A Bay of Plenty township school board charged with setting up a new area school has appointed a principal for its Murupara Area School due to open in January.
Murupara Primary School and Rangitahi College are to merge and become an area school, due in part by falling enrolment numbers.
Mandy Bird, the current principal of Murupara Primary, has been appointed as the principal of the new Murupara Area School.
The chairperson of the area school's Board of Trustees Jacob Te Kurapa says his panel, The Establishment Board of Trustees, looks forward to working with her.
He says she has a strong understanding of the national curriculum, and also possesses leadership and management qualities.
Mr Te Kurapa says now her appointment has been made, the board can now forge ahead with other tasks.
They include preparing for the opening, setting out a vision and appointing other staff for the new school.
