Educator will take Makoura to next level

Paul Green has been named as the new Makoura College principal. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A new principal has been named for award-winning Makoura College.

Paul Green, deputy principal at James Cook High School in Auckland, will take over the helm early next year from outgoing principal Tom Hullena, who in seven years had taken the school from the brink of closure to a prime ministerial award.

Board of trustees chairwoman Sara Feringa said the board decision was unanimous to appoint Mr Green after trustees had completed a rigorous candidacy process that included student, staff and community feedback and two-hour interviews with each candidate.

"The board was looking for someone who could continue to build on the excellent educational leadership within the school and Paul was an outstanding candidate."

Mrs Feringa said trustees believed Mr Green's extensive curriculum, cultural, and pastoral experience "as well as his unwavering commitment to quality education, means he is the right fit for Makoura College".

James Cook High School is a large decile 1 secondary school in Manurewa in South Auckland that has the largest number of Maori students in New Zealand and a significant number of Pasifika students on its roll.

She said trustees were impressed with Mr Green's vision for school leadership as well as the way he had articulated his educational philosophy of how schools can be positive "change agents" in the lives of young people.

As well as commitment to his work, Mr Green also competes in triathlons, writes poetry, and is a keen home renovator and film-maker.

Mr Green said he was "delighted" to have been selected to lead Makoura College as principal.

"The time is right for me to step up to the role of principal and Makoura College's mission, motto and tikanga resonates with me both personally and professionally."

Mr Hullena took the reins at Makoura College in 2009 after the school board resigned and a commissioner was appointed.

Trustees had blamed a falling roll and reduced funding for their recommendation the school close, although they reversed their decision in the face of a groundswell of community support.

The roll count in August at the decile 3 college was about 350 students, including the Wairarapa Teen Parent Unit, which was a 30 per cent increase on the 220 students enrolled the day Mr Hullena started.

The school had been this year ranked decile 3 from decile 2 last year.

Mr Hullena congratulated trustees on the appointment and said he was keen to work with Mr Green "to ensure a smooth transition into this new chapter of Makoura's story".