DEAR PAST AND PRESENT FAMILIES, COLLEGIANS, FELLOWS AND FRIENDS OF ST PAUL’S
CONTRIBUTORS
Monica Holt, Andrea Harper, Michelle Smith, Morgan Gilgrist-Gatley and Ginny Semmens.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Mark Hamilton, Andrew Constable and Sarah Tafuna.
COLLEGIANS (INC)
07 957 8805 collegians@stpauls.school.nz
MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
07 957 8873
ADDRESS
St Paul’s Collegiate School
Private Bag 3069
Waikato Mail Centre Hamilton 3240 New Zealand
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If you wish to advertise in Network, please contact Melissa Good on 07 957 8873 or m.good@stpauls.school.nz for a rate card.
From the Headmaster’s pen
Iwish to start by acknowledging and thanking the St Paul’s community for the warm and generous welcome that has been extended to my family. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity and responsibility to lead this great school forward.
A significant aspect of leading is guardianship; when one assumes a position of protecting or defending something. The role of guardian is not bestowed upon a single individual however, I have been delighted to observe the number of young men and women who have greeted me over these initial weeks with the phrase “Welcome to our place”. The word “our” has not been lost on me, as it references ownership and a sense of belonging, which together demonstrates the true strength and unity of the community I now proudly am a member of.
These first few weeks have provided me with an opportunity to highlight to our young people some key statements of intent, namely:
• This is a school privileged by the stance its leaders and governance personnel hold; a no-nonsense environment where the rigorous pursuit of excellence is championed – I promise to deliver on that approach
• This is a school privileged by the provision of high-quality facilities, that in turn are occupied by aspiring academics, athletes, musicians, thespians and performers – I promise to be present and applaud our students in those endeavours
• This is a school privileged by the existence of, and commitment to, genuine outreach initiatives – I promise to support and stand along those who humbly serve, understanding the power that such formative experiences provide
• And this is a school privileged by an ethos that whilst clearly holding the pursuit of knowledge as significant, recognises a holistic education grounded in faith as its foundational purpose – I promise to act as a messenger of God’s great love.
I have used the word ‘privilege’ deliberately as it recognises an opportunity not granted or available to all. In and of itself ‘privilege’ is not a dirty concept to be shamed, but rather is a reality to be acknowledged and celebrated provided it is met with a commitment to use one’s benefit for the betterment of all. Therefore, our young people can expect the core of my regular messaging to focus on the challenge to them to live where their words and deeds confirm “your life is not about you”.
The first Headmaster’s assembly also provided an ideal opportunity to introduce to our young people the concept of each of our lives being a book in which we are both the main character and the author. The challenge to them was to write chapters that are full of vibrancy, colour and contribution. As I returned from leading a month-long immersion programme in India with a group of outstanding young people in January 2016, I wrote the following to their parents that still holds true today and I hope provides stimulus for discussion in your own homes:
“So we stand with pens in our hands, looking out towards the vast horizon that guarantees nothing, and we walk forward, accepting that our lives are unfinished stories, jigsaw puzzles of sorts that are still being put together... [please know] we aren’t in a rush to complete our jigsaw puzzles, and in realising this we walk on with joy, filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the blessed lives we have.”
We live in a confusing, complicated and often conflicting world. We should all be grateful for the freedoms we have to develop who we are and how best we can serve others.
COVER PHOTO
Headmaster Ben Skeen is St Paul’s 11th headmaster and started on 3 May 2021. Photo by Mark Hamilton.
Thank you for welcoming me to be part of this community. “O God, thy sea is so great, and my boat is so small”
B SKEEN HEADMASTER
2021 Leaders
Head Boy Matthew Waddell, Head Girl Gretel Muir, Deputy Head Boy Frazer Tam and Deputy Head Girl Caitlin Fladgate each bring their own set of skills in service, sporting and academia to make up a diverse portfolio that represents the school.
After a successful campaign at the New Zealand Secondary Schools this year, Matthew Waddell was selected for the NZ U19 Men’s Eight rowing crew. He is studying agribusiness, accounting, economics, statistics, and sport science and he recently received a Level 2 scholar tie for his 86% 2020 results. Next year he will continue with tertiary study in the hope of working within the agribusiness sector.
Gretel has been successful in many debating and speech competitions. In April 2020, she placed second at the Waikato Race Relations Speech competitions and recently achieved a Level 2 scholar tie for her 83% mark from her 2020 academic results. In 2019 she and her family summited Mt Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. It was an eight-day mission, but was ‘hands down the coolest thing I have ever done’! Next year Gretel has plans to attend the University of Otago studying law, politics, philosophy and economics.
After winning the Altrusa award in 2020, an award he was nominated for that recognises students who excel in all areas of school life, Frazer epitomises what it means to be a leader. On a service level, he successfully co-led the Year 11 Service Programme and volunteered at various medical centres throughout the pandemic. He achieved A grade results in Cambridge maths, English and chemistry and was awarded a Level 2 scholar tie for 90% grades in 2020. Frazer’s ultimate ambition is to attend an American University to study law and politics.
Caitlin has the finesse as a sportswoman and expertise as a leader. She achieved an aggregate 93% across her Cambridge accounting, economics, agribusiness and English exams putting her in the top high achievers’ band for 2020. She placed third at the Waikato Bay of Plenty athletics for high jump and fourth in the North Island Athletics competition as well as placing second in the Waikato Secondary Schools tennis tournament. Caitlin wants to continue studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce and dreams of owning her own business.
Top student in the world
Joanna Li has been ranked top student in the world by achieving a mark of 99% in her International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Chemistry examination. This incredible achievement is a first for a student at St Paul’s Collegiate School.
IGCSE is a two-year programme leading to externally set and marked examinations from the University of Cambridge. Any student who takes an IGCSE subject gains a qualification that is recognised globally. St Paul’s offers students the opportunity to complete dual qualifications – NCEA and Cambridge International Examinations –
Swimmer wins seven gold medals
Laura Littlejohn continues to dominate at swim meets around the country and the New Zealand Age Group Championships (NZADC) was no exception.
Laura won all of her individual age group events, taking home seven gold medals, as well as a bronze in the 4 x 100m mixed freestyle relay. During the swim meet, she set two more Waikato Open records in the 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and four more age group records.
Her swim times in the 50m and 100m freestyle races qualified her for the 2021 World Junior Championships, which will be held in Russia later this year.
Laura also won the Life Members Trophy award for her 100m freestyle swim which is given to the most outstanding individual performance at the NZAGC.
Laura Littlejohn will compete at the World Junior Championships in August.
depending on students’ academic ability and their career prerequisites.
“The significance of achieving the highest subject honour in an examination sat around the world cannot be overstated.
Joanna’s achievement is testament to her superior knowledge and diligence, and to the outstanding skill and dedication of her teacher, Jane Spenceley,” says Jason McGrath, the teacher in charge of Cambridge Examinations at St Paul’s.
In addition to her Chemistry result, Joanna gained an impressive 97.5% average across all her Cambridge examinations.
Frazer Tam (left), Matthew Waddell, Gretel Muir and Caitlin Fladgate
Lander leaves behind his legacy
After 40 years as an educator and 11 years as the Headmaster at St Paul’s Collegiate School, Grant Lander hangs up his academic gown to enjoy a life of retirement, travel and spending time with family.
Grant started as Headmaster at St Paul’s in the first term of 2010 when the school was in a time of unrest, the roll was declining, and the school’s facilities were tired. His priority was to improve the level of behaviour of the current students and lift the standard of facilities.
Many of the school buildings were run down and needed attention and while Grant says, at times the management of these upgrades took him away from his role as Headmaster, he’s unapologetic about this. He has seen the effect these developments have had on staff and students through the sense of pride they show for their school.
“I have enjoyed every moment of these builds,” says Grant.
His building projects have included the extension and upgrade of; the Collegians Pavilion, the dining room, boarding houses, Mary Hornsby Music Centre, Drama and Dance Studio and the mathematics block. New builds have included Hula houses, Tihoi houses, tutor accommodation, the Gallagher Agribusiness Centre of Excellence and the Learning Hub.
