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COVER PHOTO
John Lawenson, director of The Lawrenson Group.
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FROM THE HEADMASTER’S PEN
The past six months at St Paul’s Collegiate School have been full of fantastic highlights. We have experienced great co-curricular success. Three of our students made New Zealand secondary schools music groups: Aidan Philips and Katie Trigg joined the New Zealand Secondary School Choir that toured Canada in June while violinist Victoria Chanwai was selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Symphony Orchestra.
Our 1st XI cricket, 1st XV rugby, futsal sides and rowing and swimming squads were all ranked in the top fifteen teams in the country while our boys’ squash team were runners-up and our co-ed squash squad, senior girls 4x100m athletics relay team and 1st XI hockey side were named national champions in their respective premier competitions.
An amazing eight sportspeople gained selection for NZ secondary school elite sides: Reuben Andrews and Garrick du Toit (hockey); Zachary Newdick (football); Grace Watson (netball); Temwa Chileshe (squash); Madeleine Gordon (lacrosse); Jacob Nelson (captain of in-line hockey) and Oliver Soar (climbing). While in addition, over a dozen others were named national champions in sports ranging from athletics, boxing, kayaking, mountain-climbing through to rowing.
The 1st XI boys’ hockey had a historic win in the national Rankin Cup, which was particularly satisfying. This side was undefeated on their South Island tour in July; won the regional Midland’s competition for the first time and defeated schools such as St Bede’s, Lindisfarne College, Christ’s College, Tauranga Boys’ College, Wellington College, Rangitoto College and Wairarapa College to take out the national school boys’ hockey title.
To give you some idea of the level of sporting success, the performance of our girls premier netball side was not highlighted above, but they won the Waikato secondary schools’ competition; the WBOP regional tournament and finished ninth in the tough Upper North Island competition, which attracts 124 of the best school netball sides from Taupo up. With just 26 girls playing netball at St Paul’s this is amazing.
St Paul’s is really humming. We have a record boarding roll of 310 students living on site and the best results, in our 56 year history, in the tough New Zealand Scholarship examinations.
The pride that the 2016 leavers have in the school is reflected in the fact that they have commissioned would renowned street artist and Old Collegian, Owen Dippie, to paint a mural of Sir Edmund Hillary. It will include one of Sir Ed’s inspirational quotes on the side of the sports centre facing the dining room. We are incredibly appreciative of the generosity of the leaving families in supporting this initiative. It is great to be able to honour an Old Collegian artist by having a piece of his creative work in such a prominent place within St Paul’s.
Ultimately, a school is judged on its product, the inspirational stories about what Old Collegians have achieved and types of marriage partners, parents and citizens that they have become. This is the best testimony to the value of the opportunities and experiences offered by our school community.
With kind regards
G W LANDER, HEADMASTER
FIRST IN THE WORLD IN SPANISH
Conor Fuller (Year 13) placed first in the world for Spanish in the Language Perfect World Championships, an online competition where students compete to earn points for correctly translating between their chosen language and English.
He earned a total of 26,323 points, 1406 points above the second place winner. He says his language exchange to Argentina in 2015 is what helped him take out top spot.
“I went to Argentina with a good grounding of the basics and straight away I found myself able to understand. After three months I was almost fluent.”
Fellow Spanish student, Kathy Hastie (Year 12), is following in Conor’s footsteps. She is about to embark on a three month language exchange to Spain after being awarded a $5000 scholarship from her results in the same Language Perfect World Championships.
INNOVATION WIN FOR AGRIBUSINESS STUDENTS
St Paul’s Agribusiness students Ben McColgan, Connor Gordon, Angus Kelly and Hugh Jackson are only 17 and 18-years-old but they already have a winning invention that is picked to make them millions.
The Crankholder is set to revolutionise the fencing industry... or at least make it much easier to build a fence. The device was invented as part of St Paul’s Agribusiness programme and has already won a number of awards including Fieldays Young Innovator of the Year and the Foster Construction Innovation Award at the Youth Enterprise Scheme Regional Awards.
The four Year 13 students came up with the idea after Hugh Jackson’s father complained about post hole drilling. The device attaches to a trailer, quad bike or tractor and works by steadying a post hole borer which can be jumpy and dangerous. It makes it possible to drill holes by one person instead of two, making fencing cheaper, easier and safer.
NZ TITLE FOR BOXER
Year 13 student Seb Ellice won the national under-18 welterweight boxing title after beating New Zealand representative Hosen Watson in Rotorua in July.
This is the second national title for the young boxer who won the under-16 light welterweight under-64kg title last year after getting into the sport for “something different.”
Seb started training and competing after losing interest in rugby and cricket saying he “needed a challenge.” He has spent the past couple of years “training hard” and the results speak for themselves.
Although he has great boxing talent, this will be his last fight for the foreseeable future. Seb says his focus moving forward is purely academic: “I am just focusing on study for the rest of the year and then I’ll be at Victoria University studying law next year.”
ST PAUL’S 1ST XI HOCKEY WIN NATIONAL TITLE
St Paul’s 1st XI hockey team claimed victory at the 2016 national secondary schools tournament, Rankin Cup, in September.
The final against tough opponents Wairarapa College came to a nail-biting end in the final minutes of extra time when Maks Wyndham-Smith scored the goal that inched St Paul’s to a 4-3 win.
Coach Craig Hardman, who is still brimming with pride for his team, says it was a special moment he is extremely grateful to have been a part of.
As tournament favourites, the team had every reason to be swollen-headed going in but Craig was proud of the way they held themselves through the week.
Adding to the team’s success, Reuben Andrews - who scored three goals in the final - was named top goal scorer for the tournament.
Craig credits the legacy of the school’s previous 1st XI teams in getting the current team to this point.
“I always encourage players to leave St Paul’s hockey in a better state than when they started. It is because of this that the 2016 team had this opportunity.”
Craig challenged the boys at the beginning of the tournament to “write a story they would remember.”
“How they would go about writing this story was up to them,” he said. “In the end that was a pretty cool story, a story they will never forget.”
St Paul’s 1st XI hockey team would like to thank everyone who supported them through the year and their sponsors, Craigs Investment Partners, New World Rototuna, Solarix, Little India, Bayleys Real Estate, Just Hockey and Waste Management.
NZ STREET ARTIST LEAVES HIS MARK IN NYC
He’s known around the world for his largescale realist portraiture and, more recently, for his exploration of well-known Renaissance pieces combined with contemporary pop art.
His name is Owen Dippie (Clark 19972001) and he is returning to St Paul’s in 2017 to produce a mural of Sir Edmund Hillary that will brighten a drab looking brick wall outside the sports’ centre.
Owen has been practising art for as long as he can remember and producing
street art for more than a decade. He is up there with the best of them and is one of the only street artists in the world who can produce large-scale art by hand without a projector.
His paintings scale tall buildings and his art equipment is made up of the usual paint and the not so usual cranes, ladders and safety harnesses.
Last year, his career reached a high when he was recognised internationally for his work. He won the enviable Brooklyn Street Art Competition for his ‘Ninja Renaissance Masters piece (pictured)
and the Huffington Post named his piece ‘The Radiant Madonna’ as best mural 2015 (pictured).
He has also been working on smaller scale works in recent times, launching an exhibition – Markings by Owen Dippie - in October at his Auckland gallery. The canvas acrylic works, like most of his murals, sees straight into the soul of his subject.
In anticipation for his mural of Sir Edmund Hillary at St Paul’s, we spoke with Owen about what inspires him, where he is going next and how his love for street art came about.
BALLERINA, CHRISTCHURCH
Why street art?
I have been an artist for as long as I can remember, using every medium I could get my hands on. I got into street art around the early 2000’s but started to take it in a serious context around 2007. For me, spray paint is by far the most fun because it’s so immediate — it’s painting at the push of a button.
I have always been the type of person that applies myself to things that make me happy and from as far back as I could remember art was my favourite thing to do so it’s obvious that art was ‘it’ for me.
Mr Mike Linklater (art teacher 19942006) played a very important role in developing my direction. I specifically remember the moment he introduced me to the art of Keith Haring and Jean Michel Basquiat and it was a life changing moment. [Owen made reference to Keith Haring in his award winning work ‘The Radiant Madonna’].
How did it feel winning the Brooklyn Street Art Competition and to have the Huffington Post name your artwork as best mural 2015?
I felt very honoured to be categorised among such great artists and a bit overwhelmed that my work took out the top spot. With the Brooklyn Street Art award, it felt very surprising because I did that mural with no help and on practically no budget. To take out the top spot was very inspiring; if that’s what I can do with no budget and no help, then what can I achieve with support?
