Kim Green - Kristin School
Kim Green is the Executive Principal at Kristin School, following a distinguished career teaching and leading IB World and International Schools across Laos, Bangladesh, Qatar, and Vietnam.
Channel Mag: What is the most memorable trip you've taken in the last ten years, and what made it so worthwhile?
Kim Green: My most memorable trip was to Uganda and Rwanda, which I was fortunate to take with my husband and parents. Travelling together made the experience far more meaningful. We travelled to see mountain gorillas in the wild. Nothing quite prepares you for trekking through dense rainforest and relying on the knowledge of local guides and trackers. Then, suddenly, you are sitting a few metres from a gorilla family. Watching a mother cradle her infant, young gorillas play, and a silverback quietly hold the centre of his family is profoundly moving.
The journey was also shaped by the people we met. The guides, rangers, porters, and local communities brought generosity, humour, and deep knowledge to every part of the trip. Hearing about the work involved in protecting the gorilla and seeing how thoughtful tourism can support both conservation and local livelihoods gave the experience real purpose.
What is a travel destination you dream of visiting in the future?
I dream of visiting Iceland. A place where the elements are always present: black-sand beaches, lava fields, glaciers, waterfalls, geothermal springs, and wide-open skies that make you feel wonderfully small. I would hope to see the Northern Lights and soak in a geothermal pool after a day outdoors. More than ticking off sights, Iceland feels like a destination for slowing down, paying attention, and reconnecting with the landscape.
What travel spot would you recommend to our readers that they might not have considered?
I would recommend Myanmar as a destination with extraordinary depth, beauty, and generosity. Watching dawn break over the temple plains of Bagan is breathtaking, or experiencing the gentle magic of Inle Lake with fishermen balancing on their boats and village life unfolding along the water. Cities such as Yangon offer another kind of richness, from the golden presence of Shwedagon Pagoda to busy tea shops. Myanmar is a place that can reward travellers who arrive with humility, curiosity and a willingness to listen. Given the country’s current circumstances, responsible travel matters enormously, supporting local communities where appropriate and respecting sensitivities.
Greg Thornton - Rangitoto College
Greg grew up in Mairangi Bay and started teaching at Rangitoto College in 2003, and started as the principal at Rangitoto College earlier this year.
Channel Mag: What is the most memorable trip you've taken in the last ten years and what made it so worthwhile?
Greg Thornton: When we were in Hong Kong, we were fortunate to have easy access to many great places. It is too hard to pick the best one, I’m sorry, they have been great for different reasons. I like a sense of adventure in my trips, so highlights include great walks and exploring the south of NZ, the Garden Route in South Africa, or the Northwest of Spain. What made these memorable for me was the sense that we weren’t just following a preset tourist path. We set up adventures along the way but made space for the unexpected to happen, and it was often in these moments that we found the most memorable moments together.
What is a travel destination you dream of visiting in the future?
Wow, what a tough question. I have only visited South Africa and would love to explore more of the continent, but where to start? Maybe the wildlife in Botswana, or climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.
What travel spot would you recommend to our readers that they might not have considered?
When I've visited Japan, I've tried to step outside of the major tourist route and engage more locally. This has presented a very different side to the country, its people, and the culture. Some examples I would recommend are visiting Hokkaido for skiing or hiking, or exploring places like Kamikochi in the Japanese Alps outside of Tokyo.
Nixon Cooper - Rosmini College
Nixon Cooper has been principal of Rosmini College for the past 12 years. Raised on the North Shore, he is a proud Rosmini Old Boy, having attended the college as a student in the 1970s.
Channel Mag: What is the most memorable trip you've taken in the last ten years and what made it so worthwhile?
Nixon Cooper: I'm going to cheat because I think there are two, and they're quite different. The first was my sabbatical to Italy in 2023, where my late wife and I travelled together to film a documentary on the life of Antonio Rosmini. We followed the footsteps of Antonio Rosmini through some beautiful northern Italian towns off the popular tourist trails, Rovereto, Padova, Domodossola and Stresa, amongst others. These cities are slower-paced and have fewer tourists, enabling us to enjoy authentic Italian culture and lifestyle. As part of the filming, we visited beautiful monasteries and churches set in the foothills of the Alps.