Big in stature, persona and voice, Grant was determined to give St Paul’s students a greater understanding of tikanga Maaori. He started with the introduction of the school haka, written by former Head Boy, Dr Te Aro Moxon (School, Hall 1998-2002) which tells the story of St Paul.
This haka is now very much a tradition at St Paul’s and is performed passionately by students at House Haka competition time and on special occasions.
Grant has achieved much in his time at St Paul’s but one of his legacies will be the introduction of Agribusiness as a subject for senior students.
“This would have to be one of the most exciting projects I have worked on in all my teaching career. I have enjoyed meeting with cabinet ministers and primary sector leaders to bring this subject to life and to get it recognised as an NCEA subject, something that often takes years to achieve.”
Another highlight has been the growth of music within the school. “When I first arrived at St Paul’s we had no bands and a small choir.
We now have an amazing kapa haka group, various bands and an outstanding choir,” says Grant.
There have also been memorable sporting moments during Grant’s tenure as Headmaster including the Maadi Cup challenges – particularly when the girls won the Dawn Cup in 2017. Other highlights were the first XV rugby team winning their CNI competitions, the netball girls qualifying for the national finals, the first XI cricket team qualifying for the national Gillette Cup finals and the first XI hockey boys winning the Rankin Cup in 2016.
Grant has felt privileged to lead St Paul’s for the past 11 years, a job he has absolutely loved. “There has never been a time in those 11 years where I haven’t wanted to come to work.”
“The opportunity to work with young people and have an influence over their lives has been the defining reason I have followed this pathway,” he says.
At his final assembly, Grant told the students he reluctantly accepted that this was his final day as Headmaster.
It’s the people in your life that really make a difference in the quality of your experience.
“It’s the people in your life that really make a difference in the quality of your experience,” he said to them.
He thanked them for giving him the energy to lead the school.
“It didn’t matter how I felt every morning when I left home, I knew when I met one of you on my way to the office you would energise me. What energised me was your smile, your ‘hello’ or the wave your mum or dad gave me when dropping you at school. You have accepted me for who I am and I thank you.”
Grant left his final assembly by removing his dress shoes and replacing them with yellow and black slides, the very shoes he banned students from wearing on campus. This was received with cheers from the students and the applauding continued as the school’s 10th Headmaster was given a standing ovation when he and his family exited the Chapel.
After a four-week tour of the South Island, Grant and wife Judith plan to retire in Devonport, where fishing, home renovating and spending time with their grandchildren are now their priorities.
MICHELLE SMITH
Tight-knit community attracts Ben to St Paul’s
As a seventeen-year-old, Ben Skeen had the opportunity to participate in a month-long immersion programme in India, which proved to be a life-changing experience that put him on a pathway to working with young people.
The eldest of four, Ben was born in Auckland to a father who was a builder and a mother who was a kindergarten teacher. He attended Christ the King Catholic Primary School in Mt Roskill until year 7 before moving to high school at St Peter’s College, Auckland.
St Peter’s College focused on the formation of good character and so Ben was incredibly fortunate to be part of a group of Year 12 and 13 adolescents, led by young, energetic staff, who spent a month in India volunteering.
The group visited Christian Brothers schools in India and worked in Kalighat Home for the Dying in Calcutta, a hospice established by Mother Teresa, which provided an opportunity to participate in ‘humbling’ volunteer work.
They would help with the laundry and sit beside people the Sisters had taken off the street to provide comfort for them in their final hours.
“This was an incredibly moving experience for me,” says Ben. “I was so grateful to be part of this trip, I remember saying, ‘one day I want to return to this place,’ bringing back a group of youth for a similar experience.”
Once back home, the group who travelled to India wanted to find ways to help those within their own community. They knew about camps in Dunedin, set up by the Christian Brothers, as a holiday experience for youth who, for either socio-economic or emotional reasons, just needed a break from everyday living.
Ben and the group wanted to run these camps in Auckland. So as 18-year-olds they formed an incorporated society to set up a camp movement in Auckland. To this day there are several ‘youth run camps for youth’ in Auckland each year where young people, who are referred by the Police, Barnardos, local schools, or social welfare agencies, can participate in a week-long camp during the school holidays free of charge.
It was clear growing up, Ben had an underlying ambition to be working with young people.
After secondary school, he went on to study a Bachelor of Commerce with majors in HR and Economics and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in NZ History and minor in Political studies at the University of Auckland. At the end of his four years of study, he completed a graduate diploma in teaching.
On Ben’s seven-week teaching practicum at Auckland Grammar School, he fondly remembers watching the head of history mesmerise young people through his teaching. This teacher became a special role model for him when in 2007, he started as a first-year teacher of history at Auckland Grammar School.
In his second year, he joined the school’s boarding community and for five years was an assistant Housemaster of Tibbs House looking after 120 boys from rural settings.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to live and interact with the boarders and to share in their successes and their worries,” says Ben.
“To be able to sit down at the end of dinner or prep time and have a young person say; ‘Hey sir, my teacher said this is the best piece of work she has seen’, or ‘I’ve moved up a class’, or providing wise counsel around the nature of living with, caring for and losing people when I learned of the passing of a grandparent, is pretty special.”
In his third year at Auckland Grammar, Ben took charge of the student leadership programme that takes young people outside their comfort zone.
In 2009, he initiated a flagship programme where he led a group of senior students to India, replicating the similar experience he had as a Year 12 student when at St Peter’s College.
Ben, Hayley, Zara, Harrison and Grace
Working with NGOs in India, such as Freeset, an organisation in Calcutta where females sold into prostitution, are pulled from the streets and given support to earn a meaningful wage, demonstrated to students, these females can get back their self-confidence, learn new skills and rebuild their lives.
“Through this immersion programme, we have been able to expose adolescents to the harsh realities of the world but also the richness and goodness that’s happening there too,” says Ben.
The month-long tour to India now happens every second year and has become Ben’s legacy at Auckland Grammar. He is proud of the establishment and evolution of this programme where the original students who went on their first mission are now running the programme.
Ben coached rugby at Auckland Grammar and was in charge of the school’s rugby progamme for five years. In 2012 he became assistant coach of the first XV rugby team and then coached the first XV for eight seasons.
“These were some pretty special years because we made six out of eight semi-finals, four Auckland 1A finals, winning once and having some epic battles over the years.”
In 2015 Ben took on his current role as Associate Headmaster and continued coaching the first XV rugby team until the end of 2019.
As he enters his fifteenth year working in a secondary school, what excites Ben about educating teenagers is that ‘no one day is the same’.
“Teenagers have this marvellous ability to make you see the goodness of human nature and to marvel in the power of people. Occasionally they make decisions that make you shake your head for a moment, but out of those poor judgements, they provide an opportunity to make you feel like your life has meaning and purpose as you help them navigate those mistakes and put steps in place to guide their future,” says Ben.
Teenagers have this marvellous ability to make you see the goodness in human nature.
“Young people are incredibly intuitive, they don’t always speak to what they feel, but they witness it, and they get it.”
Outside of work, Ben was contracted to NZ Rugby’s high performance match official squad where for 12 of his 15 years with the squad he provided refereeing services to World Rugby. He spent a lot of time in rugby stadiums, in NZ and across the globe and officiated in tournaments including the British and Irish Lions series in Australia 2013, Rugby World Cup in England 2015 and Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019.
“I was absolutely hopeless at playing rugby so I feel blessed I could follow my passion to officiate the game of rugby.”
After officiating 70 test matches and travelling the world numerous times, Ben retired from refereeing at the end of 2019 with a deep sense of satisfaction and wanting to spend more time with his own family.
Ben and wife Hayley, along with family Grace (4), Zara (2) and Harrison, (18 weeks old) are incredibly excited about a brand-new chapter for them as a family unit at St Paul’s Collegiate School.
“What struck me immediately about St Paul’s is the real sense of community, where students and families feel proud of their school, they feel connected, and they feel like they truly belong. This was evident when I had the opportunity to speak with several people during my interview process,” says Ben.
Mr Skeen and his family were welcomed at a poowhiri and commissioning service on 3 May.
