Hereworth School principal Ross Scrymgeour will resign from his position in the new year, with a search now under way for a new headmaster.
Spending the summer at his Taupo home, Mr Scrymgeour said it was time for him to move on from the Havelock North school.
"I've been here for 13 years and it's just time to move. The school's in really good heart. I came there in 2002 with clear goals and we've achieved most of those."
The school board had advertised his position and there was a "national and international search" under way for a new headmaster. In the meantime, he would relocate from the grounds of the boys' boarding school to Lake Taupo.
"I've got a few opportunities but at this stage I'm looking forward to having a little bit of time out. It will be quite novel and wonderful to claim my weekends back."
