Northland is the only region in the country to have a government appointed specialist adviser to support struggling school principals.
The recently created rural advisor role is an effort to address issues stemming from high principal turnover, high numbers of transient students and isolated schools.
The position, similar to a mentoring role, is being advertised with the successful applicant likely to start early in the new year.
Ministry of Education head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said Northland schools faced complex and challenging issues.
"The new rural adviser role, which is fully supported by the Tai Tokerau principals, will involve visiting schools, listening to concerns principals may have, liaising with other services and departments where appropriate and to give advice and support where necessary," Ms Casey said.
"The aim is to also to provide advice on health and wellbeing to leaders who have to deal with challenging issues."
The ministry will work with Auckland Uniservices and principal representatives to seek applications from experienced principals or former principals who have worked in small town or rural schools.
"A review of the effectiveness of the role will be part of the evaluation process which we expect will start within about 12 months".
The position came at the request of the New Zealand Principals' Federation (NZPF) and Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association.
NZPF chair Phil Harding said the idea came after concerns were raised about the "grim" state of schools in Northland.
"We've been very concerned about some of the boards getting into trouble with their principals or the principals getting into trouble with their boards," Mr Harding said.
The position had been in place when Mr Harding started teaching in the 1980s but had become obsolete with the inception of Tomorrow's Schools which gave educators more autonomy.
Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association president Pat Newman backed the new role.
"I'm very very excited with the concept," Mr Newman said. "We've been pushing for this for a while".
Priority would be given to those schools that request support, with the intention of visiting other schools throughout the year.
Mr Newman estimated around 40 schools in Northland would immediately benefit from such assistance. While Mr Newman would like to see two or three rural advisers across Northland schools, he said one was a step in the right direction.
"It's a lot cheaper to do this and a lot less destructive to a school and community than intervention."