Currently: 
Living in Karaka

Family details: 
Married with 3 children (2 were born in Wesley College staff houses when I was a staff member at WTC)

For work, I'm currently: 
Tumuaki / Principal at Tangaroa College

1.   Favourite memory of Wesley College: 
There were many wonderful memories as a student at Wesley College. My first memory is entering junior dorm on day one in my brand new number one uniform and going over to your bunk and locker area to unpack, on the mattress was your house counterpane blanket…I was in Winstone House. Other memories are the awesome friendships made between the boys and girls, meeting students from other parts of the pacific, code names, swimming pool, sporting events, 1XV chants, choral competition, Saturday morning singing in the hall before our rugby games, Sunday chapel service, The Chapel as a building was magnificent inside, movie night on a Saturday in the hall, cross country, running to the pines, playing table tennis and pool in the dorms, school / house / dorm parades, toast duty in the kitchen, school socials, matron, ‘The Boss’ Mr McDougall and the wonderful teachers I meet.  

2.    What's the path from Wesley College to where you are now? 
I was very grateful to have some awesome teachers as a student guide me and take their time to help me learn. I was not the smartest, but I had the ability to succeed if given support and time. I failed school certificate at my first attempt; in hindsight it was the best thing that happened to me. In failure it gave me the strength to refocus my attention in my second year at fifth form (Year 11). I was able to find a better balance between enjoying life at school, sports, and academic learning. I passed University Entrance in my final year as a student in 1988. When I finished at Wesley College I went to Massey University in 1989 to 1991 in Palmerston North to study for a BA in Social Sciences. After I graduated, I went to Teachers Training College in Auckland in 1992 to complete my Diploma in Teaching. My time as a student at Wesley College planted a seed in me to help others, I enjoyed guiding other students with their learning, so teaching seemed to be a natural pathway to take. In 1993 I was very fortunate to become a staff member at Wesley College teaching Geography, History and Social Sciences. I finished up at Wesley College in 2022 as Deputy principal. During that time, I completed my master’s in educational leadership. This then led me to become tumuaki / principal at Tangaroa College in 2023.

3.   What's something you're working on or enjoying right now? 
I really enjoy working in a school environment encouraging young people to reach their full potential. The young people of today are no different from myself when I was a student or from those I went to Wesley College with. We all had dreams and aspirations and just needed someone to believe in us and more importantly for us to believe in ourselves. I am very fortunate to be leading a school that is very similar to what I experienced at Welsey College.  

4.   If a current student asked you for advice about their next step, what would you tell them? 
Be proud that you went to Wesley College, be proud of who you are and be the best person you can be at Wesley and when you become a past student. Whatever you want to be in life is possible but know it comes about from self-belief and bouncing back from failure, we all trip up along the way. Make sure you surround yourself with good friends and people who will be there for you regardless. I always remember our school motto of Fide, Litters, Labore as a source of motivation.

5.   What is important to you now compared to when you left Wesley? 
What is important to me now is family. To be the best husband, dad, brother, uncle, son, and friend. When you become older you start to reflect and appreciate the many awesome people at school who were your friends, fellow students or school staff that helped you along the way. I am also very grateful to my parents who believed in giving myself and my brother Jason (1984-1988) the opportunity to attend Wesley College despite the cost it would have been on them...if it was not for them, I would not be the person I am today.  

“Once a Wesleyan, always a Wesleyan”