In his inaugural speech, Mr Skeen spoke of his promise to continue the pursuit of excellence within the school, to be present and applaud aspiring academics, athletes, musicians, thespians and performers; to support and stand alongside those committed to service; and in recognising the school’s education is grounded in faith, he promised to act as a messenger of God’s great love.
He was then given keys to the school and gifted a school tie.
The ceremony concluded with a moving school haka, performed by 800 students, to warmly welcome St Paul’s 11th headmaster.
MICHELLE SMITH
Matron thanked for ‘sensational service’ over 50 years
Gloria Thompson has retired after half a century working at St Paul’s – the past 37 years as Matron of Williams House.
To acknowledge her remarkable service Gloria was gifted an Acorn, a special trophy usually only awarded to long-serving teaching staff.
Gloria first started at the school as a classroom cleaner in 1972 and moved on to be Matron in 1984.
In that time, she has been a ‘mother’ figure to more than 550 boarding boys in Williams House, supporting students through their boarding experience.
As many people shared their memories at her April farewell, Gloria was variously described as a ‘picker upper’, a listener, a cheeky detective, and a nurse –all rolled into one.
Her mending skills are legendary although Gloria insists, “it is just plain sewing – nothing fancy!”
As Matron, Gloria would oversee chores, supervise homework, take students to appointments, and keep a watchful eye on student wellbeing. She was known to be firm but fair, and consistent. She was neither a hot head, nor a pushover.
She has been an influential figure in the lives of countless boys.
“Over the years I have never had any boys that I have run into arguments with, or who have disrespected me, I have to say. Most of them have been really, really, good.”
There have been relationships forged with parents, too. “It’s the parents who have the least self-control when they drop their children back to school!” Gloria laughs. “They are the ones who cry and get upset not the boys, but there have been some lovely parents over the years.”
Intuition with teenage boys is an instinct she has in abundance.
“With some boys you can just feel things are not quite right, or there is something bothering them, or they are up to something.”
John Croall, Williams Housemaster in the early 2000s, says Gloria was a superb Matron. “Her commitment to the boys was tremendous and her willingness to come in at any time of the night made life easier on my arrival.”
In recent years it has been a split shift arrangement, starting at 7.30am for the morning pre-school routine; then returning at 3.30pm for the afternoon shift.
A typical morning would involve, in her words: “running around checking that the duties have been done, doing some mending, putting away washing, checking the lockers, putting out dirty clothing, turning all the lights off, going through the house and ensuring everything is in good condition and that they have done their jobs and the kitchens are clean.”
In the afternoon she was there to keep an eye on the boys while the housemasters were busy with sport and other commitments.
The job was handy to her home, just a couple of blocks away. Students used to love her turning up to work in ‘boy racer’ style new cars.
In more recent years she has taken students to various out-of-school appointments. “While sitting in the car together you are sharing your life story with them, and they are telling you theirs, so you really get to know them.”
More importance is placed on wellbeing of students these days, Gloria says. “It is very much improved, they have got plenty of support, with professionals on staff.”
There have been many memorable moments, including the time the whole of Williams House was infested with bed bugs. “It was pretty hilarious, we had to strip everything and put sheets in the freezer and clean up and spray the whole place. We have never had it since as they now fumigate the place regularly.”
She has worked with five Headmasters and seven Housemasters in her time at Williams House.
“One in particular, was really military like. Then there was one who was quite casual, and the Housemaster who followed straight after, had to straighten the boys up again. But they have all had different styles.”
She mentioned one former Williams Housemaster, and current Deputy Headmaster, Craig Hardman, for the kindness he showed her during last year’s national lockdown, which she really appreciated.
“He rang me every day to make sure I was ok and asked if I want anything like shopping done. That was just really lovely.”
Gloria’s farewell in April was attended by Housemasters and former Heads of House as well as Collegians and current parents and students.
News of Gloria’s departure prompted a flood of messages on the school’s Facebook page, from former students and staff.
“Sensational service. You deserve a wonderful retirement in Oz,” wrote one.
“Our amazing Williams House Matron of 50 years! – A mother to some, a friend and confidant to others,” said another.
A mother to some, a friend and confidant to others.
“Kia Orana (hello) and Kia Manuia (good luck) from a homesick Cook Islander, 1973-1976.”
Gloria has sold her Fairfield home, where she has lived for several decades, and is moving to Currum Downs in Melbourne to be closer to family in retirement.
Gloria has this advice for the incoming Matron –“Have patience and learn how to sew!”
“I think I will miss it,” says Gloria. St Paul’s will miss you too.
MONICA HOLT
New Tihoi director brings outdoor experience
With over 20 years’ experience working with youth at various schools and outdoor centres, Peter Evans heads Tihoi Venture School, as the new Director.
Familiar to Tihoi, Pete was a teacher and outdoor instructor at the venture school for several months between 2011 and 2013 and made the decision to return when a director position became available.
“I came back to Tihoi because of the level of excellence and professionalism within the programme. This is not a 9-5 job you can walk away from, it’s a huge commitment – one that (wife) Nic and I are extremely proud to be part of,” says Pete.
A lot has changed since he first worked at Tihoi, noting that students are a lot more dependent on technology these days, in turn this contributes to making them more anxious when they don’t have access to technology.
“An outdoor education programme has always been necessary for children but now it’s vital our students participate in these programmes to learn the life skills they need, away from technology.”
Since starting midway through the second intake last year, Pete has encouraged the boys to leave Tihoi a better place and a better person than when they arrived. This helps the boys feel a sense of pride when carrying out their duties and maintaining the campus for the next group.
“I’m teaching the boys about Mana Tiaki and stewardship, so they understand the importance of feeling like you belong to something.”
Pete gained a Bachelor of Science at Liverpool John Moores University, has been a teacher for 17 years and has 11 years’ experience in residential outdoor education. He gained his NZOIA Bush 2 and Sea Kayak 1 qualifications making him a suitable successor when Cyn Smith stepped down in 2020.
Pete’s wife Nicola provides pastoral support to the programme and ensures parents are well informed of their son’s progress throughout their time at Tihoi. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Design and has been a teacher for the past 14 years. She is currently studying counselling.
They have two young boys, George (7) and Sonny (5) and live onsite “where we share our home and family with the students.”
MORGAN GILGRIST-GATLEY
Before joining St Paul’s, Pete held the Head of Campus position at Kahunui, St Cuthbert’s College outdoor education programme, for two and a half years after being promoted from Deputy Director.
George, Nicola, Peter and Sonny Evans
From the biology lab to sports field – Roger Bell’s legacy
“It has been a blast,” is how Roger Bell describes the last 18 years at St Paul’s as he retired from the school in December 2020.
He will be remembered as a top Biology teacher, but also for his extensive involvement outside the classroom as a soccer coach, teacher in charge of swimming, and assistant Housemaster of Harington House.
“I don’t know where 18 years have gone, I think that is systematic of the fact, this is a very busy place. The weeks roar past and the terms roar past,” he said.
There have been many highlights, in his long tenure as Head of Biology, including seeing students of varying abilities, succeed at school and in life.
A standout would be one of his top students, 2018 Dux and Auckland medical school student Alice Cao, being selected for the prestigious New Zealand International Bio Olympiad.
“Sure, we get some really capable kids, but it takes a lot of work to get them up to that next level.” He felt immense pride seeing students like Alice gain national scholarships.
He says the biggest joy has been with students who are “the real strugglers,” who he referred to in his retirement speech as “my pinecones.”
“And these are the kids that have that rough exterior and they have been cast aside a bit. Left on the ground. But they have this amazing potential inside them to grow a forest as they are full of seeds.”
“Sometimes when you take that little bit of care or notice of some of those kids it makes a huge difference to their lives, going that little bit extra for them.”
“And that is what I think is one of the hallmarks here, teachers here are prepared to go that extra distance.”
Another moment he recalled was when a former student visited the school unexpectedly to see him.
“She was now a paediatrician coming to a conference in Hamilton. She said ‘I just wanted to call in and say thank you as you steered me in the right direction.’”
“It’s those things that make a huge difference. There have been lots of vets and lots of doctors and lots of scientists over the years.”
