Mr Hall, who was 47 when he was appointed in May, was Halberg Trust chief executive and Outward Bound School director during the past 10 years, but many members of the Queenstown community, including former pupils, will remember his tenure as a teacher at the Queenstown secondary school from 1994 to 1998.
The year 11 dean taught English, economics and outdoor recreation.
His wife, an online tutor for the Southern Institute of Technology, and three school-aged sons were all excited to be coming back to the Wakatipu, he said.
He felt "very welcomed" by the powhiri held in his honour by pupils, staff, trustees and members of the school community yesterday, which involved speeches, a haka and a performance by the school jazz band Best Served Chilled, Mr Hall said .
However, the principal also got down to business by meeting the school's senior management team.
"I'm hearing the key issues on the table and understanding their roles and responsibilities and planning more time for the group. It's important to be on the same page.
"The big things for me are lots of listening, watching and learning for the first wee while."
Acting principal Paul O'Connor had done "a fantastic job", he said.
