Friday 1st November 2024

It was wonderful to celebrate our senior prizegiving with our community on Wednesday night at the M.K Dunning Hall. Thank you to our community for all your support. See below the Rectors address.

Prizegiving Address 2024.
I am dedicating my address this evening to the memory
of Peter Douglas. Peter was awarded the Blundell
medal in 1996 and passed away in 2013. I know his
father Rob is here tonight. Thank you, Rob for sharing
Peter’s incredible story with me and I shared it with the
boys at an assembly earlier today. Please enjoy our
prizegiving.
Firstly, can I thank Sarah and Girls High for the use of
the MK Dunning Hall this evening. It feels very unusual,
not be in our beloved Hall of Memories and we look
forward to being back their hopefully this time next
year.
Most importantly, regardless of the venue the most
important aspect of tonight is that we farewell our
leavers with the respect they have earned and deserve
after up to 5 years at our school.
To be honest I am suffering a little from imposter
syndrome this evening having been away from school
on sabbatical in Term 3 and then only recently
returned from an international marketing trip in
Vietnam. I apologise to the Year 13 boys that I have
missed a large part of your final year. I hope you can
appreciate this decision was not taken lightly and the
memories you have created since you came to school
in 2020 still shine brightly with me. I would like to

thank the Board for their support of my sabbatical and
also thank Stephen Briscoe who did a fine job in my
absence as the Acting Rector.
Being away was not only an opportunity to recharge
the batteries but also a time for reflection. It is often
easier to look reflect on what you are doing when you
can look at it from the outside rather than when you
are in the middle of it.
I would start by saying we should be incredibly proud
of our school and all who are involved in it, along with
it’s facilities and grounds. Having been to many schools
both in England and NZ during Term 3 I can honestly
say we have some of the best staff going around and
also a large number of amazing pupils as you can see
here tonight. To be able to receive a high quality
education in such a high quality setting (mostly for free
I might add).should never be underestimated. This is
not the case in many places around the world.
The focus of my sabbatical study was on how to build
resilience in our young men.
My thinking around this has been crystalised by
three quotes that have come to light from my
reading and research.

Firstly from the well known NZ neuroscientist Kathryn
Birkett who said “Children need to be exposed to
multiple moments of tolerable stress to build
resilience”.
Secondly from Tim O’Connor the Headmaster of
Auckland Grammar School who said “We need to be
teaching students how to be less fragile …… , you need
to be present, you need to be doing these things, these
things are non-negotiable, you just need to be at the
right place, at the right time”.
And finally from Sam Cane (ex ‘All Blacks’ captain) who
said “When there are times that challenge you, its
about how you frame it up in your mind; you can get
down and feel sorry for yourself or you can look for
some positives, put a plan in place and start chipping
away at getting back to where you want to be or what
you want to do”.
With these thoughts in mind, as a school, I believe we
need to be doing the following to build resilience:
Firstly. provide opportunities for the boys to be
exposed to moments of tolerable stress that can be
managed and provide the appropriate support where

or when required, -these stressful moments might be
on the sports field or on the stage, in the exam room or
the classroom. We need to nuture a love for
competition.
Secondly, encourage families / whanau to “let go” at
times and allow the boys to grow a sense of
independence so they build the confidence to make
decisions for themselves.
Thirdly, always have high expectations and consistent
consequences around “doing the right thing” and being
in the right place at the right time”.
And finally provide an environment where the boys are
prepared to “fail in order to succeed”. That is an
environment where the boys can be themselves and
know there are always people who can support them
and help with “their plan”.
Speaking of resilience – this is a tribute to the 36 Year
13’s who we recognise tonight. From the 85 boys who
came to school as Year 9 in 2020, through the covid
interruptions of 2020 -2022, the Union strike action of
2023 and this year for the first time in our history being
without the Hall of Memories for this occasion – you
have made it.
Now that is resilience

At the end of the school year, we farewell some
outstanding staff members who we will all miss dearly
and will obviously farewell as a staff in an appropriate
manner later in the year.
Firstly Brett Mouton
Brett has been with us for just this year but he has
made a lasting impression. From the very first day
when he got off the plane and arrived in the staffroom
to his outstanding Social Studies and History teaching,
his involvement as Tic Hockey Brett has been a valued
staff member. He leaves for Wellington to be closer to
his children and take up a post at Hutt International
College. We wish him all the very best.
Secondly Sue Johnston
As part of the Waitaki Kahui Ako Sue has worked for
both us and Girls High as our Learning Support co-
ordinator for the past 5 Years. Her impact has been
incredible and the resources she has shared with staff
are world renowned, well certainly by the Ministry!
unbelievable.
The number of boys she has helped with literacy
support would be easily in the hundreds. With more

and more learners coming to us with neurodiversity
Sue’s role has been an absolute godsend. The energy
and professionalism she has brought to this role have
been second to none. Sue, you will be sorely missed
but I know you won’t be able to stay away and we look
forward to you visiting us at anytime. I will only
whisper ‘relief teaching’.

I would like to conclude by saying some thank yous.
Firstly, to the Board of Trustees, you have again been
fantastic to work with this year and in particular the
presiding member, Paul Edmondston.
To my amazing staff – both teaching and non-teaching,
thank you for all your support. For continuing to go
above and beyond in so many ways to provide amazing
opportunities for our boys.
To all those community groups that continue to
support the school, the Old Boys’, the Foundation, the
Community Association, the Fraser Farm – we are all
the benefactors of your great support.
And finally, and most importantly to the boys. You are
what we are all about
you are the strength and the future of our school. Your
achievements continue to amaze.
As it says in our school oath with which we start every
week
We are a brotherhood, proud of our school.
“He teina whakahihi matou ki to matou kura”
Ki te rere, ki te rere, ki te rere – strong, strong, strong
to endure.
Floreat Waitakia.

Back to news