home
Rangitoto College feels like coming home to Greg and his wife, Teresa. Both were students here in the 1990s. As a local from that era, I reminisced with him about how much the surrounding area has changed. “Remember when Rosedale Road was full of orchards? You’d head down there with your parents to get the fresh veg for the week, and people would be riding horses along what was basically a narrow country road.” How things have changed in thirty-plus years!
Greg made his first return to Rangitoto College as a maths teacher in 2003. It had been less than a decade since he had been there as a student, and he was now in the staffroom alongside some of the teachers who had once taught him. “It took me a few weeks to remember I was supposed to call them by their first names now!”
Today, in 2026, Greg has just attended his daughter’s parent-teacher interviews at Rangitoto College. I point out that this must have been a strange experience for the teachers to be sitting across the desk from their new boss. Greg laughs, “There was a great moment when we connected the dots with my daughter’s Year 11 history teacher, who also taught Teresa fifth form history and was my tutor teacher back in third form”
While there have been many changes at Rangitoto College, Greg says the biggest surprises to him have been the things that have stayed the same. “One example: the tuckshop is still recognisably the same,” he says with a grin. “And the school corridors haven’t changed much since those years – the doors may have had some coats of paint – I can stand there and realise I’ve passed through here as a student, as a teacher, and now as a principal. It is a little bit surreal!”
Greg is thankful for the dedication and efforts of the previous principal, Patrick Gale. “Rangitoto College is in great shape thanks to Patrick’s hard work; he did a huge amount to enhance the reputation of the school.” Greg would also like to thank Peter Morton for his excellent work as acting principal in the interim period.
A multinational and multicultural career
There’s an obvious benefit to having a leader with a lived history and fondness for the school, but Greg also brings new skills from his diverse educational career. His international experience has given him grounding in the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme and its pedagogy, as well as networks of overseas contacts and resources. His educational viewpoint now looks beyond what is happening in New Zealand, with an understanding of what is changing and impacting education globally. Living and working in Hong Kong was more than just an opportunity for professional growth; he developed a lasting appreciation of Chinese culture while he was there.
Greg also places special value on his experience living in the Waikato for the last few years, where he had opportunities to learn more deeply about te ao Māori. He acknowledges mana whenua who took the time to teach him from their knowledge and experience. Greg incorporated a mihi in his first speech at his welcoming pōwhiri, in which he acknowledged the attending staff and students, te whānau o te kāreti o Rangitoto, his family in Auckland and his Waikato whānau, as well as thanking past principals and teachers for their hard work over the years in providing outstanding learning opportunities for this community.
Bringing further industry experience to his new position, Greg is also an executive member and current vice president of SPANZ, the Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand. SPANZ advocates for secondary schools and contributes to government policy for the education sector. Through SPANZ, Rangitoto College will have a strong voice at a national level and be at the forefront of consideration for new initiatives.
The benefits of a big school
Rangitoto College is the largest secondary school in New Zealand, yet Greg notes you actually won’t find its size overwhelming. “Many people are surprised that a school of this size can feel smaller than it is. The school’s design incorporates gardens and seating areas where students interact with each other on a smaller scale. You’re walking in and out of pockets of students as you traverse the school, not coming across everyone en masse.”
Greg also sees the many positive benefits of a larger school. “There are so many opportunities available in a school of this scale, both within the academic programme and through the range of sports, extracurricular activities, arts, cultural activities, voluntary work and community programmes on offer. It means that students contribute in many different ways to the life of the school, and this extends out into a positive impact on the community.”
Making a positive difference
The opportunity to earn the role of principal at Rangitoto College came along at the right time for Greg, who says many things needed to line up to make it possible. Now that he is in the position, he aspires to contribute to improving education for its community and across the sector. He advocates for learning that focuses on the development of the whole person, catering for each student within a rich learning environment. The development of academic capability alongside growth in personal and interpersonal skills will see graduates of Rangitoto College well-prepared for their futures as they pursue employment or further study.
This focus aligns well with the Rangitoto College Vision and Ambition statement: “To empower each student, through unrivalled opportunities, exceptional support and challenging academic experiences, to make a positive difference in the world". Greg has listened to stories from alumni of other schools who have gone on to make just such a positive difference. “They point back to their secondary school and say, 'That’s where I had the preparation for this journey, that’s where I began to see I could make an impact.'”
Schools increasingly try to integrate real-world experience into the classroom, and alumni are often well-positioned to pass on their practical knowledge and expertise, helping enhance students' capabilities. He’d love to hear more of those stories from Rangitoto College alumni and encourages readers to get in touch if they feel they have something to contribute to the learning journey of students. Rangitoto College alumni could give a visiting lecture or even consider joining the teaching profession.
The importance of teachers
One of Greg’s priorities in talking with Channel Mag is to highlight his gratitude for the hard work of staff and their importance to the college over the years. As he said in his opening speech to the school, the staff’s “hard work and passion have created this remarkable learning environment”.
Greg believes strongly in the importance of teaching and aims to continue to employ, develop and retain great teachers who, in turn, lead and develop students to fulfil their potential. He says that Rangitoto College truly has a culture of ongoing improvement, and the college is in a stronger position than it was when he was a student there in the '90s. “I hold this school and where it is now in great respect. It's been built and sustained by many years of expertise and care from the staff – both our current cohort and all those who have gone before. Thanks also to the parents, whanau, community and most importantly, the students, past and present, who have contributed to this school.”
Completing the loop
Greg has gained extensive knowledge and understanding of the education sector and enhancing student outcomes from his time working outside of Auckland and New Zealand. He now finds it immensely satisfying and a privilege to be able to loop back to the place where he began with new skills and resources to contribute back to the school.
What else has been good about coming back to live in the East Coast Bays? Greg is a keen outdoors person who loves tennis, running and mountain biking, so being back on the North Shore brings the pleasure of living in an area of great natural beauty, as well as easy access to parks, tracks and beaches for recreation. He’s also been busy reconnecting with old friends and family members who live in the area. I can assure readers that while Greg is an astute educational leader, with a ton of knowledge and experience, he is also a friendly and approachable communicator. He looks forward to attending as many school events as possible in order to meet students, parents, whānau and people in the community. If you see him at a school event, or even just out and about, you should definitely stop and say hi!
