Queen's Birthday Honours: Allan Rumble

Allan Rumble Photo/Ben Fraser

Queen's Birthday Honours List

He has impacted the lives of thousands of teenagers, and turned around some of the region's "at risk" schools - now Allan Rumble has been recognised for more than 40 years in the education field.

He has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to education in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

The honour comes just five weeks into retirement for Mr Rumble, who has spent the past decade working as interim principal at a number of "at risk" schools working to address problems and rebuild community trust.

Prior to that he was co-principal of Western Heights High School, where he led the school's high academic performance.

Mr Rumble said he had been proud of the work he had done, and he was "humbled and privileged" to receive the honour.

He had enjoyed his time in education, especially working with the at risk schools and helping them "gain a sense of positivity".

"It's extremely demanding but it's extremely rewarding to have success."

Mr Rumble originally left school early but was encouraged to return by a teacher who helped arrange a scholarship for him through to his final year.

"I have a lot to thank that teacher for. He was a bit of a role model and that is what I tried to do with the kids."

Mr Rumble said while the job had changed over the years, the kids had not.

"The best kids of today are equal to or better than the best kids of the past."

He said teaching, and in particular working as a principal, required a certain level of resilience - while it was an excellent career, it was also one that had ups and downs.

Mr Rumble said there were plenty of others in the field equally as deserving.