Pupils, parents, and teachers at Pyes Pa School held a powhiri to welcome their new principal this morning.

Blake Carlin will now head the rural school, after teaching and holding leadership positions at Tauranga Intermediate.

The former deputy principal came into the school hall with some of his past intermediate pupils, where the welcome and reply, both in Maori, were carried out by Grant Ranui and Jack Te Moana, respectively.

Pupils from Pyes Pa School and Tauranga Intermediate then sang very harmoniously and fluently in Te Reo as a tribute to the new head.

In his speech, Blake told the audience of young and old they didn't know how excited he was to get the phone call asking him to be their principal.

'I'm looking forward to getting to know you and all your names, as well as finding out what makes Pyes Pa School great, and how we can make it even better.”

Blake first started as a teacher at Tauranga Intermediate in 2004, and has a Masters of Educational Leadership with First Class Honours from the University of Waikato.

He says he attended a small rural school growing up, so he's pleased to take the reins as leader of one all these years later.

In a letter to staff and parents regarding Blake's appointment, Board of Trustees chairperson Tania Stokes says they were impressed with Blake's enthusiasm and energy.

'He has a direct yet engaging communication style, intelligence, and an obvious commitment to the role of educational leader.

'He is student centred, skilled in building positive and professional relationships, and is a highly competent and innovative leader of learning.”

Grant Ranui (standing) welcomes the guests to the school.