A lot of your artwork, including your award winning pieces in New
York, have a strong reference to the Renaissance period, why?
I have been a huge fan of Renaissance art since childhood and I guess I haven’t grown up too much! I also think the stereotype of spray paint having a connection with crime is ridiculous so by taking something so classical and mixing it with something so contemporary it makes it harder for people to stand back and make that judgment.
What path did you take after school to put you on this journey?
After school I began a Fine Arts degree at Whitecliffe in Auckland but dropped out after the first year to work extensively on the streets. I had to make the choice – school or practising my art because there wasn’t time for both, the two clashed, so I chose my art.
Can you tell us about your recent exhibition Markings by Owen Dippie? What inspired this collection?
Markings is an exhibition that is very close to my heart, I have been working on those pieces for a while now and decided to show them as the time felt right. The energy in the space that night was indescribable, very moving, it’s hard to put into words.
Where can people find more of your work?
The easiest place to find my work in this day and age is the internet. Social media - Facebook, Instagram, etc - are great platforms for both sharing work and to get inspiration from. Also my website owendippie.com
KAREN SIMPSON AND SUZANNE MILLER
RADIANT MADONNA
MANDELA, TAURANGA
CHARLES GOLDIE PAINTING RECREATED IN TAURANGA
RENAISSANCE NINJAS, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
HOSPITALITY GIANT WASN’T A SUCCESS OVERNIGHT
JOHN LAWRENSON (HAMILTON 1991-1992) RECENTLY OPENED HIS SEVENTEENTH VENUE, THE ROAMING GIANT, AT THE SMALL COST OF $5 MILLION DOLLARS.
The Roaming Giant is a culmination of everything diners love about his hospitality empire, The Lawrenson Group, and it’s been fourand-a-half years in the making.
Now that it’s finally open, the numbers are in and the punters are loving it. John says it’s so much more than he ever imagined. The 38-year-old started The Lawrenson
Group about 10 years ago, slowly building the group one-venue-at-a-time to where it is today, turning over $30 million a year.
It’s been a long journey and one that didn’t come without its challenges. John says he has been knocked down timeand-time again by possible investors, business partners and his own poor decision making but he didn’t let these hurdles set him back.
It all started when John was working at Taylor McLachlan in his late 20s. The temperature was seven degrees in Dunedin and he had just returned from a trip to Europe.
“I WAS BACK IN A JOB THAT WAS PAYING $40,000 A YEAR AND I WAS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW THINKING I AM NOT DOING THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE” JOHN SAID.
He had a choice. Continue working nine-to-five in a suit and tie “slowly getting fat” or live a life that he could “go to the grave happy with.”
So, he quit and went back to his preuniversity job as a bar tender earning $12 an hour.
“I was surrounded by people who were too scared to take risks. They were happy to collect a salary that was less than what their clients would make in a week. So I said, I’m done with this.”
At the same time he started investing in property with the help of investors. He sold his first property within three months after some minor renovations to make a cool $30,000. From there he bought and sold property until he
had made enough capital to start The Lawrenson Group.
He moved to Hamilton with big ambitions, he saw opportunities and had a vision that others didn’t.
“The Hamilton hospitality scene was limited to three gang bars, Iguana, The Outback and The Bank,” he explained.
Slim pickings for a city of Hamilton’s size.
He started working at one of the local restaurants to get an idea of what the market and competition was like and within a few months he asked the owner to invest in his vision.
“He turned me down and I remember him asking me ‘What makes you so special?’”John said.
“That really stuck with me. It wasn’t something I really understood at the time but it was a huge motivation for me, I thought ‘I’ll bloody show you!’.”
He started The Lawrenson Group within the year. First, opening Furnace and then Bar 101.
He worked 365 days a year for the next three years; a lifestyle that caused his stress levels to skyrocket, a 30 kilo weight gain and the onset of oesophageal ulcers.
“Honestly, I was supremely confident at the start and then once we started building I started developing oesophageal ulcers. I remember collapsing on my stairs at home thinking
I was having a heart attack because the pain was so intense.”
The venues were a roaring success, John regained his health and over the next ten years he worked on project-afterproject to grow The Lawrenson Group to the 17 venues it is today. Most of his bars and restaurants have been extremely successful, but there has been the odd “disaster”.
“I lost a couple of hundred thousand on one place and it was a great lesson. You need to be brought back into check every now and then,” he explained.
“I was making a lot of money and I believed my own hype. I got brought back down to earth with a shuttering thump and it was the best thing that happened to me. I’d like to think I won’t make that mistake again.”
He now has a winning formula and he plans to stick to it over the next few years as he grows the group by six new venues. He plans to launch two new restaurant bars at Tamahere and Rototuna and relaunch the Doolan Brothers failed establishments in Hamilton’s CBD that he picked up for bargain basement prices – Danny Doolans, Good Home and Honky Tonks.
He also has plans for a “Melbourne-style reclaimed industrial craft beer bar”, a new café in the CBD and a new and improved site for Victoria Street Bistro.
KAREN SIMPSON
THE ROAMING GIANT SPANS AN IMPRESSIVE 800 SQUARE METRES TO CATER FOR PUNTERS OF CLAUDELANDS EVENTS CENTRE HAMILTON
THE LAWRENSON GROUP IS ONE OF THE LARGEST HOSPITALITY EMPLOYERS IN HAMILTON, WITH MORE THAN 300 STAFF
ON THE WORLD STAGE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE
MARK STOREY (SARGOOD 19801984) HAS BUILT HIS CAREER AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE, TAKING SENIOR ROLES IN NEW ZEALAND AND OVERSEAS.
Last year Mark, 49, led a world summit on climate change. He describes the experience at the United Nations Convention on Climate Change in Paris as a career highlight during his 20 years working on finance issues to do with climate change and environmental policy.
“A lot of my career has been working towards that and I was actually chairing some of the negotiations there,” he said from his home in Stockholm, Sweden.
He has worked in New Zealand, France and Sweden.
Mark describes climate change policy as a “good mix of science and economics and law. It is a fascinating mix of different issues coming together.”
He has lived in Sweden since 2009, and now works as a deputy director in the Swedish Ministry of Finance. He is a negotiator for the European Union in international negotiations on climate change.
NADEREV SAÑO (LEFT) (LTF CO-CHAIR, PHILIPPINES) AND MARK AT THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
His career began as a junior in a government department in Wellington.
At the time, his father Rob Storey was a long serving National MP for Waikato (1984-1996) which included a stint as Minister for the Environment.
Wanting to avoid working in a department under his father, Mark’s first job in Wellington was in the trade policy division of the Ministry of Agriculture.
It was here he learnt to research and write policy briefs.
He came to Wellington after gaining a double honours degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Otago.
Mark grew up on a North Waikato farm and attended Waiterimu Primary School, before arriving at St Paul’s in 1980.
When he finished school, he surprised everyone by announcing he wanted to do an overseas exchange. The time he spent in Chile in 1985 was a “tough, full on year.”
“There was a major earthquake in Chile when I arrived which caused a lot of devastation and it was still under the military dictatorship of the Pinochet regime. There were curfews in place so the whole thing was quite a shock for me.”
“It was a tough first six months and then a very enjoyable last six months which is pretty common for these exchange years.”
He says the year in Chile influenced his later life. “It gave me quite a taste for international life and an interest in travelling. I got the idea then that I would like to work or study abroad, although I wasn’t quite planning on being abroad as much as I have been.”
In 1993 Mark decided to do a master’s degree in Ecological Economics at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. From there he was headhunted for a role in France and spent three years working at the OECD.
“I was offered a job in the environmental directorate working on climate change policy so that is how my interest in climate change policy came about. It was all in its infancy back then. It was before the Kyoto policy was introduced.”
“Since then I have been doing international climate change stuff and it has put me into an international setting.”
When last based in New Zealand from 2006 to 2009, Mark worked at the Ministry for the Environment and was then seconded to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Group at Treasury. This group had responsibility for drafting the New Zealand emissions trading legislation.
His job often sees him working alongside the key people representing different countries on climate change policy.
“The lead negotiators work on it until the end, and the politicians generally come in and rubber stamp things.”
While at school, Mark was the captain of the school debating team, gaining skills that would help him in later life. “It put me in a place where I was quite comfortable thinking on my feet and answering questions from people in authority.”
“I think that was a major skill set that St Paul’s gave me. I learnt how to debate and I often link that back to my school years. “
His early work experience in New Zealand also prepared him well for roles overseas.
“In New Zealand you often get pushed up into positions of responsibility quite quickly whereas in other countries you follow more of a hierarchy. At a fairly young age in New Zealand you are briefing ministers or prime ministers. You get exposed to decision makers while in other countries it takes quite a few years to get up the decision tree.”
