Staff Report The year started with seven staff being inducted into the school. Of these, five had had past associations with the school and two were completely new.
Kayne Dunlop began the year in the Commerce department replacing Kevin Gledhill in Accounting. Kayne came from Fielding Agricultural High School and brought with him a wealth of knowledge in Commerce and also strong links with South Taranaki. Kayne has quickly immersed himself into the life of the school, coaching rugby and cricket and is presently a boarding master in the Hostel. The Christmas holidays had seen the resignation of our head of Maori, Colin Maihi. Colin had a long association with the school. He had been a boarding student in the late 70’s and early 80’s and had returned to the teach here at NPBHS in 1997. He developed community links and, together with the headmaster of the time, developed Whanau Waiora. His involvement with our young maori men was both in the classroom and most passionately around and on the rugby field. Colin was a coach of the 1st XV 2002 to 2005. Colin also returned to his roots, as it were, when he became Hostel Master and often commented on the opportunities the hostel had provided for him when he was growing up. Colin, in the last few years of his time here, was influential in creating the staff Kapahaka group, which grew in numbers and enthusiasm. It is a legacy that has carried on and, from small beginnings, it has continue to grow. At the start of the year we welcomed Chris Luke, an old boy and previous staff-member, back for a term until our new head of Maori arrived in term 2. We thank Chris for his input into the life of our 4
school and his support for our new head of Maori, Bevan Matene. Bevan is the son of Paul Martin, a teacher aide here at NPBHS. He came from his position of Deputy Principal at Waitara East Primary School at the start of term 2. Bevan immediately got involved in the life of the school, both with the boys and staff. He has provided great insight into local Taranaki history and also into the history surrounding the present site of NPBHS. We look forward to watching his growth as a rangatira for our young men here at Boys’ High. One of our professional development initiatives this year was the appointment of Dale Atkins to lead facilitator for Kia Eke Panaku. This entailed Dale moving aside from HOD Physical Education. This opened up the opportunity for old boy and ex head boy Matthew Cleaver to return to his old school. Matthew has taken up the newly created position of head of faculty and we welcome him back to his old school. Matthew brings a wealth of experience to the position and also a real passion for the school. We also welcomed four staff to oneyear fixed-term positions covering staff on leave. Henry Slaats; Computing for Hannah Taylor, Dominique Simanke; Science for Shelly Ingles, Heidi Trent; Science for Lizanne Hales, and making up the last of the the four, we welcomed Michael Somers back in English from his overseas travels. Congratulations go to both Lizanne and Shelly early in the year. Lizanne, a baby
boy, Liam Anthony, and Shelly, a baby boy, Luka. Term 4 saw the addition of a baby girl, Niamh, into the Standish family, congratulations Troy. The end of Term 2 saw the departure of Adam Harford who left to take up a HOD Maths position at Gisborne Boys’. Adam, a hostel old boy, certainly enjoyed his time back at his old school and he will be missed in the Maths classroom, the hostel, and at volleyball training. A big thank you goes to Rachel Neild who was able to take over the classes and finish the year off in a fixed-term position. Other overseas travellers to return in part time roles were Josh Hamilton and Finn Peters. Both shared a homeroom class for the year. Staff activities against the boys again included football and rugby. Both were wins to the staff and both celebrated the good spirit and respect the boys and staff have of each other. I am sure it is a tradition that will continue as long as the staff have willing bodies. As mentioned before, one of the growing events the staff participate in is a Taranaki Kapahaka event for all schools and their staff. This year it was held at New Plymouth Girls’ High School. Our staff numbered close to 40 and it was a resounding success. The end of the year sadly saw the resignation of John Warner. John has been a History teacher here at NPBHS for the last twenty-four years. He arrived in 1992 and got very much involved in the life of the school. He was hockey