Roger has a lifelong love of the outdoors and this came through in his teaching – in the classroom and on biology field trips to places like Raglan and Jubilee Park. “I love nature and wildlife and plants and animals. It just absorbed me totally as a kid and right through schooling and into teaching.”
He spent many years coaching soccer, having many successes, most notably with the school’s first XI girls’ team; and was key in establishing and growing the school’s elite swimming programme. He was involved in pastoral care with Harington House for 15 years, mainly as assistant Housemaster.
Retirement from 44 years of teaching (he had been at Cambridge High School for 20 years), was short lived. The week he left St Paul’s he was approached by Hamilton’s Sacred Heart Girls’ College and asked to step in part-time to cover a maternity leave vacancy, teaching biology to senior students this year.
Roger and his wife, who live in Claudelands, plan to retire to their holiday home in Kawhia.
He would also like to indulge in his many hobbies, which include landscape photography, woodwork, and “jobs around the house,” as well as spend more time with their children and grandchildren.
MONICA HOLT
1 Brea McDonald (left), Belinda Wright, Jessica Scatchard, Leah Weck and coxswain Fred Phillips 2 Williams House at Harington Fashion Show
Bailey and Jackson Mackwood with their grandparents
House performing at House Haka
School House performing Moana at the Harington Fashion Show
Fitchett House performing Grease at the Harington Fashion Show
Nina Hewitt with her grandparents
Charlotte Boyd (left), Awatea Gudgeon, Olivia Dunn, Leah Weck and coxswain Tanika Naidoo
Riley Wills warming up on Lake Karapiro
Clark House performing Annie at Harington Fashion Show
Arjan Kang with his family on Grandparents Day
Sargood House performing at House Haka
18 The Kelly family at Grandparents Day
Silver medal for Logan Spencer (left) and Riley Wills
Induction of Fellows
The role of a Fellow at St Paul’s Collegiate School was established in the early 1980s. A Fellow has the same responsibilities as the school’s original Founders, they are guardians of the school and if the Board should ever have difficulty in functioning then the Fellows will step in to assist. In April, Headmaster Grant Lander inducted six new Fellows to the school, all of whom contributed significantly to St Paul’s.
Peter Gilbert
Peter Gilbert’s association at St Paul’s began in 1979 as a physical education teacher. Within 12 months of his employment, he was promoted to Head of Department – a position he held until he handed the batten over in 2011. He held the title of Sports Coordinator, had been a member of the Senior Leadership Group, a Liaison Coordinator for the School of Education and became the Director of Extra-Curricular Activities in 2005. He dabbled in the management of the school which later led to being promoted to Assistant Headmaster.
Over a 25-year period, he had a strong affiliation with the day house community; firstly in 1984 as Assistant Housemaster in Hamilton House, ten years as Housemaster of Hall House; then from 1999 he became the founding Housemaster of Fitchett House, a position he held until March 2005. Over those two and a half decades, Peter’s commitment to the pastoral needs of hundreds of young men was significant and in turn, they recognised he had a genuine interest in them as people, their wellbeing, and their individual development.
Peter coached and managed successful title-winning junior rugby sides in the Waikato Secondary Schools competition. A long-serving Master-in-Charge of tennis, a game he was equally skilled in playing, Peter was particularly proud of the team’s recent success in the co-ed division of NZSS championships.
Peter was always up for a new challenge, very much an optimist and was fun to work alongside. His institutional knowledge difficult to beat, generous to a fault, he loved his job and the school, and has been missed since his retirement in December 2019.
After dedicating 40 years of service to St Paul’s in various teaching, pastoral and management roles, it seems fitting to have Peter Gilbert join St Paul’s as a Fellow.
Cyn Smith
Cyn Smith’s association with St Paul’s started in 1997 when she was employed as an outdoor instructor and teacher at Tihoi Venture School. She came seeking employment but left in 1999 having secured a husband and great life partner in Chris Wynn. In 2000, she utilised her Bachelor of Parks, Recreation and Sport Management from Lincoln University, as a lecturer in Sports, Fitness, and Recreation at the Waiariki Institute of Technology. She then went on as head of department (HOD) of Physical Education and Senior Dean at Reporoa College in 2003-2006 before taking up the HOD of PE and Health at Rotorua Girls’ High School. With the resignation of long-serving Tihoi directors, John and Christine Furminger, Cyn and Chris moved back to Tihoi where they took up the joint leadership of the venture school.
Philip Morgan
Philip Morgan’s (Williams 1968-1972) first association with St Paul’s was as a student when he attended from 1968. Upon leaving school, he studied law at Auckland University, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1997, and was admitted to the Bar later that year. After periods of employment in law firms around the world, he returned to Hamilton in 1983 where he worked as a Crown Prosecutor in the Crown Solicitors office. He went to the Independent Bar in 1998 and in June 2003 was given the honour of being appointed a Silk or Queens Counsellor.
As a Collegian wanting to give back to St Paul’s, he was invited to join the Board of the Waikato Anglican College Trust in 2006 at a time when his youngest child, David (Hamilton 20052009) was at the school, also having had both his daughters, Katharine (Harington 2001-2002), and Olivia (Harington 20062007) attend St Paul’s. In 2009, he took over as Chairman at a tumultuous time in the school’s history, however he oversaw a turnaround in the school with an expanding roll and major commitments to a range of capital projects. This created a sense of optimism and a belief that the school was gathering positive momentum, which in turn lifted the confidence of students, staff, and parents alike.
Philip worked hard to create a more structured and thorough approach to governance through the establishment of subcommittees, to have greater oversight over finances, serious student misconduct, and scholarship or financial assistance for families. Personable and approachable, Leaders of Curriculum and staff with key responsibilities were encouraged to report to the Board on a regular basis.
At the end of Philip’s tenure as Chairman, he has remained on the Board and will do so until 2022 to support new Headmaster, Ben Skeen.
As Co-Directors over a 10-year period, they split the six main areas of responsibility evenly, with Cyn having oversight of the day-to-day running of the campus, the academic programme and the pastoral care of students. In the four years following, Cyn took responsibility for all six key aspects as Chris went on to run his own business venture, making her list of duties even longer as sole director.
Leading Tihoi Venture School in a solo capacity showed her sheer drive, determination, and commitment. For 15 years, St Paul’s was fortunate to have such a person in Cyn Smith and it seems only appropriate she is honoured by being made a Fellow of the school.
Gregg Brown
Gregg Brown was educated at Hamilton Boys’ High School before attending the University of Waikato where he completed a Bachelor of Management Studies. In 1993, he became a Chartered Accountant and worked for Earnest and Young and went on to work as an auditor, then into management consulting, and later performance improvement consulting. Gregg moved to work in his family’s business, Aber Limited, taking over as CEO and broadening the product range of indoor and outdoor energy-related appliances.
Gregg’s first association with St Paul’s was as a parent in 2010 and in 2011, he was invited to join the Waikato Anglican College Trust (WACT) Board. Upon joining the Board, Gregg worked to reinvigorate the school’s Foundation. In 2014, he was selected to lead the WACT Board to find an external cash injection for the next stage of the school’s campus upgrade.
Chris Wynn
Chris Wynn’s (Clark 1988-1992) first association with St Paul’s was as a student in 1988. After he completed school, Chris spent his first two years as a tutor at Tihoi Venture School. He then gained his teaching qualification and returned as a teacher and instructor for three years during 1999-2001 and after a brief break in 2002, returned as Deputy Director and Chief Instructor from 2003-2005. His wife Cyn then joined Tihoi Venture School and together they led the progamme as Co-Director’s from 2006-2016.
A highly skilled outdoorsman, at one stage Chris had his NZOIA Alpine One, Kayak One, and Rock One qualification, Bush at Level Two and was NZOIA’s Bush Assessor for candidates wishing to seek the NZ Outdoor Instructors Association qualification, indicating the respect held by Chris within the industry.
Dedicated and devoted to the goals and ideals of the venture school, he had the ability and drive to see something that needed doing and would get it sorted with minimum fuss.