Mark says good analytical stills, an ability to summarise and communicate complex issues simply, self confidence in a public environment and a high tolerance for stress are all the key attributes for his job.
Mark is married to Maria Storey and they have sons Adam, 13, and Nathan, 10.
They live in a bi-lingual household with Mark speaking English with his wife and children, and Maria speaking Swedish with the boys.
Mark played rugby until the age of 40 and has also been involved in coaching and refereeing in Stockholm. He is also interested in tennis and skiing.
He tries to visit New Zealand once or twice a year. “When we are home and it is August we try to get along to St Paul’s to watch a rugby game.” Mark’s nephew Liam Allen attends St Paul’s.
Mark’s parents Rob and Lorraine live in a retirement village in Glenview, Hamilton.
MONICA HOLT
MARK AND NADEREV SAÑO (LTF CO-CHAIR, PHILIPPINES) AT THE CIVIL SOCIETY PROTEST BY CLIMATE JUSTICE AND DEBT CAMPAIGN ORGANISATIONS IN MANILLA
MARY ANN LUCILLE SERING (CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTER AND VICE-CHAIR, PHILIPPINE CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION), NADEREV SAÑO (LTF CO-CHAIR, PHILIPPINES), MARK STOREY (LTF CO-CHAIR, SWEDEN), AND YOLANDO VELASCO
“WORKING AT TIHOI WAS WHAT I HAD DREAMED ABOUT AS A 14-YEAR-OLD AND IT HAD COME BACK FULL CIRCLE.”
CHRIS WYNN FULL CIRCLE
IT
WAS AS A YOUNG 14-YEAR-OLD IN 1989 WHEN CHRIS WYNN (CLARK 19881992, STAFF 19932016) WROTE IN HIS JOURNAL, WHILE IN THE BUSH ON HIS 44-HOUR SOLO AT TIHOI VENTURE SCHOOL, THAT HE WOULD ONE DAY BECOME DIRECTOR OF TIHOI AND THEN LATER A HELICOPTER PILOT.
While it may have seemed an ambitious goal at the time, it turns out dreams really can come true.
Chris has just finished 10 years as the director of Tihoi, a role that he shared with wife Cyn Smith who has since taken over sole directorship. He is now working as a commercial helicopter pilot based out of the Western Bays.
Chris had only just left Tihoi in late 2005, after completing a three year stint as chief instructor, when St Paul’s chair of the Board, John Dawson, made contact to tell him the director’s role had become available and that he should apply.
“This was what I had dreamed about as a 14-year-old and it had come back full circle. What I had said to Bryan Neville, the director of Tihoi when I was a student back in ’89, was right in front of me,” Chris said.
He and Cyn had just purchased a beautiful 25-acre property in Rotorua where Chris was rearing calves when the offer came through.
They were perfect for the job, collectively Chris and Cyn had more than 10 years’ experience working at Tihoi across a number of roles from gap tutor to chief instructor.
Chris first returned to Tihoi when he graduated from St Paul’s in 1992. He loaded his car full of gear and moved into the rickety rodent-ridden Noxious Nook as a gap tutor earning $6000 a year.
This was the beginning of his Tihoi career.
“It was awesome! All I could think about was going hunting on my days off!”
It was a learn-as-you-go type of role and most of the work included maintenance, rubbish runs and mowing lawns.
After two years, directors of the time Christine and John Furminger (staff 1992-2006) insisted Chris go to university and promised there would be a job waiting when he graduated.
He went to Lincoln where he completed a parks, recreation and tourism degree before moving on to a one year teaching diploma.
This was a hard time for Chris, who had always struggled academically at school.
“I bombed out big time, I think I failed three papers.”
He had a minor meltdown on the phone to his parents saying “This is ridiculous I just want to go back to Tihoi.” After four years of hard yards he completed his degree.
John and Christine were as good as their word and there was a job waiting for him. He joined Tihoi as a teacher and outdoor instructor. That’s when he met Cyn.
He had mastered the role after four years and there were no opportunities for a promotion so he and Cyn moved back to Rotorua to work at the polytechnic.
Chris managed an at-risk youth programme but found the role “energy sapping.”
“No matter how hard I tried, it seemed the students were going backwards. I would think I was making wicked progress and then the next day no one would turn up and I couldn’t do anything about it.”
He returned to Tihoi one more time as the chief instructor and head of maintenance before being offered the director’s role along with Cyn.
Board chair John Dawson knew they were the right people for the job. Their experience working across various roles in the Centre was like no other.
Despite their experience, the young directors still struggled. Chris was only 31 at the time and says in the beginning he couldn’t sleep.
“It was bloody hard for the first few years and I was pretty sensitive when I started. I lost a lot of sleep thinking about how I was going to deal with certain situations.”
“I sort of blundered my way through in the beginning and messed up half of the time but over the 10 years the decision making got easier and I built up a thick skin.”
The duo split the workload – Chris managed the staff, outdoor programme and site maintenance while Cyn focused on academics, pastoral care and the dayto-day operation of the centre.
They pieced together a highly skilled and reliable team of staff, which was one of their main goals when taking on the job.
Staff turnover was extremely high when they started and they made it their mission to transform Tihoi into a more attractive place to work.
Most of their staff have now been on-site for between five and 10 years, allowing Chris and Cyn to step back from the daily demands of the job.
“When we first started we did everything, it didn’t matter what it was one of us would always be there to deal with it. We had to learn to let go. We probably micromanaged everyone to death during the first few years.”
They also introduced NCEA Level 1 and beefed up the outdoors programme by introducing sea kayaks, canoeing, mountain biking, a high ropes course, running tracks throughout the Pureora Forest and extended the five-day expeditions to locations further than the Central North Island.
The Centre was in the starting phase of redevelopment when Chris and Cyn came on board as directors. Most student houses and the dining room had just been completed but the grounds and older facilities needed plenty of work.
Chris made it his pet project to improve the quality of the facilities and grounds. During his time, he has overseen the build of a new classroom, upgraded the houses and spent about 100 hours on the lawnmower every time the boys would go on break.
He says the first three years as director were the hardest.
They worked day-in-day-out to achieve their vision and then after years of hard graft Chris, decided it was time to do something for himself.
He got his commercial pilot’s license and then set a 10 year plan to exit Tihoi to become a full-time pilot. However the exit came about two years sooner than he planned.
“I got to the stage last summer where I was so busy I couldn’t keep up. That’s
when I thought I needed to pull the pin on working both jobs.”
He resigned and finished up as director of Tihoi at the end of the first intake this year.
He couldn’t have timed it better. Chris and Cyn’s son, Blue (14), started at Tihoi at the start of the second intake.
Instead of stressing about the speech he had to make to the incoming Year 10 boys, Chris helped Blue make his bed and unpack his gear.
Despite living in an outdoor playground for 12 of his 14 years of life, Chris and Cyn held Blue back from the Tihoi experience so he could “experience it with the other boys.”
He is in Jocks House, the furthest house from Chris and Cyn’s place and the house that Chris called home while he was a student.
Chris and Cyn still live onsite at Tihoi with their children Jessica (7), Jasmine (8) and Blue (14).
KAREN SIMPSON
CHRIS, WIFE CYN AND SON BLUE ON THE TIHOI PARENT TRAMP
CHRIS HAS DONE IT ALL AT TIHOI - FROM HOUSE TUTOR TO TEACHER TO DIRECTOR
DONNY TRUST GIVES BOOST TO AGRI-EDUCATION
Five agribusiness scholarships to St Paul’s Collegiate School have been awarded to Year 11, 12 and 13 day and boarding students for the 2017 school year.
The five scholarships were offered to senior students who showed an interest in pursuing a career in the primary industries but did not have the financial means to attend St Paul’s.
The Donny Charitable Trust, a Waikatobased charity that supports agricultural training, is providing funding for the scholarships and will continue to provide funding for further scholarships in 2018 and beyond.
Jon Tanner, a trustee of Donny Trust, said the group was providing financial backing because it believes St Paul’s has the potential to positively impact the skills shortage in the primary industries.
“St Paul’s agribusiness initiative addresses a key issue for the sector; the struggle to attract young people to careers in agriculture,” Tanner said.
“This programme has the potential to make a significant and positive impact. It will attract New Zealand’s brightest and best to a career in agriculture.”
In recent years, St Paul’s has worked closely with key industry leaders –DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb NZ – and the Ministry of Education to develop NCEA Level 2 and 3 achievement standards in Agribusiness that will, in time, lead to New Zealand Scholarship. Universities have swung their support in behind the initiative too.
