Who's top of class — teacher!

Benita Mareikura (with certificate) says she's never sought accolades for the work she loves. Photo / Glenn Taylor

Until just after 9am, when the principal arrived with two smiling women in orange T-shirts bearing a large orange box, Tuesday was just another school day for Napier Intermediate teacher Benita Mareikura.

When the trio entered the classroom her expression was one of bewilderment, matched by the children at their tables.

"Oh my goodness," Ms Mareikura said. "What have I done?"

What she had done was stake a place as one of 15 primary and intermediate teachers in the land to be presented with the OfficeMax "A Day Made Better" award for her devotion to her work. She was nominated by fellow teacher Lou Taylor, who said her colleague was a fantastic teacher who had done much for the children she had taught in her 20 years at the school.

"I'm rapt - I made the nomination but didn't know she'd got it until a few minutes ago," she said. "It was all kept so secret."

Principal Wendy Gray said that was the tough part - keeping it secret until the surprise presentation.

As well as a certificate of achievement, the award included a large box filled with $1000 of OfficeMax stationery, pens, arts and crafts, books, rubber balls, balloons, cameras and office supplies - for her classroom.

"It arrived about three weeks ago and people saw it and kept asking what it was," Mrs Taylor said.

Only she and the office manager knew and kept brushing off the inquiries. Until it was presented to Ms Mareikura and her excited students.

When OfficeMax school supplies manager Vicki Newlove told her she had been nominated for the award and judged by a team from the New Zealand Principals Federation as one of the winners, the class spontaneously erupted in cheers and clapping.

"This is for your exceptional creativity and enthusiasm," Ms Newlove said.

"Oh my goodness," Ms Mareikura said again. "This is like Christmas ... what a way to end the term."

One of the youngsters looked at the goodies in the box and asked: "Is it all for you?"

Ms Mareikura said, no, that it was for everyone, and the first pens and rubber band balls started to get handed out to another chorus of "Yay!".

"It is very well deserved," Mrs Gray said.

Ms Mareikura said she never sought accolades for work she said she loved.

"I just like to teach in a way that is enlightening and purposeful - but enjoyable."

She said it was a surprise she would never forget, adding she and her pupils had seen the principal and the two carton-bearing visitors walking across the field toward her classroom but just shrugged it off.

She had thought the orange carton might be a carry-over from the weekend's elections.

The "A Day Made Better" programme is into its fourth year and was adapted by OfficeMax from the international one which began in the US in 2007.

"We are so fortunate to have such high-calibre teachers in this country and while it is obvious the principals are grateful for their hard work and dedication, it's the outside recognition that really surprises them," the company's national manager for education, Blair Horsfall, said.