Two years later, my late wife and I had planned to join two other couples on a safari to East Africa. Despite her passing, the other two couples encouraged me to still join them. The trip was a tailor-made safari to Kenya and Tanzania, specifically to Amboseli and Masai Mara national parks in Kenya, and then the Serengeti and Ngorongoro national parks in Tanzania. One morning in particular stood out: we were all alone in our truck in the Serengeti and, in a short space of time, encountered cheetahs, leopards, and lions.
What is a travel destination you dream of visiting in the future?
I have travelled extensively through Europe and have enjoyed Central and Eastern Europe, but I have yet to go to Poland. So Poland is probably top of my list, especially as friends who have recently returned from there enjoyed it so much.
What travel spot would you recommend to readers that they may not have considered?
I recall a very pleasant and memorable trip to Luang Prabang in Laos with my late wife 10 years ago. It is a very picturesque town on the banks of the Mekong River with beautiful Buddhist monasteries, French colonial architecture, and wonderful French and Asian cuisine. The town is famous for its Tak Bat, the daily morning procession of saffron-robed Buddhist monks.
CJ Healey - Long Bay College
CJ Healey leads Long Bay College, a position he has held since 2017. He was born and bred in Bolton, Lancashire, but moved to New Zealand in 2000 and immediately knew it was where he wished to live.
Channel Mag: What is the most memorable trip you've taken in the last ten years and what made it so worthwhile?
CJ Healey: The most memorable trip I've taken in the last decade was a family journey through Europe, visiting Croatia, the Czech Republic, Italy and the Netherlands before returning to my hometown in the UK for my niece’s wedding. As a history enthusiast, I loved exploring places that had shaped centuries of European culture and seeing them come to life beyond the pages of a book. What made the trip truly special, though, was sharing those experiences with my 3 teenage daughters. Watching them discover new places, people, and perspectives was incredibly rewarding.
What is a travel destination you dream of visiting in the future?
One destination I'd love to visit is Botswana. The idea of exploring the Okavango Delta and seeing elephants, lions, and other wildlife in their natural environment is incredibly appealing. In a world where life often feels fast-paced and increasingly connected, there is something special about the prospect of slowing down and being immersed in nature. I've always enjoyed learning about different cultures and environments, and a safari in Botswana seems to offer a unique combination of adventure, reflection, and awe. It's a trip that I hope will happen sooner rather than later!
What travel spot would you recommend to our readers that they might not have considered?
I'd recommend Sri Lanka, a destination that completely exceeded my expectations. Having previously travelled in India, I anticipated something similar, but Sri Lanka felt far less crowded and intense while retaining an incredible richness of culture, history and natural beauty. We travelled through vibrant cities, the stunning hill country and along the coastline, with each region offering something different. The people were warm and welcoming, and the food was exceptional. We then finished the trip with a short flight to the Maldives, where we spent four days unwinding with family and friends. The crystal-clear blue ocean, golden beaches and incredibly warm hospitality made it feel like a world away from the pace of everyday life.
David Burton - Birkenhead College
David Burton’s recent appointment as the next Principal of Birkenhead College comes on the back of four years as Associate Principal at Westlake Girls High School.
Channel Mag: What is the most memorable trip you've taken in the last ten years and what made it so worthwhile?
David Burton: In April of this year, I was lucky enough to go on a two-week tour of China with the Westlake High School orchestral groups. I had never visited China before, and it was not somewhere that had really appeared on my travel list. We visited four different cities, with a mixture of both concert performances and sightseeing. What made this trip so worthwhile was the energy of the students and staff I was travelling with, and the incredible immersion into a culture that I had not experienced before. On top of that, visiting historical sites such as the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors were fascinating for someone who loves human history.
What is a travel destination you dream of visiting in the future?
I am a passionate fly fisherman - something that has been passed down through generations of my family. There are two destinations at the top of my fishing bucket list. The first is Alaska. Visiting the Kenai and Alagnak rivers would be an incredible wilderness experience. The second is Jurassic Lake in the Santa Cruz province of Argentine Patagonia. The fishing in this area is famous for producing trophy trout. These two places wouldn’t necessarily appear on most people's must-visit destinations, but for me they would be an experience of a lifetime.