St Paul’s Deputy Headmaster Peter Hampton said the academically rigorous course exposes students to the wide range of skills required and opportunities available through carefully chosen subject areas, the school’s strong
relationship with industry leaders and experiential learning.
“Students study everything from agriscience to future proofing, agri-finance and management, growing value and international trade,” Hampton explained.
“Within these areas, they apply examples of industry best practice to conceptual learning within the classroom.”
Currently the programme is offered exclusively at St Paul’s at NCEA Levels 2 and 3. However, the new achievement standards will be available to all New Zealand secondary schools in 2018.
Applications for the Agribusiness scholarships at St Paul’s close 31 August each year.
Those interested in learning more should visit –stpauls.school.nz/agribusiness
KAREN SIMPSON
RACHAEL MCLANACHAN, YEAR 11 BOARDING STUDENT WILL STUDY AGRIBUSINESS AT ST PAUL’S NEXT YEAR
AWARD RECOGNISES SERVICE TO EDUCATION
Developing new Agribusiness achievement standards in NCEA Levels 2 and 3 was a bold move and not one many secondary schools take on due to the sheer volume of work required to get the idea off the ground.
St Paul’s Deputy Headmaster Peter Hampton didn’t see it that way, he took the bull by the horns. With Headmaster Grant Lander and his team, Peter has spent the past three years at the forefront of this colossal yet nationally significant project that could change the face of New Zealand’s primary industries.
The Independent Schools of New Zealand acknowledged Peter for his dedication to this project by presenting him with an ISNZ Honours Award in Wellington in June.
“I have been a key driver of the development of the Agribusiness achievement standards and the award was really an acknowledgement of that work. I didn’t expect it, it was a real surprise and I really appreciated it,” Peter said.
It all started in 2013 when the impetus for the concept of teaching young people about agribusiness came from a farming grandparent in a school survey. This survey also showed more than 50 per cent of St Paul’s parents worked in the agricultural industry.
“It was in that moment we realised we weren’t offering what our students and parents demanded. We did some research and found a gap in the New Zealand curriculum framework.”
“We found that there are thousands of jobs for graduates in agri-science and agri-business and that the agricultural sector was facing a skills shortage but secondary schools weren’t educating students about the opportunities available in this sector.”
A public-private partnerships between St Paul’s, Dairy NZ, Beef+Lamb NZ and 11 other business partners was then established to develop an Agribusiness programme for New Zealand secondary school students.
Over the past three years, St Paul’s and the business partners have worked together to develop achievement standards suited to the sector that target bright, tertiary capable commerce and science students.
Hampton says the end product looks at the “big picture” rather than the onfarm skills taught in the AgHort course currently available.
“Agribusiness students learn about growing value in products, future proofing, agri-innovation and technology, agri-science and sustainability.”
He has now handed the “baton” to the Ministry of Education who are “excited”
by the progress and plan to have the standards available to all secondary schools in 2018.
Hampton is now working on trialling Agribusiness in ten other secondary schools in 2017 and is also focused on developing training resources for teachers.
“We want teachers to be able to pick up our package of resources, do their prep work and teach the programme comfortably in their own school.”
After hearing about the programme’s success at St Paul’s, where more than 80 Year 12 and 13 students now take the subject, 50 schools have indicated interest in the programme and a national agribusiness conference will be hosted by St Paul’s in April 2017.
Universities are benefitting too. Before Agribusiness was offered, only two St Paul’s students went on to study agribusiness at universities compared to the 20 who chose ag-related degrees last year.
“This was really important for us. We want our students to study degrees and enter a sector that will make them highly employable.”
Once the achievement standards are made available to all secondary schools, Hampton says he plans to look at introducing Agribusiness to Years 9 and 10 as a second stage to the project.
KAREN
SIMPSON
PETER HAMPTON RECEIVING HIS SERVICE AWARD FROM MINISTER OF EDUCATION, HON HEKIA PARATA
Paul’s
SNIPPETS
OLD COLLEGIANS’ ASSOCIATION WELCOMES SUZANNE MILLER
There is a new face in the Old Collegians’ office. Suzanne Miller joined the Old Collegians’ Association as the executive officer in July this year. She comes from a background of university administration, pre-school music, public relations and full-time mothering. In her new role at St Paul’s she will enjoy organising events and keeping in contact with Old Collegians. Deborah McRae continues with the Old Collegians part-time alongside Suzanne. They are happy to hear from Old Collegians with news or ideas for future events.
DAVID HOLLINGSWORTH
David Hollingsworth (Chaplain 1995-2000) is enjoying his role as the Bishop’s Chaplain in Nelson. He is supported by his wife Dee and enjoys being a grandfather to his two beautiful grandsons. He is currently receiving 16 weeks of chemotherapy and will then receive a stem-cell transplant in November in Wellington. He says “life is good and there is so much to be thankful for.”
SAM TIPPING
Sam Tipping (Williams 2008-2011) went to Canada in 2012 to work as a camp counsellor. He returned to New Zealand in 2013 and started work at Kamaro Hereford Stud. He is currently finishing a Bachelor of Agri-Science majoring in Agriculture. He has been chairperson of the Massey Young Farmers Club this year. In 2017 he will move to the Hawkes Bay where he will work with the BNZ in an agribusiness banking graduate role.
BRIAN SINCLAIR
Brian Sinclair (Sargood 1983-1985) is currently living in Brisbane working as a Senior Heritage officer for the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Brian researches places for inclusion in the Queensland Heritage Register. He completed a Master’s in History at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, USA, in 1994 and a PhD in political science from the University of Waikato in 1999.
CHRIS SWANSON
Chris Swanson (School 2011-2015) While at St Paul’s Chris was the captain of St Paul’s 1st XI cricket team in the 2014 and 2015 season. He has just completed a successful season playing cricket in the Huddersfield League in England. Chris was the leading player for the club, scoring 872 runs (400 runs more than any other batsman) including two centuries. His fielding was also first-class with twelve catches. His bowling and fielding played a very important part in the success of the side.
JASON TROWER
Jason Trower (Sargood 1985-1989) won Westpac Waikato Business Excellence Leader of the Year Award. He has formed a new technology company, Vo2 employing over fifty people.
GEOFF YOUNG
Geoff Young (Clark 1977-1980) moved his business, BPO Environmental Solutions, to a bigger premise in Frankton Hamilton. His partner, Mary, also opened a picture-framing studio. Between them, they cover environmental monitoring, wastewater treatment and picture framing.
Another change for Geoff is that he is able to step back a little from managing BPO to enjoy more time for family (and fishing) at Kawhia with dorm mates Graham Duncan (Clark 1977-1981) and David Gower (Clark 1977-1981).
He has great plans for next year too – it will be forty years since he and his other Clark House year group met at St Paul’s. These comrades plan to organise a gettogether. If you want more information, please contact oldcollegians@stpauls. school.nz and we will forward your information on to Geoff.
Geoff’s son, Fletcher Young (Clark 20022006) has moved onto the family farm and is now milking his late grandfather’s cows as the contract milker. Fletcher completed a degree in AgCommerce at Massey University in 2014. Geoff says his son is a better sportsman, better looking and more studious than himself. Geoff adds that he can still sing better than Fletcher.
LIAM PHILLIPS
Liam Phillips (School 2005-2010) passed away August 2016. Our condolences are extended to Liam’s family from the St Paul’s community.
SCOTT YOUNG
Scott Young (Hamilton 1974-1978) is retiring from partnership at Young and Associates and has moved to Mawhinney and Co. in Queenstown.
GEOFF YOUNG AND CLARK HOUSE STUDENTS 38 YEARS AGO
CHRIS PLAYING IN YORKSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM
BRIAN ON A SITE VISIT TO FORT BRIBIE, ON BRIBIE ISLAND
DAVID, DEE AND GRANDSONS LATHAN AND BRADLEY AT RUBY BAY IN NELSON
SIMON AND RACHEL TIPPING
Simon and Rachel Tipping set up the Hornsby Trust to continue the work of the late Reg Hornsby (Headmaster 1963 – 1969) and wife Mary who helped rebuild St Andrew’s High School in Tonga. The Trust continues work at the school where Simon and Rachel have volunteered since 2010. The duo have renovated buildings and infrastructure, arranged specialist staff training, raised funds to support students, recruited volunteers and organised containers of donated equipment and building materials from New Zealand each year. They recently received a container of classroom furniture from St Paul’s which has been put to good use.
GARY SCHOFIELD
Gary Schofield (Hall 1970-1974). In October, Gary was named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services as an artist and for New Zealand-United States relations.
