Bali Haque (MNZM) is a name synonymous with educational leadership in New Zealand. Having been principal of four diverse secondary schools, an executive member of the PPTA and President of the Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand, Haque has also served as Deputy Chief Executive with the NZQA and chaired the Ministerial Taskforce to Review Tomorrow’s Schools. EducationHQ caught up with Haque, now serving as a New Plymouth District councillor, to get his thoughts on the current state of education and leadership in NZ and, fair warning, he doesn’t paint a pretty picture.