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Elim Christian College principal Murray Burton has been named New Zealander of the Year by North & South magazine.
His leadership helped the Auckland school deal with the death of a teacher and six students, the magazine said.
Teacher Tony McClean and students Tom Hsu, Natasha Bray, Anthony Mulder, Tara Gregory, Floyd Fernandes and Portia McPhail died when hit by a torrent of water while canyoning in the Mangatepopo Gorge near Turangi on April 15.
The magazine said Mr Burton's compassion, grace and humanity through that time reached the entire country.
"In the most challenging and heartbreaking of circumstances, he showed true leadership and, by his example, brought people together without anger or blame."
- NZPA
