Dr Nina Hood appointed Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit

The Teachers’ Institute co-founder, Dr Nina Hood, has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List, recognised for her outstanding services to education.

Tuesday 17 June 2025

Nina’s career is defined by a strong commitment to improving educational outcomes

and contributing meaningfully to society. She began her journey in education as a secondary school teacher at Epsom Girls Grammar and Mt Roskill Grammar in Auckland. Her impact in the classroom continues to resonate, with former students still reaching out to share their journeys and achievements.

Driven by a passion for connecting research with classroom practice, Nina pursued postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, where she completed both a Master's and PhD in Education.

Upon returning to New Zealand, she joined the University of Auckland as an academic and, alongside this work, founded The Education Hub, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to bridging the gap between educational research and everyday teaching practice.

In 2023, Nina co-founded The Teachers’ Institute with David Ferguson, furthering her mission to support educators by providing the tools, knowledge, and professional support needed for new teachers to thrive in the classroom.

Her work is grounded in the belief that every child in New Zealand deserves access to a well-rounded, rigorous education, one that enables them to flourish both in and beyond the classroom.

As Nina herself puts it:

“How do we create an education system that gives every child what it is that they need so that they can go on and flourish and thrive into the future?”

Nina said that while she was humbled and honoured to receive the award, her work would not have been possible without the input and support of many others who had so generously shared their expertise and knowledge.

“Education, by its very nature, is a social and collaborative endeavour and my work is driven by a desire to support these interconnections in order to improve the lives of all children.”