School principal of 27 years claims unjustifiable dismissal

Warren Spanhake was in charge of Whenuapai Primary School until May last year, when he handed in his resignation. Photo / iStock

An Auckland primary school principal of 27 years claims he was unjustifiably dismissed, saying he signed a settlement agreement under duress.

Warren Spanhake was in charge of Whenuapai Primary School until May last year, when he handed in his resignation.

Before this, the school's board of trustees had raised concerns about "Mr Spanhake's ability to perform certain aspects of his role satisfactorily and also his relationship with the board", an Employment Relations Authority decision says.

The decision does not set out what Mr Spanhake's disputed shortcomings were.

He claimed he was forced to sign the settlement agreement with the board in June last year and because of this, it shouldn't stand.

Authority member Eleanor Robinson ruled it did not have jurisdiction to decide this.

Whenuapai Primary School was founded in 1957 and was built on a former poultry farm.

The school began with three classrooms but has now grown to 20 rooms, according to its website.