Gary continues to paint artwork and recently presented a piece from his Gallipoli 100 collection to the Consul General of Turkey in Washington DC. The Gallipoli Turkey 100 painting is one of only four. Countries represented in this collection are Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Turkey. Each painting underscores the perspective and humanity of the individual soldier and are actual individuals.
BILL HOLDEN
Bill Holden (Hamilton 1968-1972) has had success at the 2016 national landscape awards. Bill’s company, Design and Landscape Ltd, was the winner of ‘Urban Paving Best Construction of the Year Award’ and also won gold for design and horticulture. The project is located near Tairua on the Corommandel Penisula
MIKE HAWKINS
Mike Hawkins (Clark 1984-1985) is running an international company specialising in top end kitchen hardware called Blum. He has four young children and is still active with mountain biking, hunting and other outdoor activities.
MATT JOHL
Matt Johl (Hall 2002-2006) is a field hockey coach at James Madison University (JMU) Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA.
JONATHAN MAYER
Two Old Collegians won major awards at the annual Wallace Corporation University of Waikato Blues Awards. Jonathan Mayer (Fitchett 2011-2015) received the award for his talents in playing the organ while Jonathan Eyers (School 2008-2012) was named ‘Creative and Performing Arts Person of the Year.’
NATALIE SWART
Natalie Swart (Harington 1997-1998) recently returned to New Zealand with her husband Pele and their two children following a stint living in downtown Chicago. She has loved returning to her old stomping ground and giving her kids the opportunity to grow up the Kiwi way.
After 15 years working in politics and public relations, she has now turned her hand to real estate and has joined the team at Bayleys in Hamilton. She is also back involved in the theatre, recently performing in the Roger Hall play Hot Water at Clarence Street Theatre.
ANDREW LOWE
Andrew Lowe (Williams 1967-1970) explained how close he and his fellow Williams House boys are and how they have stayed in touch over these fifty years. He wrote to us and reflected his memories.
“The boys from that year were very much moved by the school haka at Evan McCulloch’s funeral. We were in awe of the feeling outside the chapel that Evan helped build.
We are proud of the guys who have sent their siblings to St Paul’s and to Peter Rogers (Williams 1966-1970) and Robert Walters (Williams 1968-1970) who have both served on the Board of Trustees. We are proud of Lynn Dunn (Williams 1966-1968) who helped carve the chapel altar with Vic Matthews (Teacher 1964-1984).
We always remember the discipline of life at St Paul’s to make us better New Zealand citizens. We have been very impressed with the reconstruction of Williams House and it is pleasing that there is still respect in use of the front door. We all hope the school gets stronger and stronger under current Headmaster Grant Lander.
SIMON WITH A WOODWORK CLASS FOR NON-ACADEMIC BOYS
BILL HOLDEN DESIGN, PUMPKIN HILL, TAIRUA
GARY SCHOFIELD WITH SON STEWART SCHOFIELD (CURRENT ST PAUL’S STUDENT) AT THE INVESTITURE
JONATHAN MAYER AT THE BLUES AWARDS
NATALIE SWART AND FAMILY
NATHAN SPITZER
Nathan Spitzer (School 2001-2003) returned to Tihoi 15 years to the day of his start date. He was at Tihoi (Molly’s House) in the second intake of 2001. On his return this year, he brought wife Amy and three-month-old son, Connor, with him.
Nathan said “It was so good to see the old place and how well it had advanced since I was there. The staff there were so welcoming and helpful talking about the changes since I had left. They let us walk around to look at everything at our own leisure. Now my wife can picture everything that my friends and I always talk about when we get together and reminisce about our great times at Tihoi.”
LEAH BUCKLEY
Leah Buckley (Harington 2010) got engaged to William Hay at Christmas 2014.
TIHOI WELCOMES 1979 ORIGINALS
It was a usual Saturday at Tihoi on 10 September 2016. The current intake of boys were bustling between academic classes when two cars arrived with seven members of Tihoi’s very first intake in 1979.
Tales were shared of days gone by, laughter echoed in the valley as memories were recalled and they marvelled over the “luxury facilities” that Tihoi’s current students now enjoy.
Tihoi director Cyn Smith talked of the programme and many of the original traditions that are still in place –morning surprise, coal range stove cooking, outdoor activities, regular running, confiscation protocols and firm fair rules.
The group joined the current intake of Tihoi students for lunch and shared their stories of the early days, which reinforced the bonds that are formed during the 18-week programme.
Mike Shaw, director of Tihoi from 1978-1982, shared some of his memories of their very first day.
“First morning dawned as a miserable
DUNCAN FURNISS
Duncan Furniss (Sargood 1987-1989), his wife Sarah and children Isla (5) and Finn (3) have moved south to a new farm in Kekerengu, Marlborough.
drizzly cold day and all the parents were to transport their darlings to Tihoi as we had not yet established a bus (or truck) service.”
“It must have been a real shock to most of the parents as they drove down the pumice track to be greeted by a collection of very shabby rundown houses surrounded by blackberry, broom and broken beer bottles.”
“The young tutors showed the boys to their houses and the parents looked about. I noticed a group of mums talking together and they were shaking their heads from side to side – not up and down.”
“They were talking about taking their boys back to Hamilton. I had to beg for a chance and fortunately, the mothers reluctantly left their boys with us. I bet there were very anxious reads of the first letters the boys sent home.”
Old Collegians are welcome to pop into Tihoi at any time. The road is now sealed and though only a few of the original buildings remain many traditions rein on.
RICHARD BRACEFIELD
Richard Bracefield (Sargood 2002-2006) is currently employed as a solicitor for Simpson Grierson in Auckland.
NATHAN SPITZER AT TIHOI IN 2001 AND HIS RETURN THIS YEAR WITH BABY CONNOR.
UNIVERSITY GRADUATES
Congratulations to St Paul’s Old Collegians whose degrees were conferred in the second half of 2016.
Please note that not all universities provide results and we do our best to source as much information as possible.
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
Max Baker
Bachelor of Commerce
Robert Carmichael
Bachelor of Arts
Kristen Cowley
Bachelor of Architecture Studies and Master of Architecture (Professional)
Hayden Fahey
Bachelor of Building Science
Patrice Forgeson
Bachelor of Arts
Charles Galpin
Bachelor of Biomedical Science and Bachelor of Science
Bede Henderson
Bachelor of Commerce
Peter Latham
Master of Applied Finance
Catherine McRae
Bachelor of Commerce (1st Class Hons)
Beth Noble
Bachelor of Building Science
Zachary Oliver
Graduate Diploma in Designed Environments
Reece Patterson
Bachelor of Commerce (2nd Class Hons)
Bon Scott
Bachelor of Design Innovation
MASSEY UNIVERSITY
Suzanne Beuker
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (Distinction)
Matthew Gouge
Master of Resource and Environmental Planning (2nd Class Hons)
Alexander Meban
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Laurence Meban
Bachelor of AgriCommerce in Rural Valuation
Ian Rollerson
Graduate Diploma in Business Studies in Rural Valuation
Matthew Snodgrass
Bachelor of AgriScience in Agriculture
UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY
Andrew Buswell
Bachelor of Forestry Science
Alexander Deane
Bachelor of Engineering (2nd Class Hons)
Jonathon Hodgson
Certificate in University Preparation
Thomas Moser
Master of Engineering Studies
Laura Pilkington
Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Geology (Merit)
Hugh Potter
Master of Audiology (Distinction)
Thomas Swarbrick
Bachelor of Engineering (3rd Class Hons)
UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO
Nick Hopper
Bachelor of Management Studies
Patrick Bentham
Postgraduate Certificate in Management
Scott Tindale
Bachelor of Management Studies
Mark Calderwood
Bachelor of Laws (1st Class Hons)
Mark Calderwood
Bachelor of Management Studies
Robert Torrance
Graduate Diploma in Statistics
Arno Elsing
Bachelor of Laws (1st Class Hons)
Arno Elsing
Bachelor of Management Studies (1st Class Hons)
Simon Humble
Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies
David Tutt
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (2nd Class Hons 2nd Div)
Bex Atkinson
Bachelor of Management Studies (2nd Class Hons 1st Div)
Katrina Clarke
Master of Applied Psychology (Behaviour Analysis) (1st Class Hons)
Dan Ford
Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies
Sam Huang
Bachelor of Science
Chris Wakefield
Bachelor of Science (Technology)
Annie Boshier
Bachelor of Communication Studies
Nina Phillips
Bachelor of Social Sciences
Ryan Sullivan
Bachelor of Communication Studies
Ian Torrance
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (2nd Class Hons 1st Div)
Harrietanne Embling
Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)
