"This success doesn't happen in isolation, it happens through meaningful collaboration and having a shared goal to ensure equity and excellence for all students so they can really achieve their aspirations."
Anaru-Tangira said their approach was not only collaborative but researched and evidence informed.
"We knew we had to make a really big impact to turn the school around and bring about excellence in terms of our outcome.
"Our students are so stunning - it is such a privilege to walk alongside them and this really again affirms what's happening and where they are heading."
The supreme award is selected from winners in the four award categories (excluding the Focus Prize) and is determined by the extent of improvement and impact on education outcomes.
The excellence awards, a government incentive to profile New Zealand's education system internally and globally, have been running for five years and this year attracted 127 entries across all five categories.
Earlier this year the education awards judges toured the Hastings school to determine how innovative and effective its teaching practices were.
Judges noted that the college has a robust, distributed leadership model and huge community, parent, and whānau involvement. They also highlighted how the college has seen an enormous change by using data to adapt teaching practices and programmes. "The improvement in student attendance and achievement is remarkable, with significant improvement in NCEA results and education outcomes for all students."
Flaxmere also won the award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. And Napier-based William Colenso College won the 2018 Education Focus Prize (Takatū Prize) which celebrates outstanding inclusive practices that enable all children and young people with additional learning needs to succeed.
William Colenso College established Te Whānau Ora, a student support hub which became the centre of school-wide inclusive practices. The school's focus on wraparound support for students helped encourage an inclusive and safe environment that led to improved student outcomes.
"We were very happy just to be finalists but I was also confident that what we do was going to stack up so we are all pretty thrilled to win," principal Daniel Murfitt said.
"What it means for our students and immediate school community, is just immense pride in what the school does for everybody. For the wider community it is for people to be proud of the education community in Hawke's Bay and what we can offer as a wider community but also for the wider community to have a look and acknowledge what does happen in our own backyard."
He said the region can be "incredibly proud" of what both schools had achieved.
After visiting the college, the judging panel remarked that the school is a "shining light in the community as a result of developing wraparound services for students, which involve multiple agencies providing different forms of support".
"The staff are dedicated and committed to making a difference for all students. There is a strong student voice and students are flourishing at this college."
Ministry of Education's deputy secretary for early learning and student achievement, Ellen MacGregor-Reid, said the winners and finalists have been through a rigorous selection process and judged to be outstanding teams of education practitioners.
"They have set a high benchmark and are intent on making a difference for the children and young people in their communities. I congratulate all the winners and finalists. They represent an insight in to the excellent work going on in our schools, early learning services and communities."
Scooping both awards means Flaxmere College takes home a combined prize worth $50,000, as well as a professional development opportunity and the chance to represent New Zealand education.
For William Colenso, the school takes home $20,000, as well as a professional development opportunity.
Excellence in Engaging went to Toru Fetū Kindergarten, Porirua; Excellence in Leading went to St Paul's Collegiate School, Hamilton and Rotorua Girls' High School won the Excellence in Governing.
