Maniototo Area School, in Ranfurly, has appointed David Hunter as its new principal, replacing Peter Heron who will leave in mid-May.
Deputy principal of the Roxburgh Area School, Mr Hunter was chosen from 14 applicants from throughout New Zealand.
Mr Hunter (41), has been deputy principal at Roxburgh for two and a-half years, and before that, he was the head of physical education at St Kevin's College, in Oamaru.
He will move to Ranfurly with his wife, Rebecca, and their three children, Hamish (6), Billy (5), and Hannah (3).
Maniototo Area School board of trustees chairman John Pyle said four candidates were formally interviewed.
"The board was very impressed with the number of applications and the high standards it was presented with."
Originally from the Taieri, Mr Hunter will start as the new principal at the beginning of term three, in July.
"I've been at an area school for two and a-half years now and enjoy the atmosphere and the type of education, and it was a natural progression - to look to further my career within the area school system," he said.
Mr Heron (47), recently accepted the role of principal at Papakura High School in Auckland.
He and his family moved to Waipiata in July 2007.
Mr Heron's wife, Debbie, and son, Billy (17), will stay in Maniototo until the end of the year, while Billy finishes secondary school.
Mr Heron said Billy planned to move to Dunedin to be with his sister, Holly (19), who was in her second year of studying law at university, and Mrs Heron would move to Auckland.
