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Peter Lee
Biography
BiographyBorn in England, Peter Lee came to New Zealand when his father, who was in the British army, was transferred to Linton Army Camp.
Lee attended Glendale School and became a foundation pupil at Wainuiomata College; he then did a BA in history at Victoria University, trained as a secondary teacher, and married his wife, Mary.
His first position was at Karamea District High School; Peter was 22.
He had been principal of Forest Green High School, Tokoroa, for 4-1/2 years, and previously deputy principal at Hawera High School, and head of history in Waipukurau; he had also taught at Wainuiomata and Wairarapa Colleges.
His appointment as principal of Upper Hutt College was announced in the October 4, 1995 'Leader'; he was welcomed to the college on December 4.
When he started at Upper Hutt, the roll had declined to 650 and the school had been focused on its academic students. Lee changed tack to focus on the needs of minority students, including building a marae at the school. He also recruited students from overseas and ran buses from Stokes Valley to encourage students from there to choose Upper Hutt College rather than Taita College. The roll increased to 1250.
Peter was elected Rotary president in July 1999.
After three years' study, he graduated with a Master of Public Management degree from Victoria University; he was capped in May 2001. The degree was a new one, designed specifically for those working in the public sector.
He left Upper Hutt College in 2004 after nine years as principal. A picture was printed in the Leader on November 10; he had been farewelled officially the previous week, at the prizegiving.
After a sailing holiday, in 2005, Peter planned to be active in advisory work in education leadership.
Lee attended Glendale School and became a foundation pupil at Wainuiomata College; he then did a BA in history at Victoria University, trained as a secondary teacher, and married his wife, Mary.
His first position was at Karamea District High School; Peter was 22.
He had been principal of Forest Green High School, Tokoroa, for 4-1/2 years, and previously deputy principal at Hawera High School, and head of history in Waipukurau; he had also taught at Wainuiomata and Wairarapa Colleges.
His appointment as principal of Upper Hutt College was announced in the October 4, 1995 'Leader'; he was welcomed to the college on December 4.
When he started at Upper Hutt, the roll had declined to 650 and the school had been focused on its academic students. Lee changed tack to focus on the needs of minority students, including building a marae at the school. He also recruited students from overseas and ran buses from Stokes Valley to encourage students from there to choose Upper Hutt College rather than Taita College. The roll increased to 1250.
Peter was elected Rotary president in July 1999.
After three years' study, he graduated with a Master of Public Management degree from Victoria University; he was capped in May 2001. The degree was a new one, designed specifically for those working in the public sector.
He left Upper Hutt College in 2004 after nine years as principal. A picture was printed in the Leader on November 10; he had been farewelled officially the previous week, at the prizegiving.
After a sailing holiday, in 2005, Peter planned to be active in advisory work in education leadership.
Photos
Peter Lee. Upper Hutt Libraries, accessed 07/05/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25583