For Mt Maunganui College math teacher Leisa Renwick, receiving the adulation of her pupils and colleagues at a special assembly this morning was more humbling and exciting than being named New Zealander of the Year.

'Because it was the melding of everything I have become.”

She meant teacher, mentor, mother, cancer victim, cancer survivor, campaigner and architect of change.

Today the college acknowledged the hero in their midst with a trophy – a glass heart saying simply 'congratulations”.

And the student responded with a rousing haka which reduced Leisa Renwick to tears.

Leisa's story goes back to Mother's Day in 2015 when she was diagnosed with late stage melanoma –a disease which kills 350 New Zealanders every year.

'I got a phone call which rocked my world,” Mount College principal Russell Gordon told the assembly.

'Leisa Renwick was in hospital and would not be leaving hospital. She had just hours left and her family had gathered. Now she is here as a survivor.”

Through a private oncology specialist, Leisa Renwick staked her life on two very expensive drugs - $8500 every three weeks.

And as her health improved, Leisa got angry that others were dying because the drug was beyond financial reach.

She took on Pharmac and the Government and got the rules changed.

'Because of her, people live who may not have lived,” says Russell.

'She sits here a hero.”

Leisa Renwick told the school they were lucky to be born here and now and living in a democracy.

'When people couldn't get that medicine that was wrong. But there are pathways in a denmocracry and we are lucky to be able to hold people and politicians to account.”

Her message was know what you believe in and stand up and make it count.

You get out of life what you into,” says MP Simon Bridges, while presenting Leisa with the trophy today.

'Leisa stands here as evidence of that.”

Leisa with Tauranga MP Simon Bridges.

He says the math teacher changed the direction of millions of dollars of funding.

New Zealander of the Year is the highest honour according to Simon.

'Because it's what five million New Zealanders wanted.”

This afternoon the Mount Maunganui College math teacher, the cancer survivor will be back hospital for another round of drugs.

'My latest scan indicated that I am all clear. I am feeling great.”