Simon Collins: A Career Dedicated to Education Equity and Community Stories
We've followed Simon Collins's work for over four decades, observing how his reporting has shaped conversations about education reform and cultural reconciliation in New Zealand. With 42 years in journalism—primarily at the NZ Herald—Collins has become a trusted voice on issues impacting schools, indigenous communities, and environmental stewardship within educational institutions.
Key Career Milestones
- 1983-2000: Cut his teeth on local government reporting before transitioning to education beats
- 2007: Launched groundbreaking "Struggling to Learn" series on neurodiverse learners
- 2020-2025: Chronicled COVID-19's disproportionate impact on South Auckland schools
Defining Works
- Principal to iwi after land return: 'You're the boss now' This 2023 investigation into Rotorua's successful Māori education initiatives revealed how five schools achieved parity between Māori and non-Māori students through land repatriation partnerships. Collins spent six months embedding with school leaders and local iwi, documenting the transfer of governance authority. The piece sparked national dialogue about decolonizing education systems, cited in three parliamentary inquiries on education reform.
- Methodology combined longitudinal academic data with firsthand accounts from students and elders. Collins's nuanced portrayal of power-sharing models between schools and indigenous communities remains required reading in teacher training programs.
- 'Bureaucratic lunacy': Boy banned from bus, told to use $2300-a-year taxi Collins's 2024 exposé on transportation inequities exposed systemic failures in student support services. By comparing Ministry of Education policies with real-world impacts on special needs families, he revealed how rigid bureaucracy often undermines fiscal responsibility and student welfare.
- The article's viral spread—shared 18,000 times on social media—prompted immediate policy reviews. Collins's follow-up interviews with transportation ministers and disability advocates demonstrated his ability to sustain accountability journalism beyond initial scoops.
- Campbells Bay School pōhutukawa saved This 2025 environmental victory story showcased Collins's talent for community-centered reporting. When developers threatened historic trees at a suburban Auckland school, Collins amplified student-led conservation efforts through multimedia storytelling.
- His coverage blended ecological expertise with education policy analysis, resulting in revised urban planning guidelines that now require schools' input on campus development projects. The piece exemplifies his commitment to intergenerational storytelling.
Strategic Pitching Recommendations
1. Lead With Community-Driven Solutions
Collins prioritizes stories demonstrating how schools collaborate with local stakeholders. Recent pieces on land repatriation and environmental activism show his preference for solutions journalism over problem-centric narratives. When pitching, highlight partnerships between educators, families, and cultural institutions—especially those addressing systemic inequities.
2. Ground Policy Analysis in Human Impact
His award-winning work on transportation barriers for disabled students proves the value of connecting bureaucratic decisions to individual experiences. Provide case studies that illustrate policy failures/successes through student outcomes, supported by verifiable data from schools or government agencies.
3. Emphasize Long-Term Educational Outcomes
Collins's reporting often revisits subjects years later to assess intervention efficacy. Pitch longitudinal studies or programs with at least three years of measurable results, particularly those bridging cultural divides or serving neurodiverse populations.
4. Avoid Generic Curriculum Discussions
While he covers pedagogical innovations, Collins typically rejects stories focused solely on teaching methods without community impact angles. Instead, highlight how curriculum changes intersect with broader social issues like climate action or indigenous language revitalization.
5. Leverage Cross-Sector Collaborations
His recent work on school-based environmental initiatives demonstrates interest in education's role beyond classroom walls. Pitch stories involving partnerships between schools and other sectors—urban planning, public health, or renewable energy projects with educational components.
Awards and Recognition
- 2024 Education Journalism Excellence Award Received top honors from the New Zealand Journalists Association for his series on post-pandemic learning disparities. Judges praised Collins's "relentless focus on amplifying marginalized voices while maintaining rigorous policy analysis."
- 2023 Te Tohu Mātauranga (Education Medal) Bestowed by the Māori Education Trust for advancing understanding of indigenous pedagogies. This rare honor for a Pākehā journalist reflects Collins's decade-long commitment to culturally responsive reporting.
- 2021 Mental Health Foundation Media Grant Secured funding to investigate student well-being initiatives during COVID-19 lockdowns. The resulting work influenced national guidelines for trauma-informed teaching practices.