Jonathan Eyers
Bachelor of Music
Scott Hilliar
Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies
Drew Reid
Certificate of University Preparation
Yui Yokoyama
Bachelor of Arts
Amy Keppler
Certificate of University Preparation
2005 and 2006 reunions: 1 Pippa Sherratt (Harington 2004-2005), Lewis Winn (School 2001-2005) 2 Mark Dold (School 2001-2005), Andrew Russell (School 2002-2006) and Thomas Nabbs (School and Sargood 2001-2005) 3 Patrick Hunt (Hall 2001-2005), Andrew Steed (Hall 2002-2005), Ben Webby, (friend of St Paul’s), Thomas Scheres, (Williams 2003-2005), Aliesha-Jane Moroney (Harington 2004-2005) and Bradley Mitchell (Hall 2001-2005) 4 William Chung (School 2002-2006), William’s partner, Patrick Bain (Sargood 2003-2005), Chelsea Bain (nee Sandford, Harington 2004-2005), Byron de Beer (School 2002-2006) 5 Mark Gasquoine (Williams 2001-2006), Riona Haripershad (Harington 2005-2006) and Kirsty Clayton-Green (Harington 2005-2006) 6 Jason Grinter (Hall 2001-2005) and Paul Wilson (St Paul’s teacher)
7 Brett (friend of St Paul’s), Simone Haylett-Petty (Harington 2004-2005) and Lewis Winn (School 2001-2005)
8 Katherine Webby (nee Olson, Harington 2004-2005), Defyd Williams (St Paul’s teacher) and Richard Lusty (Clark 2001-2005)
9 Everyone laughing at something that was said by Bradley Mitchell (Hall 2001-2005) or Edward Bird (Hamilton 2001-2004)
10 2005 and 2006 leavers
Wellington Mix n Mingle: 1 Peter Grierson (Clark 2008-2012), Connor Spence (Fitchett 2007-2011), Rory Wagner (Sargood 2012) and Pete Latham (Williams 2000-2001) 2 Ian Hurst (Clark 1970-1972), Chris Blackett (Sargood 1961-1962) 3 Duncan Laing (Williams 1966-1969), Ivan Posa (Williams 1966-1970) 4 Mark Calderwood (Hamilton 2004-2008), Ainsley Robson (Associate Headmaster), Lee Patton (Hall 1996, Fitchett 1997-1999) 5 Rory Wagner (Sargood 2012), Pete Latham (Williams 2000-2001), Pat Plant (staff 1961-1998), Paul Mountfort (Williams 2003-2007), Peter Grierson (Clark 2008-2012)
Christchurch Mix n Mingle: 6 Susan and Michael Lawrence (Headmaster 1980-1991 7 Front - Suzanne Miller (Old Collegians Executive Officer), Debra Rolleston (wife of Humphry Rolleston), Pat Plant (Teacher 1961-1998). Back - Humphry Rolleston (Sargood 1964-1966), John Pope (Clarke 1973-1976), Richard Lascelles (School 1985-1989), Ivan Posa (Williams 1966-1970)
Gary Henley-Smith’s farewell: 8 Benny Castles (Williams 1997-2001), wife Susanne Henley-Smith and current staff Paul Wilson, Gary Henley-Smith and Michael Rameka (Williams 1997-1999) 9 Ryan McCarthy (Sargood 1993-1997) and Thomas Nabbs (School and Sargood 2001-2005) 10 Debbie Strange, Criss Strange (friends of St Paul’s), Cameron French (Hall 2006-2010), Ally French (Harington 2010-2011). Right: Natalie Swart and daughter (Harington 1997-1998), Cher French (friend of St Paul’s) 11 Mike Lane (Hall 1992-1996) remembers the good times with Gary Henley-Smith at Gary’s farewell 12 Grant Lander (Headmaster) presenting Gary Henley-Smith with a St Paul’s Oak as a farewell gift after 23 years of service
FLYING THE FLAG FOR ROWING AND BOXING
While boxing and rowing may seem poles apart, the skills required are surprisingly similar, says Ivan Pavich.
Ivan (School 2005-2009) represented New Zealand as a coxswain for the national rowing eight before turning his hand to boxing.
He holds three national flyweight boxing titles and an Oceania Games silver medal, and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Rio Olympics.
He was also awarded the prestigious Jameson Belt for most scientific elite boxer following his win at the 2015 nationals in Invercargill.
While still at school in 2009, Ivan was selected for the New Zealand under-18 rowing team to compete in the World Championships in France.
He went on to cox for the national rowing eight, competing at the World Championships in Karapiro in 2010 where the team finished 5th in the A final.
The team was disbanded after missing out on qualification for the London Olympics. This was when Ivan turned his attention to boxing, which he had started in his last year of school.
It was either that, or wait around until the under-23 rowing eight entered the men’s category and another eight was
formed. Not one to sit around for long, he forged on with boxing.
“I initially started it for fitness to try and keep my weight down and to keep fit for coxing, and it progressed from there.”
Ivan trains under Rick Ellis, at the Ringside Gym in Frankton, Hamilton.
“The assumption is that boxing is a man’s sport for boof heads, but it is called the sweet science for a reason. There is a mind side too it and there is more than being the roughest, toughest guy in the ring.”
It requires discipline, dedication and technical skill. “It is physical chess,” he says.
The rowing helped Ivan pick up skills for boxing.
“Because the Rowing New Zealand programme is one of the best programmes both nationally and internationally I have seen first-hand what it takes to get to the top level.”
“I picked up a lot. You are a coach within the boat, so I learned a lot about the technical side. “
While it was disappointing to miss out on Rio, Ivan sees it as a stepping stone to greater things.
“I was reasonably happy with my own personal performance as I feel I have improved a lot technically in the last twelve months.”
While retired from rowing, Ivan was asked and agreed to help coach the Hamilton Boys’ High School rowing team for two seasons.
Next year is a big year with the Oceania Championships, qualifying for the World Championships and Ivan is seeking sponsorship to help him get there.
Ivan works as a mechanic at the Newstead Service Centre and is also a qualified personal trainer and licensed boxing coach. He lives in Newstead with his parents Karen and Alan.
Most days Ivan trains at six o’clock both mornings and evenings.
MONICA HOLT
TV STARDOM COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED
New Zealand TV personality Erin Simpson (Harington) says she had a long road of selfdiscovery before finding her love for television and now she is living the dream.
She has two shows in the works with TVNZ including a DIY home makeover show and another which has her jet setting around Asia.
It isn’t a career path that she ever expected.
“I’m from a dairy farm in Te Kauwhata. It’s not at all what I thought I would be doing,” Erin said.
Although it’s far from what she expected, she has always been extremely creative. At St Paul’s, she indulged in all things drama and singing – playing the lead role in Be-Bop-A-Lula alongside Alastair Holmes (Hall) and “star of the show and lifelong best friend” Aimee Leather (Harington).
After St Paul’s, she studied under New Zealand tenor Patrick Power and then at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) in Christchurch.
“I went and did opera and realised it wasn’t for me, or my friends and family. Nobody ever wanted to come and watch. I didn’t even know what
I was singing at the time because it was always in another language,” she explained.
So, she switched her focus to musical theatre.
“People actually came and watched. I loved it and it turned out that I had a bit of a talent there but it didn’t pay well.”
She had to take on some extra work so she took on a part time role on the set of TV 2’s What Now and that’s when she fell in love with television.
“I had found my calling. When my musical theatre contract finished I decided to leave it there and put my energy into TV,” she said.
After her television breakthrough, Erin was cast on Sticky TV for two years and then persuaded the network to give her The Erin Simpson Show
“I was really excited when I found out but at the same time I knew it was going to be hard work. There was a lot of pressure that followed once the show was up and running but it was all part of the adventure.”
“We owned the time slot for the next five years with a total of 770 episodes.”
Having a long running show, she says, was one of her biggest career highlights alongside interviewing celebrities like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Carly Rae Jepsen.
When the show came to an end she then presented shows like Operation Hero, Sky Sport and Kiwi Living
Erin is now also sinking her teeth into other creative outlets. The TV presenter launched the well-known celebrity cookbook Cooking for Change alongside business partners Christian Kasper and artist Dick Frizzell.
The cookbook features much-loved Kiwi recipes from 101 New Zealand celebrities with all profits being donated towards four charities that focus on food and nutrition.
The cookbook has been a huge success, so much so that another two are now in the making. One that features celebrities with their mums and another of recipes from celebrity chefs.
Erin spends her spare time running a retail business which consists of New Zealand made merchandise (phone cases, clocks, fridge magnets etc) that showcases her artwork. Her products are now stocked in more than 88 retailers nationwide.
JESS HOOD (YEAR 12) AND KAREN SIMPSON
$25K RAISED FOR SERVICE PROGRAMME
St Paul’s back field came to life in early September as pony rides, zorbs, food stalls and bouncy castles took over the space usually reserved for cricket games.