A great bloke in action and as a role model, Chris has given a significant portion of his life to Tihoi Venutre School and the young men who have been influenced by its programme. The director’s role is a lifestyle rather than a job and the school has greatly appreciated the committed way Chris Wynn has taken to various key roles he held at the venture school. This is the reason he deserves the honour of being made a Fellow.
That year, he launched a capital campaign for building improvements as well as the establishment of the Agribusiness partnership programme, which has been incredibly valuable for the school.
Establishing the rejuvenation of the school, juggling his business commitments and leading the Board, Gregg has been a highly committed, enthusiastic and passionate leader throughout his time as Chairman. After he stepped down, he remained as a Trustee until April 2020 and has since assisted on the Finance Committee and the Board’s Disciplinary Subcommittee. Gregg remains an active supporter of the school’s plans and has regularly donated or supplied equipment for the school’s use.
Gregg Brown has made an outstanding contribution to the school over the past decade.
Malcolm Hill
Malcolm Hill’s association as a teacher at St Paul’s started in September 1966 after an informal interview that led to him becoming a history and geography teacher, despite having no formal training. In 1967, he put his accountancy background to use by launching the school’s commerce department and ran it with great enthusiasm for 29 years.
Malcolm made a massive pastoral contribution to St Paul’s. In 1968, he was appointed Housemaster of Hamilton House and in 1973, he established the new day house, Hall House. Mr Hill believed the day boys identified more with the school if they stayed for dinner, so most Hall House students ate evening meals at school throughout that year.
In 1980, he was appointed to First Assistant (third in line in the leadership of the school) where he liaised with the qualifications’ authority, completed the annual school timetable, oversaw discipline and was the treasurer of the tuckshop and Parents’ Association – all while teaching accounting and economics classes. In his three decades of outstanding commitment to St Paul’s, Malcolm was fully involved in life at the school: sporting, debating, young enterprise, drama and many other co-curricular activities.
Malcolm Hill was an absolute rock, a steady pair of hands who had a huge presence, not just in a physical sense. It is a great honour to recognise a man who embodied so many St Paul’s values during his tenure at our school, with a Fellows award.
Full school haka is performed to show appreciation of these new Fellows
Snippets
Craig Stocker
Collegian Craig Stocker (Hall 20122016) featured in the last issue of Network magazine (November 2020, Vol 2). He has been part of a team of University of Canterbury students designing a way to deliver fresh drinking water to Tongan villages. Craig recently accepted a prestigious scholarship to study a PhD at Monash University in Melbourne. The PhD focuses on working to create new sustainable products for agriculture using the waste from pulp factories.
James Pickford
James Pickford (Hamilton 2007-2011) launched Imaego last year, a brand architecture agency. As a brand architect, the team consult with sporting and entertainment talent, helping them create meaningful content and make the most of their profession and passions outside of the spotlight. James says their mission is to shake up the digital landscape and provide tools and opportunities for talent and clients to maximize their brand value. Their team is spread globally across New Zealand, Hong Kong, Ireland, and the UK.
Glenys Parton meets Peter Steeghs
Past Board member Glenys Parton met up with Collegian Peter Steeghs (Sargood 1980-1983) on the Routeburn Track. The two stumbled on their common connection of St Paul’s Collegiate School while walking the Routeburn on a guided trip. From farming a small herd in Gordonton in the Waikato, Peter moved with his brother to larger pastures in Southland in 1995. Now based in Gore, they own two farms, the home property which milks around 1000 cows through two sheds and the other (Charlton Farm) which milks around 400 cows. They also operate two support blocks. Their mother later joined her sons in Southland and is now in Gore. Glenys now resides in Tauranga.
Michael
(Sargood 2013-2017) has been elected President of the Victoria University of Wellington Students Association for 2021.
Dave Strachan
Collegian and architect, Dave Strachan (School 1967-1971) has won a prestigious architecture award called the Gold Medal, awarded by Te Kahui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects. This is the highest individual honour an architect can achieve in New Zealand. A Gold Medal recipient is recognised for making an outstanding contribution towards architectural practice over a consistent period. Dave started his career as a builder and worked to his strengths in design, qualifying as an architect at the University of Auckland’s School of Architecture. In 1998, Dave founded the practice he still runs today, Strachan Group Architects (SGA).
Michael Turnbull
Turnbull
Marriages
Karl Shaw
Karl Shaw (Hall 1994-1997) married Katie Taylor on 13 February, 2021 in Hamilton. The best man was Todd Shaw (Hall/Fitchett 1996-1999) and the marriage celebrant was Christine Furminger (former Tihoi Director). The happy couple are now living in Hamilton.
Deanna Morse and Hamish Burt
Collegians Deanna Morse (Harington 2012-2013) and Hamish Burt (Williams 2009-2013) were married in February by none other than former St Paul’s teacher, and wedding celebrant Defyd Williams. Defyd was delighted to be given the opportunity to officiate at the wedding, which he said was truly amazing with many St Paul’s Collegians from the class of 2013 attending. The beautiful couple said their vows in the gorgeous setting of Opito Bay.
Condolences
Our thoughts are with the families of our St Paul’s community who have lost a loved one recently.
Please contact us if you hear of the death of a Collegian, or if you have family members who are unwell (so our Reverend can offer prayers). Email collegians@stpauls.school.nz or phone +64 7 957 8805.
Christopher Hugh James Horsley (Sargood 1961-1964) passed away in April, 2021.
Robert Tocker (Sargood 1960-1961) passed away in February, 2021.
Mrs Andrea Fisher, passed away in March, 2021. Mrs Fisher was the wife of The Rev’d Trevor Fisher, St Paul’s Chaplain from 2004-2009 (and a Collegian 1966-1970).
Former staff member, Ian Parsons, passed away in January, 2021. Ian joined St Paul’s in 2011 as an itinerant teacher and in 2013 took on a portfolio of teaching responsibilities including Year 10 music, assisting the Year 9 band programme, and enthusiastically directing a number of music groups such as St Paul’s Big Band, Trad Jazz Band, Saxophone Ensemble and Clarinet Ensemble. Ian was an exceptionally talented saxophonist, bassoonist and clarinet player who set high standards for our school musicians and left a musical legacy that St Paul’s still cherish today. A year ago, Ian was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, which he fought with courage and determination.
Kitchen staff and students enjoy special bond
When senior students made a special request in their last week of school, the school kitchen staff happily obliged.
“Our Year 13s came to me and told me their favourite meal we produce at lunch is Japanese chicken katsu curry and could I PLEASE make sure it is on the menu for their last day of school,” says head chef and catering manager Mr Chris Warner.
So of course, it was on the menu, making the students’ last lunch in 2020 a memorable one.
Term four is usually phenomenally busy for the kitchen, which on a normal school day serves more than 1600 top-quality portioned meals, including breakfasts, hot lunches, evening meals, morning and afternoon teas and suppers.
“These are the number of plates that fall across the servery each day, just in standard student meals, alone. On top of this, there are additional catering requirements from all over the school and external community, especially in term four,” says the school’s Business Manager Peter Welham.
As well as providing an excellent service, kitchen staff form special bonds with students and are ‘quite tearful’, saying goodbye,” says Mr Warner.
The school used to outsource catering until it was all brought in-house, seven years ago. The staffing includes five chefs, a trainee chef, general catering assistants, and two students helping with kitchen tasks for an hour at each meal.
“During the school holidays for instance we hire out our school facilities and there may be six rugby teams staying in the boarding houses and the kitchen has to supply breakfast, lunch and dinner. So, it never stops basically.”
I would say our kitchen would be one of the best school kitchens in the country.
“I would say our kitchen would be one of the best school kitchens in the country.” Mr Welham says it is important for the students’ wellbeing to have good food, to make them feel well-nourished.
There are also the social benefits of sharing meals.
“All the members of staff have lunch provided as well, and that is also a good opportunity for staff to sit around and talk to each other.”
The catering calendar is packed with term four events and special occasions, like sports and cultural awards dinners, prefect dinner, end of year House dinners, prize givings, an open day, funerals, community events and staff farewell functions.
