Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepoti's new principal, Amiria Stirling (29), believes her philosophy is the key to improving the level of achievement at the Fairfield-based Maori immersion school.
"It's OK to break things and see what it looks like on the inside.
"It helps our minds understand.
"Children should be able to touch and explore through all learning areas."
Miss Stirling's posting at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepoti is her first as a principal.
She has taught at all levels, from early childhood to secondary school, and said she would draw on her teaching experiences in her new position.
Most recently, she was associate principal at Porirua School in Wellington.
While her main focus will be on literacy and numeracy, she is also a firm believer in nurturing happy and healthy kids.
"If children are happy, they are happy to learn.
"I want to lift the level of achievement at the kura because Maori children are very capable."
The school's roll had dropped to nine pupils last year, but Miss Stirling hoped numbers would rise again during the next 12 months.
"We have a new board. [Former Rotary Park School principal] Pat Hoffman has been a tremendous help as a mentor.
"She has shared a lot of knowledge and experience on how to improve the kura.
"2010 is the start of a new decade.
"This is the start of a new beginning at the kura."