The gates were opened to the public to raise money for Over the Fence Ministry, a service programme that requires St Paul’s student to volunteer at local low decile primary schools.
Serena Lim-Strutt, who led the organising committee of Year 13 prefects, says the event aimed to create stronger relationships with the school’s neighbours and build on bonds formed through the Over the Fence Ministry.
“We were happy to see how many people came to enjoy the day, particularly after the hard work that went into planning” Serena said.
The Monster Garage Sale was a notable highlight that attracted a steady stream of bargain hunters to purchase items from the mountain of donated goods.
SWIMMERS TAKE HOME GOLD
Five St Paul’s swimmers competed at the New Zealand secondary schools swimming championships in Wellington in September where they took home two gold, three silver and one bronze as well as a number of top 10 and top 20 placings.
A stand out St Paul’s swimmer was Ben Littlejohn (Year 9) who won six medals and placed in the top four in all ten of his meets.
“This was a truly phenomenal performance by Ben. He has definitely let the New Zealand secondary schools swimming community know who he is,” St Paul’s Head of Swimming Roger Bell said.
Other St Paul’s swimmers Tully Dickson (Year 13), Darius HasanStein (Year 12), Shay Dickson (Year 12) and Brendan Hunt (Year 11) each earned personal bests in multiple events and placed within the top 10 or top 20 in New Zealand.
LACROSSE TEAM WIN WAIKATO TITLE
St Paul’s lacrosse team made a name for themselves in 2016 after securing the Waikato secondary schools Division A title - an even greater achievement considering the team only formed at the start of the year! Up against former premier side, Waikato Diocesan, in the final St Paul’s kept their cool to take out the 8-7 win.
“When we started, only four of the 16 girls had played before so to be title holders is a huge achievement,” said St Paul’s lacrosse manager Alison Basel.
Alison said it was obvious in the early stages of the competition that St Paul’s had some talent adding that they have “attracted a lot of attention and respect” from the lacrosse community.
Hard work and great coaching were a winning combination. The team are looking forward to building on their success in 2017.
1ST XV THREE-YEAR REIGN
St Paul’s 1st XV rugby team are once again Central North Island secondary schools rugby champions, continuing their reign as title holders for the third consecutive year and winning 27 games in a row.
This win added to St Paul’s string of rugby successes in 2016. The 1st XV placed second in Chiefs Cup secondary school tournament while St Paul’s sevens won the Waikato Condors Sevens, qualifying for nationals and head coach Andrew Gibbs won best secondary school rugby coach for 2016 at the Waikato Rugby awards.
Andrew Gibbs said the 1st XV’s success comes down to the boys’ talent and having a strategic approach to the school’s rugby programme.
“We focus on rugby development throughout all of the age groups and from this approach we have been able to develop our 1st XV into one of the best teams in the Waikato.”
He says plans for the team don’t stop at the Waikato. The next goal is making it into the national top four.
St Paul’s would like to thank major sponsors, Splice Construction and Bayleys Real Estate, and jersey sponsors – Central Helicopters, RILWER Properties, Henry Morgan Builders, Farmlands Taumarunui, Taupo Mini Golf, Finch Contracting, Global Metal Solutions, Hamilton Veterinary Services, Stump n Grind, Balmarc Charolais, Kent Fires, Amalgamated Helicopters NZ, Livingstone Building NZ, GJ Gardner Homes, Ebbett Volkswagen, Guild and Spence Technologies.
NATIONAL SQUASH SUCCESS
St Paul’s squash team reaped success at the New Zealand secondary schools championships. The boys’ team placed runners-up and the school also claimed the co-ed trophy for the second year for having the best combined score from the boys’ and girls’ teams.
St Paul’s Squash Manager, Garth Littlejohn, said the team was ecstatic with the results and the players coped well under the scrutinised eyes of spectators.
“There is a lot of pressure to perform well when a lot of our players are New Zealand representatives or nationally seeded number one and two in their age group,” Garth said.
“Our players coped well with this pressure, everyone was watching them but they kept their cool and were able to claim some great results.”
GOLD FOR MUSIC
St Paul’s Orchestra, Big Band and guitar group won two gold medals and a bronze respectively at the Waikato ITM Music Festival on Friday 26 August.
Up against 63 other performance groups including 20 orchestras, 22 jazz bands and 21 guitar/percussion bands, St Paul’s talent shone through starting with the Big Band.
The Big Band received praise for their group dynamics, beautiful vocalisation from Katie Trigg, strong performance by the brass and saxophone players and John Richardson’s riveting guitar solo.
St Paul’s Orchestra received high praise from the adjudicator who commented that their rendition of Adele’s Skyfall – with its energy, rhythmic accuracy and brilliant ensemble – was “good enough to be performed in the 2012 James Bond movie.”
The guitar group took home bronze after entering this competition for the very first time. They were praised for their outstanding performance and evident potential.
OLD COLLEGIANS UPCOMING EVENTS
Mix and Mingles
uckland 9 March Hamilton 12 April Tauranga 3 August
Clark House 50th
Reunion
15 & 16 Sept 2017
Hamilton
Five year reunion 2011 - 2012 leavers 24 March 2017
Ten year reunion 2007 - 2008 leavers 3 November 2017
Please keep track of the dates and details of events on the school’s website closer to the time. For more information email oldcollegians@stpauls.school.nz or phone 07 957 8805
www.stpauls.school.nz
Tihoi Open Day for those who never had the Tihoi experience 1 April 2017
St Paul’s Collegiate School 60th Reunion 8 & 9 March 2019
Save the date
TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED TO TALENTED STUDENTS
More than 25 university scholarship offers have flooded in over the past week for St Paul’s Collegiate School’s 2016 graduates as a result of students’ sheer hard work and the extensive support process currently in place at the school.
Peter Hampton, Deputy Headmaster of St Paul’s, explained that the school starts the application process early – well ahead of Year 13 – to ensure deadlines are met and that students meet the scholarship criteria.
“We start the process early, we are cognisant of deadlines and we have staff in our school who are responsible for supporting our students through the application process,” he said.
“We also have a high calibre of teachers who offer extra tutorials for our students and we offer a scholarship group and other special academic programmes that ensure our students reach their academic potential.”
This year, the school helped more than 70 students submit scholarship applications – more than 50 percent of the Year 13 cohort.
“We invest a lot of our time into helping our students apply for scholarships. We help them by writing testimonials, providing advice on what they need to do to meet criteria and make sure they are applying for scholarships that match their strengths,” Hampton said.
Although the school provides a solid support system for scholarship applications, Hampton says the biggest reason for the large number of scholarship offers is that students have worked hard to meet the scholarship criteria.
“We focus heavily right through from the junior school on encouraging our students to gather experience in the four cornerstones – academic, sport, culture and service and/or leadership – and they take this advice on board because there is a nice ethos here, it’s
cool to be brainy at our school, it’s cool to be involved and try your best.”
“THIS KIND OF WELL-ROUNDED EXPERIENCE IS WHAT MAKES OUR STUDENTS STAND OUT COMPARED TO STUDENTS OF OTHER SCHOOLS WHO ARE EQUALLY ACADEMICALLY CAPABLE BUT PERHAPS WHO DON’T HAVE OTHER DIMENSIONS WITHIN THEIR PORTFOLIO.”
In 2015, 20 of the school’s graduates received tertiary scholarships.
KAREN SIMPSON
2016 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
• Serena Lim-Strutt – Otago University ($45,000), Victoria University ($25,000), University of Auckland ($20,000), University of Waikato ($20,000)
Teri Wathen-Smith – University of Waikato Te Paewai o te Rangi ($25,000)
• Garrick Du Toit – University of Waikato Hillary Scholarship ($25,000)
• Katie Trigg – University of Waikato Hillary Scholarship ($25,000)
• Blair Foster – University of Auckland ($20,000), Victoria University ($5000) Fizzi Whale – University of Auckland ($20,000)
• Jade Henley-Smith – Auckland University of Technology ($20,000)
• McKinley Vollebregt – Otago University Maori and Pacific Scholarship ($10,000)
• Pianika Taylor – Otago University Maori and Pacific Scholarship ($10,000)
• Sam Porritt – Lincoln University Sports Scholarship
• Connor Collins – Lincoln University Sports Scholarship
• Alastair Blackett – Otago University ($6000)
• Nick Hansen – Canterbury University ($5000)
• Lauren Ring – University of Canterbury Emerging Leaders Scholarship ($6000), Otago University Leaders of Tomorrow ($6000)
• Ben McColgan – Massey University Future Leaders ($5000)
• Connor Gordon – Otago University Future Leaders ($6000)
• Tom Yarrall – Otago University Future Leaders ($6000) and University of Auckland Business and Economics ($3000)
Jimmy Christey – Otago University Leaders of Tomorrow ($6000)
• Ben Negus – Victoria University ($5000).