“It is an incredible job they do and a vital part of what we do here at the school. The interaction between the staff and the students in the kitchen during these times is amazing. There is always a bit of banter between the two and it just adds to the friendly atmosphere.”
So, what do the students enjoy the most? Having worked in the school kitchen for nearly 16 years Mr Warner has a fairly good idea.
“The year 9s and the year 10s enjoy food like nachos, spaghetti bolognese and cottage pies. Things that they can relate to that remind them of home.”
“Moving to Years 11, 12 and 13 they are a little bit more adventurous, they like spicy curries, beef rendangs, and their taste is a little bit more developed.”
In the first three weeks of term four in 2020, the school catering team has:
• Cooked and served 24,509 student and staff meals
• Cooked and served 2845 function meals
• Set up 16 venues for functions
• Roasted and carved 509 Kg of Angus Beef scotch fillet
• Cooked 410 kg of chicken thighs
• Cooked 1780 portions of chocolate fudge brownie.
MONICA HOLT
Accomplished dancer heads new dance school
A new dance school has been established in Hamilton and is being led by Collegian, Harriet Norman, (nee Embling – Harington 20102012) an accomplished dancer, who has reached the highest level in New Zealand ballet, contemporary dance and jazz.
As a student Harriet, 26, had extra lessons at lunchtime to perfect her dancing. Now, some years later, the primary school teacher has brought her own talent and passion for dance to teach a new generation.
St Paul’s Dance Studio, located at St Paul’s, offers ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip hop for children aged 4-18. Lessons take place in a purpose-built dance studio in the St Barnabas’ annex next to the Chapel.
After training as a primary school teacher at the University of Waikato, Harriet moved to Melbourne where she was a top ballroom dancer. That took her all over the world, mainly throughout Australia and Asia, and to Blackpool in England where the world championships are held.
Dancing has been such a big part of her life and there are so many positives, she says. Harriet’s personal philosophy is about building relationships, in an authentic and kind environment.
“I have a relationship-based teaching style which is focused on teaching discipline and getting to know students through genuine connections and caring about each individual.”
“I think it’s really important to create an environment and a culture where people can feel safe to give things a go and take risks to do something new that may be out of their comfort zone.”
She has a calm nature and brings that to her teaching practice.
For someone who went on to develop a great love of dancing, even Harriet had a rocky start.
“I was very, very shy and went along and sat on mum’s knee crying the whole first term,” recalls Harriet.
Things improved, but very slowly.
“In the fourth term the ballet show came up. I was going to be a Teletubby and mum said if I did go on the stage then she would buy me a new pair of ballet shoes.”
She did, “and they had to pull me off the stage.”
Harriet went on to have a distinguished dance career, achieving a remarkable Distinction grade for all 29 exams across three styles, ballet, jazz and contemporary as well as 6 scholarships. She competed in many competitions and won the New Zealand Open Championship for both ballroom and new vogue dancing. Harriet was selected to be a Junior Associate with the New Zealand School of Dance as a Contemporary major and continued to train in this programme for four years.
She also received PACANZ Nomination for Classical Ballet and a Royal Academy of Dance 14+ Scholarship.
She would do additional extension classes in dance, often travelling to Auckland and Wellington. Instead of moving to Wellington to study dance full-time, Harriet pursued a teaching path, completing a Bachelor of Teaching at Waikato University.
St Paul’s Dance Studio will offer NZAMD exams for students, as well as competitions and an end of year show. At the studio she would also like to offer ‘date night’ dance classes.
“I want to attract people who have danced before and want to keep moving but also offer something to those who may have never danced before.”
The studio is open for classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 3.45pm9pm; and Saturday mornings.
For more information visit stpaulsdancestudio.co.nz or contact Harriet at stpaulsdancestudio@gmail.com
MONICA HOLT
Hockey and football pavilion open for Collegian reunion
Collegian hockey and football players were welcomed back in March to play our 1st XI teams, celebrating the opening of our new hockey and football pavilion.
Two games of hockey were played during the evening, with a score of 2-1 to the under 25 Collegian team, and the over-25 Collegian team taking out their game, 3-1. It was a success on the field for the Collegian footballers too, winning 2-0.
A dedication to the new building followed the games, and an unveiling of the viewing platform signage, dedicated to Collegian Jon Tanner, (Hamilton 1973-1977).
Many Collegians and friends of St Paul’s attended the celebration, which honoured those who have contributed towards the facility.
During the evening, speeches acknowledged the many people who have given their time to contribute towards developing hockey and football as successful sports at St Paul’s.
We have been proudly sharing this new facility with the community ever since it opened, hosting numerous events and national New Zealand hockey fixtures over the last term.
Collegian cricket teams continue winning streak
Two Collegian cricket teams took on the school 1st and 2nd XI teams on Friday, 26 February and continued their winning streak from 2020 with both Collegian teams winning on the day. Another great event for Collegians to reconnect with the school and old team mates!
Shore crew for Team NZ a career pinnacle
Boatbuilder Davin Whittaker (Clark 1998-2001) has been part of a sea change.
From building monohull boats to multihulls and now the legendary foiling yacht, Davin has been part of a revolution in sailing design over the last decade.
Davin’s career in boat building has led to the ultimate highlight, with his involvement in the Emirates Team New Zealand winning campaign for the 36th America’s Cup, staged in the Hauraki Gulf in March 2021.
He says St Paul’s had quite a big influence on him getting into boatbuilding and the fifth form technology class was particularly influential, where they had the opportunity to build model yachts.
While Davin reckons he wasn’t the best in class, he enjoyed it immensely and with the school career advisor steering him into a trade, the rest some might say, is history.
“Without that, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today,” he says.
And Davin hasn’t changed course over the years.
Starting with a four-year apprenticeship at Lloyd Stevenson boatbuilders, finishing in 2006, Davin also took on extra block courses such as spraypainting. This proved to be a valuable decision especially as the combination of skills meant he could work on boats in a variety of ways.
“I enjoyed this quite a lot and I really wanted to do as much as I could during my apprenticeship. What they offered with these extra block courses was a great opportunity to expand my skill range,” Davin says.
He attributes his skill set as being one of the reasons he was able to join the Team New Zealand shore crew, as he had both building and spray painting experience.
Davin’s role in the recent Team New Zealand campaign started with him painting the test boat and then some general building of carbon fibre parts, another skill learnt in his apprenticeship.
The shore crew were then involved in preparing the race boat for the water, launching, and maintaining the external hull and appendages after every sailing day. This included the foil arm wings and rudders.
While Davin had been part of previous builds the recent campaign saw his biggest role with Team New Zealand to date, including painting the AC75 foiling monohull race yacht, Te Retutai.
Boat design has changed significantly over the years and Davin has been part of the sea change, where boats have evolved from displacement sailing to foiling.
He says Team New Zealand were the first team to show they could foil using a 72foot catamaran.
“It’s quite a sight to see out on the water”.
“To go from a displacement monohull (such as the Black Magic boat) to foiling catamarans and on to foiling monohull, I’ve seen the transformation and the technology you would not have comprehended 10 years ago,” he says.
I’ve seen the transformation and the technology you would not have comprehended 10 years ago.
While being part of the recent Team New Zealand campaign has been a career highlight for Davin so far, he isn’t resting on his laurels. Davin’s looking ahead to the next campaign and being part of the 37th America’s Cup.
Davin’s next career goal is a challenge, given that he feels he has reached the pinnacle of his career, being part of Team New Zealand and winning the Auld Mug; the oldest tournament in sporting history.
But there is a chance to make history again. Davin says winning next time would make New Zealand the first team to win three in a row.
“So for me, as a career goal, that would be my next,” he says.
“What a story that would be.”
GINNY SEMMENS
Mutu revolutionises asset ownership
Why buy when you can borrow?
The concept of a new renting platform named Mutu, brainchild of Collegian Toby Skilton (Fitchett 2013), connects the owners of under-utilised assets and spaces with people who prefer access over ownership. Users make money by sharing the things they own and hardly use, as well as being able to save money by borrowing the things they will only use once or twice.
Mutu allows people to seamlessly rent, lend, hire and share almost anything through an app.
