Wesley College, Auckland
Encyclopedia
Wesley College is a secondary school in Pukekohe
, New Zealand
. The school provides education from year 9 to 13.
The school was founded by members of the Methodist Church in 1844, making it one of the country's oldest schools. Initially located in Grafton
and then the Three Kings area of Auckland
, it closed briefly in 1869 before reopening in 1876 in Three Kings again. From the beginning there was an emphasis on educating Maori boys, and also played a prominent role in educating students from countries of the South Pacific. In 1924 the school was moved to its current location of Paerata, near Pukekohe
. In 1985 it was one of the first boys schools in New Zealand
to admit girls at the senior level.
Wesley also has a proud rugby tradition having been the most successful 1st XV in NZ with 5 national titles (1991, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2004). The 2001 1st XV featured All Blacks Sitiveni Sivivatu
and Stephen Donald
, Kiwi League rep Tame Tupou
as well as Manu Samoan rep Sailosi Tagicakabau. This team went through the season unbeaten and scored the most points ever in a NZ 1st XV Final with a 53-32 win over Rotorua Boys' High School
at Albany.
Pukekohe
Pukekohe is a town in the Auckland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the southern edge of the Auckland Region, it is approximately 50 kilometres south of Auckland City, between the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour and the mouth of the Waikato River. The hills of Pukekohe...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The school provides education from year 9 to 13.
The school was founded by members of the Methodist Church in 1844, making it one of the country's oldest schools. Initially located in Grafton
Grafton, New Zealand
Grafton is a suburb of Auckland City, New Zealand. The suburb is named for the Duke of Grafton, a patron of the first Governor of New Zealand, William Hobson, and was once known as 'Grafton Heights', denoting it's history as a well-off suburb in Auckland's earliest decades...
and then the Three Kings area of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, it closed briefly in 1869 before reopening in 1876 in Three Kings again. From the beginning there was an emphasis on educating Maori boys, and also played a prominent role in educating students from countries of the South Pacific. In 1924 the school was moved to its current location of Paerata, near Pukekohe
Pukekohe
Pukekohe is a town in the Auckland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the southern edge of the Auckland Region, it is approximately 50 kilometres south of Auckland City, between the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour and the mouth of the Waikato River. The hills of Pukekohe...
. In 1985 it was one of the first boys schools in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
to admit girls at the senior level.
Wesley also has a proud rugby tradition having been the most successful 1st XV in NZ with 5 national titles (1991, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2004). The 2001 1st XV featured All Blacks Sitiveni Sivivatu
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Sitiveni Waica Sivivatu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing on the position of a wing. He was largely successful in the 2005 Super 12 season playing for the Chiefs, and acquired a starting position in the All Blacks. He has scored 29 tries in 45 tests...
and Stephen Donald
Stephen Donald
Stephen Donald is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays at First five-eighth or Second five-eighth. Despite an international career that had not lived up to expectations, Donald, aka 'The Beaver', kicked the winning penalty in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 for New Zealand...
, Kiwi League rep Tame Tupou
Tame Tupou
Siokatame Gary Tupou also known as Tame Tupou and Gary Tupou is a former rugby league player who represented the New Zealand national side...
as well as Manu Samoan rep Sailosi Tagicakabau. This team went through the season unbeaten and scored the most points ever in a NZ 1st XV Final with a 53-32 win over Rotorua Boys' High School
Rotorua Boys' High School
Rotorua Boys' High School is a state school educating boys from Year 9 to Year 13. It is situated just outside of the Rotorua CBD at the intersection of Old Taupo Road and Pukuatua Street in Rotorua, New Zealand....
at Albany.
Principals
The following have been principals of the school:- Rev. J H Simmonds 1895–1923
- R. C. Clark, MA (Melb), Dip Ed 1924–1944
- Rev. E. M. Marshall, BA, Dip Ed 1944–1964
- C. A. Neate, MA, Dip Tchg 1965–1967
- E. Te R. Tauroa, B AgricSc, Dip Ed, Dip Tchg 1968–1973 Believed to be the first Māori principal of a secondary school, later Race Relations Conciliator.
- J. B. McDougall, E.D., B Agric Sc, Dip Tchg 1974–1988
- G. V. Cowley, MSc(Hons), Dip Tchg, JP 1989–2002
- I. F. Faulkner, JP, MA(Hons), Dip Tchg 2003–
The Arts
- Temuera MorrisonTemuera MorrisonTemuera Derek Morrison is a New Zealand-born actor. He has become one of the country's most famous stars for his roles as the abusive Jake "the Muss" Heke in 1994's Once Were Warriors and as bounty hunter Jango Fett and the Clone Troopers in the Star Wars series...
- actor (the school's head prefect, 1977) - Ian MuneIan MuneIan Barry Mune, OBE is a New Zealand character actor and director. He co-wrote and starred in Roger Donaldson's first film, Sleeping Dogs. He also directed Came a Hot Friday, which featured comedian Billy T. James as the Tainui Kid, and What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, the sequel to Once Were...
