Mary Baigent, will miss her pupils and staff when she retires on 6 April after more than 23 years as the principal of one of New Zealand’s most isolated schools.

Originally from Nelson, Baigent came to Fiordland in 1999, having previously taught in numerous schools both in New Zealand and England including Southland rural schools.

She was based in Auckland when the opportunity of becoming the principal of Mararoa School came up.

She may not have expected to stay in this job for over 20 years, but once she made Fiordland her home, there was no looking back.

“Mararoa is an amazing community – one of the schools you don’t want to leave,” Baigent says.

Asked how isolation affects the students, she said that both staff and parents work hard to make sure isolation does not have a detrimental effect on the quality of the children’s learning.

Mararoa School students with their retiring principal Mary Baigent. Photo: Supplied

“Our students get a lot of opportunities they wouldn’t get in larger schools."

"Our classes are small, below 20 students per class."

"The Mararoa School Community do a lot of fundraising to provide additional staffing and resourcing necessary to maintain small class numbers."

"Our parents are incredibly supportive of all our school programmes. The school is the hub of the local community,” she says.

A lot has changed in New Zealand schools since the turn of the millennium, when Baigent started at Mararoa.

National Standards came and went, changes to the curriculum had been introduced, and computer technology has taken schools by storm.

The principal admits that teaching has become much harder than it used to be. 

“When I started teaching, school was more about reading, writing, mathematics and to a lesser extent science, social studies, PE, and the arts."

"Since then there have been many changes to the curriculum, the most recent one being the introduction of Aotearoa New Zealand History."

"Another issue is a growing number of children with different learning needs that schools have to accommodate."

"Teachers are asking for more help, unfortunately, we don’t always get the extra funding required from the government for this.”

As a teaching principal Baigent has been effectively doing two jobs, but she’s not complaining.

“I love being a teaching principal, because this gives me the opportunity to work and be more in touch with the children and also to relate with the daily classroom issues that the teachers are dealing with,” she says.

A long-term resident of The Key, Annie Roska’s association with Mararoa School goes back several decades.

She worked as a teacher aide when her children attended it.

Now her grandchildren go to Mararoa School as well.

Roska couldn’t talk highly enough of the retiring principal.

“She is highly professional, dedicated to her job, but at the same time has the ability to command respect and affection of her students."

"She’s like the head of the family, loving, but very fair and always seems to be there."

"She’s like that not only with the kids, but also with the stuff, which fosters a happy environment at school,” Roska says.

As for Baigent’s retirement plans – she is moving back to her home town of Nelson where a new house is being built for her.

She will fill her time setting up a new garden and hopes to do more walking, travelling, and making new friends.

According to Roska, one endearing characteristic of the principal is her contagious laughter. 

“You come to the school and the first thing you hear is that great loud laughter.”

Mararoa School students and staff will miss that laughter.