Long-serving Durie Hill School teacher Mike Dewson parked his motorhome in the school grounds on Friday - it was his last day.
"Thank you for not messing about with it," he told the students at his final assembly.
He was not to get off so lightly and soon discovered that the vehicle had been decorated with signs, streamers, balloons and class photos spanning his 41 years at the school.
"It has been a difficult decision but I've had the old gold card for a couple of years now and I decided to leave at the end of the term."
Accompanying Mr Dewson on his farewell was his wife, Barbara, who was a young dental nursing student in Ohakune when the couple first met in the 1960s.