Enticing people to a new life in the chilly climes of rugged Stewart Island is not easy at the best of times.
So the 450 or so residents are looking far afield to find a teacher for the island's only preschool.
They are desperate to attract an "energetic,
outdoorsy type" for the 30-hour-a-week role at the Rakiura Rugrats Early Childhood Education Centre.
"We have had to be pro-active and think global," said Stewart Island mother Chris Griffiths.
"Our ad is running in Europe and we have had preliminary responses from Germany, and Australia. I am hoping to get the word out in the UK shortly.
"Without a teacher we have no preschool education available on the island for our children."
The teacher's income could be supplemented by working extra hours in holiday accommodation, the shop, pub, restaurant, gallery, wharf or guiding kayaks or driving a bus.
"The new teacher will have the time and space to dip their kayak into the bay in the afternoons, gather paua and mussels, tramp and fish and watch the birds, or just drink in the tranquillity," the islanders' pitch says.
Experienced, registered teachers with a minimum of Dip Tch (ECE) can apply by sending a CV to: Stewart Island ECE Centre, Box 37, Stewart Island, or by emailing rakiurarugrats@xtra.co.nz or chittenden05@xtra.co.nz.
