Kaikorai Valley College (KVC) head of junior school Damian Burden won the OfficeMax A Day Made Better award and $1000 worth of OfficeMax arts and crafts, stationery and office supplies for his classroom.
The win came as a surprise to Mr Burden. He had no idea anything was afoot until OfficeMax staff came to his classroom at 10am on Friday and made the presentation in front of the class.
''I was blown away,'' he said.
''We [teachers] teach because we love it; we don't do it for recognition but it's nice when something like that comes along,'' he said.
A former pupil at KVC, Mr Burden had taught there for 13 years.
While at school, Mr Burden had been involved in coaching. He found he loved helping people get better and this experience made him decide he wanted to be a teacher.
He attended Dunedin Teacher's College and met his wife, Angela, through teaching. They have three young children.
Mr Burden is still involved in coaching, especially touch rugby, and has won awards for his involvement in the sport.
He was one of 15 teachers from across the country selected from hundreds of peer-submitted entries. OfficeMax New Zealand national manager government and education Blair Horsfall said the programme was in its fourth year nationally and the standard of nominations had kept climbing.
''We adapted the global `A Day Made Better' programme, which began in the US in 2007, to really make it New Zealand's own by rewarding primary and intermediate teachers who are known for their passion and enthusiasm and for continually inspiring their students,'' he said.
''We are so fortunate to have such high-calibre teachers in this country and while it is obvious the principals are grateful for their hard work and dedication, it's the outside recognition that really surprises them.''
Members of the New Zealand Principals Federation judged the nominations and decided on the winners.
