Tibbs House Staff and Contact Details
Director of Boarding Frank Haszard ’93
Phone: 09 623 5432
Email: f.haszard@ags.school.nz
An Old Boy of Auckland Grammar (class of 1993), Frank has taught Economics at both NCEA and Cambridge level at Grammar since 2009. He took up the role of Director of Boarding in 2021.
He was the Form 7 Dean for six years and was an Associate Housemaster of Tibbs House from 2012 to 2016.
Mr Haszard has been involved with both Cricket and Football and is joined at the hostel by his wife Eloise and children Zac and Isabelle.
Deputy Director of Boarding Matt Cuming
Email: m.cuming@ags.school.nz
Matt began his teaching career at Rotorua Boys’ High School where he was House Master at Tai Mitchell House. He then taught in London at King’s College in Wimbledon, before starting at Auckland Grammar School in 2018. He is the Form 3 Dean and a subject specialist in Biology.
In an extracurricular sense, Matt coaches Rugby and Touch Rugby, and he is joined at the Hostel by his wife Rose and sons Freddie and Monty.
Form 3 Boarding Master Charles Laing
Email: c.laing@ags.school.nz
Charles has taught at Grammar since 2008, following eight years at Avondale College and a further two years overseas.
He is currently the Head of English and during his time at Grammar, he has managed the Premier Basketball team, he has coached Cricket and is currently Master in Charge of Weightlifting.
Charles is joined at the hostel by his wife Takako and son Kazuo.
Form 4 Boarding Master Tom Kensington
Email: t.kensington@ags.school.nz
Tom began his teaching career at Auckland Grammar School in 2017. He was an Assistant Housemaster at Tibbs House for two years before spending two years teaching in the UK.
Tom is an English and Media Studies, as well as the Form 5 Dean. Tom has coached Cricket, Golf and Volleyball and is the Assistant Coach of the 1st XI Hockey team.
Tom is is joined at the Hostel by his fiancé, Jamie.
Form 5 Boarding Master Simon Lassche
Email: s.lassche@ags.school.nz
Simon has taught at Auckland Grammar School since 1987 and has been a Master at Tibbs House since 1991.
He teaches both Science and Chemistry to senior levels and is also a keen sportsman and very successful coach of Squash.
Simon is also a member of the Auckland Grammar School Tramping Club.
Form 6 Boarding Master Campbell Lowe
Email: c.lowe@ags.school.nz
Campbell has taught at Auckland Grammar School since 2015, after working at Burnside High School in Christchurch.
Having recently stepped down from the role of Master in Charge of Rowing, his specialist subjects are Physical Education and Geography.
Campbell is also the Form 6 Associate Dean, and he is joined at Tibbs House by his wife Anna and daughter Ziggy.
Form 7 Boarding Master Tom Overbury
Email: t.overbury@ags.school.nz
Tom began his teaching career in London before moving to New Zealand in 2017. He was Head of Physical Education at both ACG Parnell College and Kelston Boys’ High School, before moving to Auckland Grammar School in 2021.
Tom is the Form 4 Dean and teaches Physical Education. He is also the Master in Charge of Rugby.
Tom is joined at the hostel by his wife Sarah and his daughter Ada.
Assistant Boarding Master Daniel Reddish
Phone: 09 623 5412
Email: d.reddish@ags.school.nz
Daniel has been at Auckland Grammar School since 2014 working in the School’s Development Office as the Director of Advancement.
Previously he worked as as a fundraiser at the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society.
He has spent the last year living at the InZone Hostel as a Tutor and coaches the School’s Under 15A Rugby team.
Matrons: there are three Matrons employed by Tibbs House, working in shifts, to ensure there is 24/7 care for the boarders on-site at the Hostel. Phone: 09 623 5440 / 021 191 6631 (for emergency only)
Sonia Bailey
Sonia is a retired teacher after 25 years.
In addition, she is an expert in the field of working with children who suffer with various disabilities.
Sonia is a strong believer in creative expression and takes to DIY home décor projects in her down time.
Debbie Kennedy
Debbie started working at Tibbs House in 2018.
She has previous experience in the field of education and, in particular, working with people with disabilities.
Debbie is married with three children and she enjoys spending time with her family, attending her local church and attending Zumba classes.
Ann Oliver
Ann has been one of the matrons at Tibbs House since 2015.
She has a background in caring for groups of children and in education administration.
Ann is married with an adult son and daughter and enjoys Pilates, live theatre and travelling.
Guidance Counselling: Tibbs House has a dedicated Guidance Counsellor through the Student Services team. During the School day, he is based in the Student Services Department and is available to all boarders on appointment.
Justin has been a teacher for 25 years and also an extensive experience as a Dean for 18 years. He was the Deputy Head of Hostel at Palmerston North Boys High and Head of Boarding at the International Pacific University.
Justin has extensive experience working with students. He has taught around the world and has played professional rugby in the UK, Ireland, and Japan. He is one of the Assistant Coaches for the 1st XV team , and currently studying towards a Masters in Counselling.
Tutors: Tibbs House employs Tutors to assist in the running of key areas of Hostel life. Their main areas of responsibilities are tutoring and helping to organise recreational activities.
Oliver Draper-Griffiths ’15
Oliver attended Auckland Grammar School as a Tibbs House boarder from 2015 to He spent the beginning of 2020 at Reading School, as a Gap Tutor, before returning to New Zealand to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Auckland. He also works as a Teacher Aide at the School.
Lochlan Matheson ’16
Lochlan attended Auckland Grammar School as a Tibbs House boarder from 2016 to 2020. He spent his two years studying Biochemistry before coming back to Auckland to study Audio Engineering and play music professionally. He has a keen interest in Basketball, Outdoor Education, Rugby and Snowboarding.
Duty Master’s Office (for the Duty Master)
Phone: 09 623 6437 (if your son will not be returning because of illness or injury after an exeat or you cannot contact the Matron, please contact your son’s Housemaster, or the Director of Boarding).
Important phone lines
Boarder (Main foyer): 09 623 5442
Chef/Kitchen: 09 623 5531
Note: please do not call on weekdays between 7pm and 8:45pm, as students are in Prep, as well as after 9:30pm.
School Finance Office – Svetlana Loukine
Phone: 09 623 5425 for matters relating to fees, please contact the School’s Finance Office
Postal address: Accounts Office, Auckland Grammar School, Private Bag 99930, Newmarket, Auckland 1149
Parents’ Support Committee
The Tibbs House Parents’ Support Group (hereafter THPSG) is a support network for all Tibbs House parents. The group holds a meeting at the end of each holiday when students return to Tibbs House. Open to all parents, these meetings are relaxed and informative and act as a forum for discussions on all matters relating to Tibbs House.
One of the main functions of the THPSG is to provide an extra source of funding for social and/or recreational purchases that benefit all boarders. To this end, a donation of $75 per year per family is collected to be used throughout the year as the group see fit.
The objectives of the Tibbs House Parents’ Support Committee are:
- To support the Director of Boarding
- To support/links parents
- To assist with communications between hostel and home
- To assist in organising social and cultural events/outings
- To maintain a contacts database of all Tibbs House families
The committee meets at 6pm in the Quiet Room prior to the start of each term, when the boys return to the hostel. All parents are most welcome to attend. An Annual General Meeting is held in October each year.
Please feel free to contact any the following people if you have any questions:
Chairperson: Arjan De Wilde
Email: a.dewilde@xtra.co.nz
Secretary: Aukje de Wilde
Email: aukje.arjan@gmail.com
Treasurer: Russell Kopke
Email: russkopke@outlook.com