Christchurch Girls’ High School principal to retire after ‘battling some health challenges’

Saturday, 29 July 2023

Christchurch Girls’ High School’s popular principal Christine O’Neill has resigned after ‘battling some health challenges’.

The decision brings to an end a teaching career of more than 40 years.

O’Neill, who was appointed to the role in 2019, has been “an extraordinary leader” who has “transformed the school over the past five years”, said Lesley Vehekite, chairperson of the school’s board.

“We owe her a huge debt of gratitude for all she has done,” she said.

“She has been battling some health challenges this year and, while her health has improved, she has reluctantly decided to retire early on medical advice to enable her to concentrate on recovery.”

O’Neill will finish in the role on October 25. Deputy principal Peter Sawyer will remain as acting principal while a replacement is found.

In a message on the school’s website on Friday, O’Neill said it had been a “difficult decision”, but one she had made for her family.

It had been a “privilege and a joy” to lead the school, she said.

“We have a great community of staff, students and parents/caregivers who have endorsed and supported our direction for the future as we equip our students for the world ahead of them.

“Our girls are always a delight – challenging, caring, curious, courageous and fine young women.”

O’Neill began her teaching career at Avonside Girls’ High School in 1981.

She went on to teach at several schools in Christchurch and spent 10 years as head of St Thomas of Canterbury College, before becoming an independent consultant for the Ministry of Education in 2017.

She joined Christchurch Girls’ High School five years ago, saying that single-sex girls’ education was “in my bones”.

During her tenure O’Neill has had to negotiate issues of gender equity that have bubbled over into the public arena.

In March 2021, she was forced to intervene and turn her students back after a 100-strong cohort marched on nearby Christchurch Boys’ High School in a protest about sexual harassment.

A few months later she stood by her girls as they were publicly snubbed at a schools rugby sponsorship event by Miles Toyota, which ignored the achievements of female players but lauded the males at the event.

She branded it “insulting and diminishing”.

She also had to deal with the fallout in June 2021 of a survey of 725 Girls’ High students that found more than half had been sexually harassed, and 20 alleged they had been raped, three laying complaints with police.

As well as guiding the school through three years of Covid-19 disruption, O’Neill also had to cope with the school’s protracted post-quake rebuild, which was meant to have begun in 2015 and finished by mid-2020.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said in March that a 10-year project to redevelop 115 damaged Christchurch schools was expected to be completed in 2025, but O’Neill said there was “no way” that time frame would be met, and doubted construction would have started, “let alone finished by 2025”.

Paying tribute, Vehekite said O’Neill had been a “positive force for the school, always giving 100%”.

O’Neill said she had worked with a professional and supportive board, and a dedicated and supportive senior leadership team.

“We have shared our professional journey together and I owe them thanks for their loyalty and hard work,” she said.

“While my resignation is sadly earlier than I expected, my focus since I have arrived has been to work with the senior leadership and staff team to provide a bridge to the future during a challenging time.

“The school is in great heart for a new leader with fresh energy, enthusiasm and vision. I extend my best wishes to you all for the future and l will leave with very fond memories.”