What travel spot would you recommend to our readers that they might not have considered?
I would highly recommend Poland. I travelled through this country in my early 30s and loved the contrast between medieval history and vibrant modern cities, along with plenty of green spaces. The food was delicious and reasonably priced, and the infrastructure made travel easy. It’s perhaps a destination that doesn’t always feature on travel plans due to the plethora of options in Europe; however, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
Jane Stanley - Westlake Girls High School
Jane Stanley is Principal of Westlake Girls High School, where she leads one of the North Shore’s largest secondary school communities.
Channel Mag: What is the most memorable trip you’ve taken in the last ten years and what made it so worthwhile?
Jane Stanley: In 2023, we had the opportunity to add a holiday onto a conference trip to the United States, and it turned into the most wonderful few weeks. We spent time in northern Italy and the lakes and enjoyed some proper R&R on the Greek island of Ikaria.
Ikaria was just amazing. It’s absolutely stunning and is one of the world’s Blue Zones, known for the longevity of its people and its relaxed way of life. The food was incredible, the water was beautiful, and there was something very special about being able to slow down and simply enjoy where we were.
Another highlight was travelling from Rome to Athens and then on to Istanbul. I loved seeing the history and the connections between the three places unfold as we travelled. There is so much history layered through that part of the world, and experiencing it in that sequence made the whole journey incredibly memorable.
What is a travel destination you dream of visiting in the future?
Scandinavia is definitely high on my wish list. I’d love to explore that part of the world, the landscapes, the culture, and just experiencing a completely different way of life. I’m also very drawn to the Pacific Islands. We have so many beautiful places relatively close to home, and there are still plenty I haven’t discovered yet. So there are quite a few destinations competing for the next trip!
What travel spot would you recommend to our readers that they might not have considered?
I’d absolutely recommend Wānaka, the Mackenzie Country and Central Otago. What I love about that part of New Zealand is the incredible diversity of the landscape. You can travel a relatively short distance and find yourself somewhere that feels completely different. The scenery is spectacular; there’s wonderful food, fantastic walking tracks, and so much to explore. We sometimes look overseas when we think about our next adventure, but there are some truly extraordinary places right here at home.
Rakesh Govind - Glenfield College
Rakesh Govind has been Principal of Glenfield College since 2024. He has taught at Long Bay College, Westlake Boys High School and held leadership roles across Auckland.
Channel Mag: What is the most memorable trip you have taken in the last ten years and what made it so worthwhile?
Rakesh Govind: In April 2024, I travelled to Banff, Canada, to attend an educational leadership conference. What made it particularly special was being able to take my three children with me. Camping and hiking were part of my life from an early age and became experiences I later shared with my children. In Banff, we walked across a completely frozen Lake Louise, explored Johnston Canyon, and took the gondola up Sulphur Mountain for some breathtaking views across the Rockies. The scenery was extraordinary, but the real highlight was experiencing it with my children. I suspect in years to come I won’t remember every conference presentation, but I will remember walking across frozen Lake Louise with my three kids.
What is the travel destination you dream of visiting in the future?
The Canadian Rockies only strengthened my desire to see Alaska. What appeals to me about Alaska is its sheer scale and sense of wilderness – mountains, glaciers, forests, wildlife, and vast open spaces. I’d love to experience places such as Denali and the Kenai Fjords, but more than anything I’d want to get beyond simply looking at the scenery. I’d like to put on the hiking boots, get out on the trails and experience the wilderness firsthand.
What travel spot would you recommend to our readers that they might not have considered?
I would recommend India. It has a very personal connection for me because my family originates from Gujarat, but it is also a fascinating and diverse country. India really is an assault on the senses in the best way. The sounds of the streets and railway stations, the smells of spices and cooking, the tastes, colours and crowds. Northern India offers an extraordinary introduction. Delhi combines centuries of history with the energy and chaos of a huge modern city. From there, Agra and the Taj Mahal are a must. I would also encourage people to venture west to Gujarat.
India isn’t necessarily an easy travel experience – it challenges you, surprises you, and draws you in. For me, the best travel takes you beyond what is familiar and leaves you seeing the world a little differently.