- actor and film director - Richard Taylor - Academy Award Winner (Lord of the Rings Trilogy)
- Arnold Manaaki Wilson - artist and sculptor, father of Contemporary Maori Art, first Maori to gain a Diploma in Fine Arts.
Public service
- Koro DewesKoro DewesTe Kapunga Matemoana "Koro" Dewes was a kaumatua of the Ngāti Porou iwi of New Zealand. He was a pioneer of Māori education and an advocate for the Māori language....
- Ngāti Porou kaumatua and Māori language advocate - Jim Peters - politician
- Sir Peter KeniloreaPeter KeniloreaSir Peter Kenilorea KBE is a Solomon Islands politician, officially styled The Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Kenilorea as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom....
- First Prime Minister and Current Speaker of Solomon Islands - Roger McClayRoger McClayRoger Neville McClay, QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He attended secondary school at Wesley College, Auckland.-Member of Parliament:...
- politician and Children's Commissioner - Todd McClayTodd McClayTodd Michael McClay is a New Zealand politician and former ambassador. He was formerly an ambassador for the Cook Islands and Niue to the European Union, and is presently the representative for Rotorua in the 49th New Zealand Parliament.- Early life :Todd McClay was born in Rotorua on 22 November...
- Member of Parliament for Rotorua, former Cook IslandsCook IslandsThe Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
diplomat (Ambassador to European Union) - Rob StoreyRob StoreyWilliam Robson "Rob" Storey, QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1996, representing the National Party. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1984 elections as MP for Waikato, and retained that seat until his departure from Parliament at the 1996 elections...
- politician - Malietoa Tanumafili II - former Head of State of SamoaSamoaSamoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
- George Tupou II - King of Tonga
- Baron Vaea - former Prime Minister of TongaPrime Minister of TongaThis is a list of Prime Ministers of Tonga from the establishment of that office in 1876 until the present day.-List of Premiers/Prime Ministers of Tonga :-External links:*...
. Vaea attended between 1938 and 1941.
Sport
- Stephen DonaldStephen DonaldStephen Donald is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays at First five-eighth or Second five-eighth. Despite an international career that had not lived up to expectations, Donald, aka 'The Beaver', kicked the winning penalty in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 for New Zealand...
- All Black - Rhys Duggan - All Black
- Glen FisiiahiGlen FisiiahiGlen Fisiiahi is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays professionally for the New Zealand Warriors.-Early years:Fisiiahi is from a well known league family that includes the twin brothers Paul and David Fisiiahi...
- New Zealand WarriorsNew Zealand WarriorsThe New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
player - Frank Halai - NZ Sevens
- Sekope KepuSekope KepuSekope Kepu is a young Australian prop forward for the NSW Waratahs rugby union club in the Super 14 competition. He made his debut during the 2008 season....
- Wallaby - Casey LaulalaCasey LaulalaCasey Laulala is a New Zealand rugby union player.He attended Woodhouse Grove School in the sixth form on a scholarship.-Career:...
- All Black (1st XV captain and Head Prefect, 2000) - Jonah LomuJonah LomuJonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...
- All Black (1st XV captain, 1993) - Seilala MapusuaSeilala MapusuaSeilala Mapusua is a Samoan rugby player currently playing with the Kubota Spears of the Japanese Top League...
- Manu SamoaSamoaSamoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in... - Siale PiutauSiale PiutauSiale Piutau is a rugby union centre who represents Counties Manukau in the ITM Cup and the Highlanders in the Super 15 competition.-Provincial Rugby:...
- Highlanders, Ikale Tahi - David Raikuna - Blues, NZ Sevens
- Doug Rollerson - All Black
- Sitiveni SivivatuSitiveni SivivatuSitiveni Waica Sivivatu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing on the position of a wing. He was largely successful in the 2005 Super 12 season playing for the Chiefs, and acquired a starting position in the All Blacks. He has scored 29 tries in 45 tests...
- All Black - Sailosi TagicakibauSailosi TagicakibauSailosi Tagicakibau is a rugby union footballer who plays at Wing for London Irish.-Early years:Prior to competing in professional rugby, he attended Papakura High and Wesley College....
- Manu SamoaSamoaSamoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in... - Fetuli TalanoaFetuli TalanoaFetuli Talanoa is a New Zealand-born Tongan rugby league player who currently plays his club football for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Australian National Rugby League competition...
- TongaTongaTonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
Rugby League International/South Sydney RabbitohsSouth Sydney RabbitohsThe South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital... - Hale Tu'uhoko Pole - Southland, Highlanders and Tongan International Rugby Player
- Tame TupouTame TupouSiokatame Gary Tupou also known as Tame Tupou and Gary Tupou is a former rugby league player who represented the New Zealand national side...
- Kiwis/Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
/Bradford BullsBradford BullsBradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
(Deputy Head Prefect, 2001) - Waisake Sotutu - Fiji Rugby, Auckland Blues 1991-96
- Edwin Talakai - Tonga Rugby (IkaleTahi) 1995
- Sonny Bill WilliamsSonny Bill WilliamsSonny William 'Sonny Bill' Williams is a New Zealand rugby union player and former rugby league player. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league. In rugby union he usually plays as a centre...
- All Black, Heavyweight Boxer