Toby went to St Paul’s in 2013 after spending his early high school years at Te Aroha College. He says St Paul’s helped to set him on a pathway to tackle any opportunity when it presented itself.
Following high school, Toby qualified with a Bachelor of Commerce, double majoring in Tourism and Management and says university is valuable for teaching students to be accountable for their own success.
“You also learn important skills for business, like time, relationship management and working with others.”
At University, Toby began searching for development opportunities and ways to generate income, starting his first business venture, Scarfie Repairs.
“Scarfie Repairs was a rental home repairs business fixing student flats in Dunedin for student rates. I didn’t have much of a clue about repairing, but there is a wealth of tutorials on YouTube. I successfully ran Scarfie Repairs which was set to be acquired when the deal fell through before I set off on my OE.”
While travelling overseas with his partner Elise, Toby found inspiration for the Mutu concept.
“When we were travelling around, we found it difficult to get access to things we wanted without purchasing them. When you’re on the road travelling, buying something and having to lug it with you is incredibly inefficient.”
Staying in places through Airbnb meant they also saw homes filled with unused items and equipment.
“I thought back to my family garage of all the tools, gardening equipment, sports gear and other items that lay idle and are hardly used and this is where Mutu was born.”
Toby launched Mutu in November 2019 and the couple moved to Christchurch in 2020 to get the venture moving.
Beginning with six industry professionals, Mutu has grown to a team of 11 based in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson, Dunedin and Melbourne.
“My initial vision for this platform was for it to be heavily used by tourists. Picture visiting New Zealand from Australia, America or Europe and you want to go surfing. You download the Mutu app and you are able to borrow a surfboard from a Raglan local who tells you where the best waves are and where to grab a coffee after.”
However, due to COVID-19, the business model changed to focus on the domestic market. This allowed the team to build up supply and to test systems before welcoming international users. COVID-19 also presented an issue domestically, as the idea of sharing equipment was challenging at the time of launch.
Building in measures to counter this with online tutorials on how to clean gear and practise safe distancing have been ways the team have minimised the Covid challenge.
Mutu allows people to seamlessly rent, lend, hire and share almost anything through an app.
The app launch was to achieve a critical mass of users and items to create a thriving marketplace.
“To date we have around 12,000 users across the country and we are tripling our growth month on month.”
“Unlike traditional hire companies which can be expensive, time consuming and paper heavy, the process we provide is a simple, social and sustainable platform for Kiwis to share everyday items that would otherwise be collecting dust or discarded as landfill.”
Toby’s had some great guidance along the way. His aunt is well-known New Zealand businesswomen Annah Stretton. He says she has been a mentor, challenger and ultimately a friend throughout his entrepreneurial journey.
Toby isn’t waiting for the world to come to him, he’s ready to take Mutu to the world and completely revolutionise the way people view asset ownership.
He wants Mutu to become a household name, much like TradeMe.
Check out www.mutu.co.nz
GINNY SEMMENS
Williams House Celebration and Matron Farewell 2021
We farewelled Williams House Matron Gloria Thompson in Term one of 2021, after 50 years of service at St Paul’s Collegiate School. This was a great opportunity for Collegians from Williams House to celebrate. Housemasters and former Heads of House attended along with Collegians and current parents and students.
Furniture options
Chairs are available for $350 each and we have 60 available for naming. Your chair will be fitted with an engraved gold plaque recognising your family/company name.
Bar Leaners are available for $1000 each and there are three available for naming. Your bar leaner will be printed with your family/company name on the front.
Round Tables are available for $700 each and we have eight available for naming. Your table will be fitted with an engraved gold plaque recognising your family/company name.
Supporters Club you can name a brick of the pavilion for $300. Your brick will be fitted with an engraved gold plaque recognising your family/company name.
House swimming and athletics competitions
Win for Colts Cricket
Beating Hamilton Boys’ High School in the final by five wickets was just the win the St Paul’s Colts Cricket team wanted to end the season.
The Colts team have been relentless in their battle to win their grade and thanks to coaches Mr Hodder, Mr Haines, Mr Rameka and Mr Littlejohn they managed to secure the top spot.
“Colts Cricket is becoming an increasingly tough competition so to make the final and win it is a real testament to the coaches and families involved. I’m very proud of the team and look forward to seeing them battle it out again in the term four competition,” says Mike Rameka, Director of Cricket.
The top run scorer for the season was Tom Yetsenga with 209 runs, 52.25 average and the top wicket taker was Jackson Norris with 10 wickets, 8.5 average.
Invention provides on-farm efficiencies
This year’s winning Year 13 Agribusiness innovation, presented at the annual ‘Crocodile Pit’ was awarded for a product that helps farmers save time. Tape Cage, a roll cage made from alkathene pipe, attaches to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) allowing farmers to drive safely under electrical tape gates without having to get off their vehicles to unlatch them.
Tape Cage was designed by Luther Yates, Thomas Came, Brad Foster and Thomas Matthews.
“We would like to develop the product further by inserting metal rods into the alkathene to prevent vehicles from rolling. We are aware of the number of accidents on farms using ATVs and this additional design feature may just help address farm and quad bike related accidents,” says Brad.
Winning first place gave the group $400 cash and the opportunity to showcase their product at this year’s NZ National Fieldays Innovation Hub.
Singing on the national stage
Earlier this year, Riley Rolton was successful in his audition to be part of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir (NZSSC). He joined 56 other secondary school choristers from around New Zealand who were invited by the Prime Minister and Governor General to perform at the State Memorial Service for HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Following the Memorial Service, the NZSSC group were asked to perform at the televised ANZAC Day Service in Wellington four days later. Their powerful waiata, Wairua Tapu, a hymn to the holy spirit, was a highlight of the ceremony.
Riley’s performance on the national stage is setting him up well to achieve his goal to become a professional singer.
Football academy based at St Paul’s
Ricki and Kale Herbert are now operating the Ricki Herbert Football Academy at St Paul’s Collegiate School.
The father and son duo hold extensive sporting credentials with Ricki having represented New Zealand in football and later became head coach of the national team, the All Whites.
Kale has made waves within the Waikato football community by coaching the Hamilton Wanderers through an unbeatable season. He is also head coach of the 1st XI football team at St Paul’s.
Ricki and Kale are thrilled to be based at St Paul’s where they feel the school is a positive fit for their Ricki Herbert Football Academy brand.
“Our synergies align well with the families at St Paul’s and our goal is to provide an inclusive academy for those wanting to better themselves at football. We couldn’t think of a better place to do this than at St Paul’s,” says Ricki.
Selection for NZ U19 rowing eight
Following the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing regatta in March, four St Paul’s students were chosen by Rowing NZ to trial for the North vs South U18 squad.
It was here that head boy Matthew Waddell was selected for the New Zealand Junior Squad. After an outstanding performance at the trials in April, he was named in the 2021 New Zealand Under 19 Men’s Eight Crew.
“I was super stoked to be chosen for a New Zealand Junior trial after a successful season at Maadi. To be selected for the NZ U19 Men’s Eight and to have the chance to wear the Silver Fern for the first time is certainly a dream come true,” says Matthew.
The New Zealand Junior squad will train and race together throughout winter but unfortunately, they won’t be travelling overseas to compete as was done pre-Covid unless they make the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta or the Tokyo Olympic Games.
St Paul’s wins biosecurity award
St Paul’s Agribusiness programme has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to protecting New Zealand’s environment from pests and diseases. The school won the inaugural kura/school award in the Ministry for Primary Industries’ 2020 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards thanks to a new unit of work written to help New Zealand students better understand biosecurity within NCEA Level 3 Agribusiness.
The achievement standard, which has been made available to all New Zealand secondary schools as part of the agribusiness subject, covers the impacts of biosecurity on the primary industry and the types of practices in place, while allowing students to come up with their own innovative future proofing ideas.
“We’re lucky to have a world class biosecurity system, however unless students have a direct connection with it, their knowledge is usually very limited,” says Agribusiness Project Curriculum Director, Mrs Kerry Allen.
