‘This is my vocation’ : 80-year-old school principal

Manurewa community icon Shirley Maihi is the country’s oldest school principal, RNZ reports. At 80, she leads decile one Finlayson Park School, championing bi-lingual education and social wellbeing initiatives, including being an early adopter of offering free breakfasts and lunches. Her devotion to education has previously been recognised with a Queens Service Medal. “I love supporting whānau, offering wraparound services,” Maihi says. “I mean the whole wellbeing of the child is so important to me that that does keep the energy going.”