FORMER LEAGUE PLAYER COACHING RUGBY IN USA
When one door closes, another door opens. Old Collegian and rugby league superstar Lance Hohaia (Hamilton 1997-2001) can testify to the idiom coined by Alexander Graham Bell.
The door to his league career closed prematurely, and not ideally, when he was forced to retire due to complications from concussion.
However, Lance is opening multiple doors as he ventures out of playing rugby league and into coaching rugby union in the United States.
When he and his family moved to Michigan eighteen months ago, he knew he wanted to be involved with rugby in some way but didn’t know much about the USA rugby-landscape.
He did some research and approached the coach for the Grand Valley State University rugby team and asked if he could “pop in” to a training session. These ‘pop-ins’ became more frequent and he has now taken up the role of assistant coach.
The team are excited to have him onboard, knowing that his expertise will give them some fresh exposure and assist in its growth.
Lance hasn’t played rugby union since he played for St Paul’s 1st XV, but with his years of experience in running a league back-line he will have a huge impact on one of the USA’s fasting growing sports.
In 2016, USA had its inaugural professional rugby season with five teams in the competition.
Lance believes the sport is becoming popular due to the exposure of USA team, the Eagles, at the 2015 World Cup and the coverage of the sevens team at the Olympics.
After retiring from his dream job at 33, Lance says it was initially difficult to watch and not be on the field as part of the team. He had to reinvent himself.
He says coaching “fills a gap” and that he loves having the opportunity to be a mentor for the players. This attitude and positive head-space hasn’t come easily.
Over the past few years “there have been challenging days and weeks” but with great family support and good decision making “life is pretty good, life is on the up”.
“I made the decision that was best for me and my family. I’m trying to look forward to the next chapter of my life and I consider myself one of the lucky ones.”
He has great family support and enjoys life in the USA with his wife, Marissa, and sons, Tyler (4) and Riley (2). And, it’s no surprise that both boys already know how to tackle well.
He is also enjoying some of America’s great traditions like Sunday and Monday night NFL and has made it to watch a few NBA games.
In addition to the coaching role, other doors are opening for Lance with a career in real-estate.
Lance’s playing career included 300 toplevel games including 185 games wearing the Warrior’s jersey and 28 tests for the Kiwis. His career as a professional league player began in 2002.
SUZANNE MILLER
THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
As a school, in recent years we have actively sought to grow the links and develop partnerships within the community. The longest standing example of this has been the Year 13 Construction class.
Over the past six years, a group of Year 13 students and builders have constructed a student house (Frank’s House) and teaching classroom for Tihoi; two four bedroom and two one bedroom houses for residential staff for our Hamilton campus and our most ambitious project in 2016, being a block with three mathematics classrooms which included a teacher resource area, toilets and office/storage areas for both cleaning and IT staff. None of these projects would have been possible without the generous support of builders who have travelled from as far away as Rotorua and who have worked in a mentor capacity with our boys on a regular basis – many of whom have been Old Collegians, current and past parents, or local builders such as Livingstone Builders or those involved in the building industry ie Thomson’s ITM. We are grateful to these individuals and organisations who are interested in developing capable, highly-skilled young men who might be interested in plumbing, electrical or the construction trades.
This is one of many mutually beneficial and highly successful partnerships that we have fostered. Some involve the specific provision of services in return for a financial rebate. Through Paul Forward, a current parent, we have centred as much of our school travel through Orbit Travel, a division of Calder and Lawson. They in turn provide us with a percentage rebate which is used for staff professional development opportunities and to help subsidise the travel of students who might not be able to afford to take part in travel for a sporting or cultural opportunity. Other partnerships involve exposure by association with a quality educational brand. Through the Rugby Supporters Club, we have secured financial support from reputable business firms such as Bayleys, Splice Construction
and Downey Construction who through their sponsorship have helped resource top quality coaching experiences for our rugby players. While our recent twilight Gala would not have been the outstanding success it was without the enthusiastic support of sponsors such as New World Rototuna and New World Te Rapa. For some, no recognition is necessary. The Te Amorangi Group is a collection of philanthropic individuals who are keen on making a difference to the lives of young people, many of whom come from a disadvantaged background. This group looks to sponsor up to 25 teenagers (ie five at every year level), who might never have had the financial resources to experience the educational opportunities on offer at St Paul’s. These business people anonymously each donate up to $10,000 per annum to cover the tuition costs of the girls and boys who make up the Te Amorangi Group.
One of the highest profile partnerships, has enabled the construction of the Gallagher Agribusiness Centre of Excellence and the development and resourcing of a new national Agribusiness curriculum at NCEA Level Two and Three for New Zealand’s schools. This has been our most ambitious partnership programme with our principal partners, DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb NZ and 11 business partners (Greenlea, BNZ, Gallagher, Zoetis, New Zealand National Fieldays Society, AGMARDT, Waikato Milking Systems, Waitomo Petroleum, AGrowQuip, Campbell Tyson and Tetra Pak) working extremely closely together to lobby the industry and government to agree to a new subject for students; development of a curriculum and assessments for the various achievement standards; the selection of and liaision with ten lead schools;
the coordination and hosting of a national conference for 300 delegates from schools and agricultural businesses nationwide; the training and professional development of teachers for the new subject and the rollout of the new Agribusiness subject in 2018.
Partnership needs to be mutually beneficial. As a school, we are conscious of the importance of closely working alongside community and profiling the role of our partnerships at every appropriate opportunity. All of our partners have bought into the vision we are trying to achieve at St Paul’s and with our young people. We are hugely appreciative of the generosity and goodwill extended to us by so many businesses and individuals. Their outstanding contributions enable possibilities for our students to be converted into realities at St Paul’s.
BUILDING A FIRST-CLASS CAMPUS
We are about to embark on some major construction projects at the school over the next three to four years. Enclosed with this edition of Network is some information about the exciting plans to upgrade, extend and build to help the school pursue its goal of creating a world leading set of opportunities for our students.
In the past two years, we have completed two major construction projects - building the new Gallagher Agribusiness Centre of Excellence and earthquake strengthening, modernising and expanding Williams Boarding House.
This next stage of development will focus on ‘future proofing’ St Paul’s for years to come through creating a larger music complex, expanding and modernising Clark House in time for its 50th anniversary celebration, and constructing two new facilities - a drama and performance complex next to the Chapel and a new learning hub to replace the old school library.
In our first stage of development we raised an impressive $2m
Our goals for this next stage of development are a little less ambitious but no less crucial in enabling us to get the green light to proceed.
The first of the four projects will start in 2017 and the last in 2019. Over that time we are asking for your help to raise $1.89m to complete these projects.
For more information go to www.stpaulsfoundation.school.nz
GIFTING TO ST PAUL’S FOUNDATION
A donation made to St Paul’s Foundation is tax deductible. Below are examples of how tax effective giving over a period of 3 years can be managed, making full use of the 33.3% tax credit.
St Paul’s encourages all donors and supporters to seek independent professional advice on all matters relating to charitable taxation.
We would love our pre-1979 Old Collegians to experience a day at Tihoi. Contact oldcollegians@stpauls.school.nz for more info.
SEPTEMBER
APRIL
SUNDAY 2
TIHOI OPEN DAY 8 am
A bus will leave St Paul’s in Hamilton at 8.15am to Tihoi and return to Hamilton by 3pm. This day is for prospective families.
FRIDAY 15 AND SATURDAY 16
CLARK HOUSE 50 YEAR REUNION
Contact oldcollegians@stpauls.school.nz for more info.
DECEMBER
FRIDAY 2
TERM 4 ENDS
JANUARY
TUESDAY 24-28
TIHOI GIRLS CAMP
FEBRUARY
WEDNESDAY 1
TERM 1 STARTS
MARCH
SATURDAY 18 OPEN DAY 2 pm
B+LNZ supports a range of programmes to attract New Zealand’s brightest young people into the sheep and beef industry and develop new and existing capability to ensure a prosperous future for the red meat sector.
B+LNZ is a proud principal partner of the St Paul’s Collegiate School Centre of Excellence for Agricultural Science and Business programme
Our strategic priorities:
Investing in R&D that meets the needs of farmers and the sector
Delivering knowledge that drives farm performance
Developing farm and farmer capability
Attract and retain talent for the sector
0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352) | beeflambnz.com
Building our sector’s confidence and profile within communities
