Terehia Channings heads the school where she was once a student, her mother was a student and her grandmother was a student.
As a third-generation old girl she feels she was destined to return to Turakina Maori Girls' College and lead it into the future.
``My own experience as a
past student and a member of the teaching team at Turakina has inspired me to be a strong leader who models high standards throughout all areas and particularly taha wairua, taha wahine and taha Maori.
``I feel pride in the fact that this kura also nurtured my mother and my grandmother, as past students.''
Before Mrs Channings started as principal in 2009, bullying, drugs and alcohol had been a problem at the school.
Even though the school can take 150 students, there are just 85 now, which is partly due to the recession. And partly due to Mrs Channings having no compunction in dismissing girls she felt were ``infecting'' others with their bad behaviour.
``I will not tolerate bullying or bad behaviour ... respect and pride is what is uppermost at this school and every student knows it.''
The administration block, classrooms and hostel, a tiny brick chapel that's more than 100 years old is set among the school's gardens and trees.
Beyond are staff houses and garages.
At the start of a recently constructed wooden walkway through a glade of trees and ferns is a message written on a plaque.
It's a message Mrs Channings wrote for her students to contemplate: ``To choose the right way of life we must walk with true purpose.
``With every step we take we create a pathway through to our destiny.''
Her school, her students, her staff are all an integral part of her life's pathway, she says. ``I am meant to be here _ this is a special place to me.''
She laughs though when she says she even heads into the dormitories every morning at 6am and wakes everyone for an early morning 3km run. ``No one gets out of it.
``I go as well so if I'm doing it everyone has to ... it's good for them, good start to the day.''
Outside her office the hallway is filled with sports trophies, Maori artefacts and a glorious old grandfather clock with a deep soft chime.
Old photographs from as early as 1905 line the walls showing graceful and beautiful young Maori women in school uniform and teachers, Maori and Pakeha, looking rather stern and reserved.
But the faces visibly relaxed as the decades rolled through to the present day.
``This is a school with a marvellous history, with many, many old stories still to be told.''
When Terehia Channings took over as principal of Turakina Maori Girls' College in September 2009, she publicly and unequivocally declared her determination to raise the standard of behaviour and academic prowess at the school. She tells education reporter LIN FERGUSON that in her book tight disciplinary methods were the only way to move forward.
