Stacey Honeywill is focusing on the positives rather than the negatives.
The Te Pakihi o Maru principal was over the moon to be leading the school, formerly known as Oamaru North School, a week after the name change.
Following last Friday’s announcement, some people had taken to social media to voice their opposition to the change, but Mrs Honeywill stood by the decision.
“I think it’s incredibly sad that we have people who feel like that in this country. Personally, I think we have a vocal minority of ill-informed individuals,” Mrs Honeywill said.
The response from the school community had been incredibly supportive, and she received messages from former staff members, whom she had never met, congratulating the school on its new name.