Columba College board of trustees presiding member Graeme Riley confirmed principal Charissa Nicol was on leave, but declined to say why, citing privacy reasons, and would not say when she would return.
He backed her deputy Aaron Everett, who Mr Riley said had been the acting principal since July 30.
"The board have absolute confidence in Aaron and the senior leadership team while the principal is on leave, and know they will ensure the students have a good start back into term 4 next week."
The PPTA and Ministry of Education both declined to comment on Mrs Nicol’s absence.
Mrs Nicol joined Columba in 2023 — its third principal since 2018.
She succeeded Pauline Duthie, who took on the role in March 2019 after Juliette Hayes resigned in April 2018.
Mrs Hayes had been principal since Elizabeth Wilson retired in 2014.
Miss Wilson had been in the role for 34 years and was one of New Zealand’s longest-serving principals.
Columba College has a junior campus (years 1 to 6) for boys and girls, a senior campus (years 7 to 13) for girls and a school roll of 586.