“We wanted to improve this and initially went out looking for content that would help us do that, but nothing seemed to be available. So, we developed and implemented a suite of schemes and resources ourselves, using different biosecurity contexts, that would give students a greater understanding of this complex issue.”
Lewis Yetsenga (left), Tom Haycock, Matthew Waddell, Tom Matthews and coxswain Samuel Ward
St Paul’s FOUNDATION
Art collection is gifted to the school
Great schools have great collections. Artist and Collegian David Hill (Hamilton, Williams 1964-1968) recognises this and sees the school’s new Learning Hub as a blank canvas. He explains why it is his desire to exhibit his art collection at St Paul’s Collegiate School.
“I was a Hornsby boy, starting St Paul’s in Williams House in 1964 and Mr Hornsby had a profound influence on me with his passion for the Classics. It stimulated an interest in me that already existed.
Although art was not offered during my time at St Paul’s I began collecting at age 10 and I could blame my mother for this as she went to Elam and owned an antique store. Being an art collector is not something you plan, you arrive. It is driven by passion and enjoying objects that beautify and inform. The collection is named after The Hawkline Monster, a Gothic Western novella by Richard Brautigan.
Reading it helped remove a few boundaries to the imagination, and the title seemed appropriate.
With art now offered as a subject at St Paul’s I would like to loan parts of the Hawkline Collection, to preserve and encourage interest in the arts and humanities in a changing world, and what better place than at St Paul’s.
I see Harry Hornsby’s remarkable generosity as a challenge. And I would like to provide incentive for what might become a donor collection perhaps, that will grow as the school grows. Tuku iho is motivating, part of Maori tikanga that fosters the letting-go and handing on of the gifts of the past.
Being an art collector is not something you plan, you arrive.
My first piece was ‘Marble Arch Sky’ by Collegian Rodney Fumpston (Williams 1960-1964). Our paths happened to cross in London when Rodney was at St Martin’s and I was working in a dealer gallery in Pimlico, and later in Auckland when his ‘Egypt’ screen was acquired. It remains one of my favourite pieces though choosing one is hard – I have a personal relationship with them, telling stories of time and place, real or imagined. Altogether they diarise a life.
I hope the artworks will create interest, cause the students to ask themselves who, how or why these works were made, what distinguishes them, what connects them? I hope it is seen as a teaching aid. I hope it gives cause for students to start asking who they are and where they are going, ideally a bit earlier than I did!
Commitment, cataloguing, care, conservation, exhibition and display that rewards, are the skills the kaitiaki, the guardians, will need for the collection to endure. This might appeal to students of art history or who are already in art practice, or students interested in arts administration, museology or curatorship.
I hope current and future students see value in the gifts of the past, and understand they are part of the same continuum as these fragments.”
Tekoteko. 2006. Fayne Robinson. Bronze. 400 x 250.
Amphora. 1st Century BC – 2nd Century AD. Terracotta. Graeco-Roman SE Mediterranean. Marine encrusted.
Learning Hub honours two great men
We are looking forward to sharing our new Learning Hub with our St Paul’s community as the building enters the final stages of completion. We are excited to open this iconic building, which combines the school library with innovative spaces for study and learning.
While the Chapel of Christ the King represents the spiritual heart of the school, the Learning Hub will become our academic centre.
With the support and generosity of our incredible donors, the Learning Hub will honour two of our well-respected headmasters.
The Hornsby Library, named after Reg Hornsby, will be located within the Learning Hub and the building itself, at the request of a significant donor, will be named after our retired Headmaster Grant Lander.
The Learning Hub will open its doors ready for the students to use in term three.
We would love for you to be part of both the spiritual heart of the school and the academic centre through a donation towards furnishing the Learning Hub. This will be recognised with an engraved gold plaque installed on the back of a chapel chair. This is where our school community regularly gathers together and where your legacy is best honoured.
PURCHASE A CHAPEL CHAIR
We’d like to offer you the opportunity to invest in our students’ learning by naming a fixed chair in the Chapel of Christ the King
Parents’ Association raise $47k
St Paul’s Parents’ Association ran a luxury experience raffle offering three amazing prizes – a helicopter trip to Whitianga for a fishing trip, a weekend in the Hawkes Bay with accommodation, dinner and a BMW to drive there, and a catered dinner for 10. They raised $47,000 which will be put towards furniture for the new Learning Hub.
University graduates
Congratulations to St Paul’s Collegians who have recently had a tertiary qualification conferred. Please note not all tertiary institutions provide us with results; we include what is provided to us.
Victoria University
Christopher Barton
PGDip in Information Studies
Daniel Chegwidden
Master of Building Science
Fintan Cooper
Bachelor of Science
Aaron Parkinson
Bachelor of Commerce
John Rawls
Bachelor of Arts
Zhiwei Kang
Bachelor of Architecture Studies
University of Waikato
Richard Ashman
Bachelor of Science (Technology)
Sarah Best
Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance
Alastair Blackett
Bachelor of Business Analysis
Jackson Bovill
Bachelor of Communication Studies
Kendal Buchanan
Master of Environmental Sciences
Tessa Cameron
Diploma in Te Tohu Paetahi
Taylor Cockerton
Bachelor of Management Studies
Tiana Robyne Collingwood
Bachelor of Social Sciences
Ryan Crawford
Bachelor of Environmental Planning
Sebastian Day
Bachelor of Business
Garrick Du Toit
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Civil Engineering
Cecile Elsing
Bachelor of Social Sciences
Zian Evita
Bachelor of Laws
Emanae Ferguson
Bachelor of Business
Aaron Fergusson
Graduate Certificate in Project Management
Reed Fisher
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Mechanical Engineering
Timothy Fletcher
Bachelor of Laws with Honours
Jack Glasson
Bachelor of Science
Thomas Goodwin
Bachelor of Business Analysis
Gregory Gudsell
Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies
Kate Hockly
Postgraduate Diploma in the Practice of Psychology in Community Psychology
Jonathan Hogg
Bachelor of Science (Technology)
Petera Hudson
Master of Social Sciences in Maori Cultural Studies/Tikanga Maori
Brendan Hunt
Certificate of University Preparation
Sophie Hunt
Graduate Diploma of Teaching in Primary
Hye In Kim
Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours
Phoenix Keyte-Williams
Bachelor of Business
Asher Kosoof
Postgraduate Diploma in Disability and Inclusion Studies + Graduate Certificate in Sociology
James Lin
Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology
Jonathan Mayer
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Civil Engineering
Johannes McPherson
Bachelor of Business Analysis
Savannah Patterson
Graduate Diploma of Teaching in Secondary
Alistair Reese
Diploma in Te Tohu Paetahi
Daniel Sarikaya
Bachelor of Teaching in Primary
Claire Sayer
Bachelor of Laws
Scott Spence
Bachelor of Management Studies
Christopher Swanson
Bachelor of Business
Michael Taylor
Master of Business Administration
Madison Tims
Bachelor of Business
Emma Walker
Master of Science (Research) in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Victoria Ware
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours
Teri Wathen-Smith
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Environmental Engineering
Lara Wilson
Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology
Zhiqing Xiao
Bachelor of Media and Creative Technologies
Lincoln University
Greer Baldwin
Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing
Benjamin Dobbe
Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology
Tomas Dobbe
Graduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology
Hunter Johnson
Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture)
Hannah Lockwood-Geck
Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing
Aidan O’Connor
Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing
Benjamin O’Sullivan Diploma in Agriculture
Nicholas Simpson
Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours
Toby Wallbank Diploma in Agriculture
James Wilkins
Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture)
A different kind of savings bank making a difference in New Zealand
Rabobank is different, because 100% of savings deposits directly fund New Zealand agribusiness. By saving with Rabobank, you’ll make a positive difference to New Zealand as you earn a return.
Your savings will help local businesses grow food for us all, and you’ll make a difference in other ways.
When you save with Rabobank you’ll be helping us support the future of farming, such as sponsorship of the national agribusiness curriculum being taught to Year 12 and 13 students at St Paul’s and other schools.
You’ll also be helping us support important community organisations, like KiwiHarvest. They work to rescue food which would otherwise be wasted, and get it to New Zealanders who are facing challenges.
