After much consideration, Somerville House Principal Dr Sandra Hastie has made the decision to step down from her role at the end of Term 1 2026 and she and her husband will return to New Zealand for family reasons.
The Somerville House staff, School Advisory Council and Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association respect and support Dr Hastie’s decision and sincerely thank her for the meaningful and enduring contribution she has made to Somerville House’s culture and community over the past two years. The dedication and care she has shown to Somerville’s staff, students and our wider community will have a lasting impact on our School and we are truly saddened to see her go.
Somerville House has commenced the recruitment process for a new Principal and will appoint an Interim Principal to ensure continuity and stability throughout 2026. Ahead of her departure, Dr Hastie will continue to work closely with the School to support a smooth transition.
As this process progresses, our focus remains firmly on supporting our students, staff and families and ensuring they experience as much continuity as possible.
We wish Dr Hastie and her husband all the very best for their future with their family and Dr Hastie for her new role as Executive Principal for the Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland.
We thank our School community for their ongoing support.