Ponsonby Intermediate appoints Jonnie Black as principal after Nick Wilson’s death
Ponsonby Intermediate has appointed Jonnie Black as its new principal, effective January 2027. Black succeeds Nick Wilson, who passed away suddenly in May after 30 years of service to the school.
Why it matters
The appointment marks a significant leadership transition for a long-standing educational institution following a period of community mourning.
Ponsonby Intermediate has appointed Jonnie Black as its new principal following the death of Nick Wilson in May.\
Ponsonby Intermediate has appointed a new principal following the death of Nick Wilson in May .
Wilson, 50, died on May 16 after a sudden medical event, leaving the Ponsonby Intermediate community mourning a leader who dedicated 30 years to the school.
Jonnie Black, who has headed Matipo School on Te Atatū Peninsula for six years, will start at the end of January 2027.
He was previously deputy principal at Papatoetoe Intermediate.
Ponsonby Intermediate board’s presiding member, Hamish Hopkinson, said in an email to the school community that Black’s warmth, communication skills and care for people stood out during the appointment process.
“His simple test for all decisions is ‘is it in the best interests of the students?’”
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