New Year Honours list: Geraldine Travers

Hastings Girls' High principal Geraldine Travers becomes a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to education. Photo / Paul Taylor

Good teachers possess passion, a love of kids, enthusiasm and energy - all qualities Geraldine Travers has in spades.

The Hastings Girls' High School principal was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to education in the 2014 New Year Honours, as recognition of what she has achieved.

Finding an official looking letter in the mail box came as "a huge surprise" and had been a difficult secret to keep.

"Only myself and my husband knew, " she said.

Since taking the position in 1998, Hastings Girls' was named top New Zealand state school by North and South magazine and has gone from strength to strength.

Mrs Travers has overseen a major technology upgrade, the building of a new cafeteria and a student centre.

She believes high standards in dress, discipline, manners and surrounding herself with a good team have been the key to success, but never sought to be rewarded for doing what she loves.

"That's not why you do it, you do it because you want to make a difference for people."

Being the first person in her family to achieve a university education, specialising in English, History and Maori had been a driving factor to helping others achieve their dreams.

"In my life education has made a huge difference, it's a magic bullet," she said. "I don't teach any more but I go out of my way to have as much contact with as possible."

She also excelled in other commitments such as chairing the Education Link Group for Hastings' Sister City Guilin in China where the initiation of student and teacher exchanges have served to strengthen ties.

Mrs Travers also heads many groups and councils, including the Eastern Institute of Technology Council, the Ministry of Education's Language Immersion Reference Group, Secondary School Staffing Group, School Qualifications Group and the Principals' Council.

She was also former Chair of Education Link Group " Hastings District Council and a Mentor in the First Time Principals' Programme.

Other awards for her efforts include A National Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Award in 2008 and the Woolf Fisher Award, 2002.