William Arthur Greener Penlington (8 October 1890 – 5 August 1982) was a New Zealand school principal and educationalist.
Penlington was born at Akaroa on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand in 1890 to an early settler family. His grandfather, William Penlington, was a sawmiller and mayor of Akaroa, and his father—also named William Penlington—was a compositor.[1][2][3] Peter Penlington QC and Ross Penlington were sons of two cousins; both were judges.
During World War I he was a captain in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.[4][5][6] After the war his rank was raised temporarily to Major in the resettlement and rehabilitation effort.[7][8]
He was later head master of Hastings High School,[9] where he was involved in the aftermath of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.[10][11]
Penlington played cricket and hockey at a representative level.[9]