Houses have been found for two families trialling island life for a month from June 20, and local business owners and families have chipped in with ferry tickets, a trip to Ulva Island, local seafood, walking track vouchers and firewood.
Welcome hampers are being put together and a potluck dinner is planned.
Facing the loss of second teacher Emily Joy if the roll - currently 24 - did not rise above 26, the school board of trustees took advantage of the publicity surrounding Prince Harry's visit last month to advertise for more families.
That resulted in 14 applications, board of trustees member Mary Chittenden said yesterday.
A family from Wellington and another from Auckland, both of which had indicated they intended to make the move permanent, had been selected, she said. Each had two school-aged children and a preschooler.
Another family from Christchurch with three school-aged children would visit for two weeks in August, to see if they liked island life, and talks were under way with another two families keen to move if they could find employment.
Mrs Chittenden said while she could not find those parents work she was putting them in touch with potential employers.
The island needed a panel beater and an early childhood education teacher, and work was available in retail, service, hospitality and aquaculture.
For the Wellington parents, who said they were ''tired of the city'', the father was able to take leave and study from home while the mother could work from home as a science editor, she said.
The father of the Auckland family intended to work and study and the mother was a midwife.
Mrs Chittenden said she had no doubt island residents would make the newcomers welcome.
