A hikoi has travelled 444 kilometres to hand over the inaugural Prime Minister's Education Excellence Award from Kerikeri High School to Otumoetai Intermediate School.
The supreme award, which was officially presented by Prime Minister John Key earlier this year, was shared between the two schools.
The trophy, delivered to Otumoetai Intermediate in a ceremony yesterday morning, celebrated both schools and the hard work they had done to achieve education excellence.
Otumoetai Intermediate was also a finalist in both the Excellence in Engaging and Excellence in Governing categories.
Otumoetai Intermediate School Principal Henk Popping said it was a privilege to share the award with Kerikeri High School and was thrilled a party from the Northland school could make it down to the event.