In a few days' time, on New Year’s Eve, we’re going to learn who the recipients of the New Year’s Honours will be.

So, I thought I’d get in early, so it doesn’t look like I’m undermining any of the fine New Zealanders who have been chosen for those honours.

Before then, I want to highlight a couple of New Zealanders who, for different reasons, are worthy of recognition as outstanding contributors to our country.

My first choice is someone who might not be widely known to many of you—although she popped up in the media spotlight a week or two ago when the New Zealand Herald wrote about her retirement from a prominent New Zealand school after a 40+ year career in education.

That person is the retiring principal of Baradene College, Sandy Pasley.

Now, I’m not entirely sure Sandy would want to be singled out, so in making these comments, I’m also begging her forgiveness while at the same time acknowledging the years of dedication and hard work she has put into her role as an educator. From my own personal experience, Sandy at once impressed me when we first met as someone with a great deal of empathy and compassion for her students.

In acknowledging Sandy, this is also an opportunity to highlight the contribution of all those involved in educating our children. Sadly, respect and support for teachers—and the value we place on education—have greatly diminished over the years.

So, in recognising Sandy’s incredible contribution, I want to remind us of the tireless efforts of all the dedicated, hardworking teachers who show up each and every day for our children.  

And why do they do it?  

Well, it's obviously not for the money. Why then? - my best guess is because making a difference to the future of those children’s futures, gives meaning to their own lives.  

Over the years I’ve done thousands of hours as a talkback host on NewstalkZB, and it might not surprise you to learn that sometimes the airwaves can serve as a bit of a punching bag for teachers and education in general. But you won’t hear a rebuttal from teachers, because frankly they’re too busy doing what? Teaching.

So, I’m here to put a vote in not just for Sandy Pasley – but for those like her and for an unappreciated profession – one that as a society which we need to place far more value and trust in.

Education should be the forefront of every New Zealanders mind if we care about the future of this country.

Sure, we’ll continue have passionate discussions and disagreements about the nature of the curriculum and the challenges of educating our young people. It's only natural.

But regardless of those debates, dedicated teachers like Sandy will turn up every day at the coalface to do their bit for the future of our young people.

As Sandy has said herself “education is everything. It gives people a future.” And who can argue with that