Hokitika Primary pupils list dream traits for incoming principal

Students at Hokitika Primary School have drawn up a wish list for the principal who will start at the beginning of next year. The children want a kind, calm leader who is strict but not too strict, sporty, able to do magic tricks, memorise every student’s name and stay out of the office. One child says, “Basically, don’t hide in your office,” in the school’s recruitment video. The former principal left at the end of the last term to move closer to family in Canterbury, explains school board parent representative Owen Kilgour. Kilgour says Hokitika offers a beautiful outdoor setting, a friendly community and a walking‑distance commute, though the West Coast is not always top of mind for job seekers. He adds the town is 40 km south of Greymouth, three hours by road from Christchurch and served by two daily flights from Hokitika Airport. The new principal will lead just under 200 Year 1‑8 students. Successful candidates may receive a recruitment allowance of up to $50,000 a year on top of salary for three years. ## Context Hokitika’s push to highlight its lifestyle and connectivity aims to attract talent to a region often overlooked, using the student‑driven wishlist to showcase the community’s values.