Minister of Education Hekia Parata will move to Wainui Beach, Gisborne and take up paddle boarding after she finishes her role in government next year.
"I have a house at Wainui. I'll be spending a lot more time there. My goal for the summer is to learn to stand-up paddle board," Parata said.
The minister, who grew up in Ruatoria and attended Ngata Memorial College, was in the region on Friday visiting six Ruatoria and Tolaga Bay schools.
It was a special trip for the minister, who visited her sister and Tolaga Bay Area School principal, Nori Parata, while travelling with her sister and deputy secretary of the Ministry of Education Apryll Parata.
"In five years in this role, this is the first time I've been able to diary an official visit to all the schools in this region," she said.