Mrs Carter began the role in 2014 after leaving her position as principal of Rotorua Girls' High School.
Present deputy principal Barbara Agnew, who has worked at the school for 20 years, will fill the principal's role in 2017 while the board of trustees conducts a formal recruitment process.
Mrs Carter said the decision to leave the school was ``very hard''.
``It's a beautiful school and the girls are just fantastic ...
``I even cried when I told the girls.''
She planned to return to the North Island and work in the education sector, but did not know yet where she would live.
She did not feel she needed to pass any tips on to Mrs Agnew about filling the role.
``She knows it all already. She's been here a lot longer than me.''
While she had to bring her husband to Dunedin ``screaming and kicking'', both had come to love life in the city and the move was based on employment options for him, she said.
Mrs Agnew said she was excited to fill the role temporarily, but a year was ``a long time'' and she could not say if she would seek to have the role beyond 2017.
Queen's High School board of trustees chairwoman Joy Atkinson said the board was pleased with the appointment.
``She is not only a wonderful teacher but also has excellent senior leadership and administration skills and her philosophy of education is absolutely aligned with Queen's values.''
Mrs Carter's final day as principal will be on Friday.
A permanent appointment would be made by the end of 2017, Ms Atkinson said.
