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Pictured are our 2024 senior student leaders. From left: Senior Prefects M. T. Upu and S. H. A. S. Peita, Deputy Head Prefect H. P. Klouwens and Senior Prefect M. A. G. Galloway. Note: Head Prefect T. C. Jones was in absentia due to his representing New Zealand at the Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa.

On Wednesday 24 January in the first full School assembly for the year, the Headmaster announced the student leaders who will lead the student body for the 2024 academic year.

The Head Prefect for 2024 is T. C. Jones 7D

The 2024 Head Prefect is a young man who has embraced School life, expressing pride in his School and a sense of belonging. 

Tom has worked positively to earn satisfactory grades in AS English Literature, Geography Economics and Biology. This year, Tom is studying A Level English, Geography, Economics and AS Physical Education.

He has been committed to the wider life of the School throughout his tenure at Grammar, including captaining the 1st XI Cricket team last year. He also played 4A Rugby and was a member of Interact. Tom earned a New Zealand Representative badge and Colours for Cricket in 2023, as well as winning the code award for cricket at the College Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year Awards in November.

Masters involved with this young man describe him as showing determination and resilience. He is someone who is committed to the task at hand and can manage his time to meet his responsibilities. His maturity and dependability have seen him earn the respect of his peers and staff alike. 

Tom has developed credibility and integrity as a student of Auckland Grammar School. He has shown a connectedness to the School and its values, exhibiting respect, humility and courage through his actions and general demeanour.

Note: Tom is vice-captain of the New Zealand Under 19 Cricket team and is currently competing in the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, opening the batting in their match against Nepal which they won by 64 runs. He has earned the right to be the first student to cross stage in 2024 but will receive the Head Prefect’s badge and Prefect’s tie when he returns from international duties.

The Deputy Head Prefect for 2024 is H. P. Klouwens 7C

The 2024 Deputy Head Prefect is a diligent student who has been committed to his studies and extracurricular activities throughout his tenure.

Harrison secured sound grades in AS English Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics in 2023 and this year is studying A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics, alongside AS Physical Education. 

Harrison has been actively involved in School life as a member of the Senior Swimming team, and was the School’s Senior Swimming Champion in 2023. He won the Kerridge Cup for 50m breaststroke, the Peter Drummond Cup for 100 metres and the Senior Cup as Senior Champion. Harrison also earned a New Zealand Representative badge and Colours for Swimming in 2023. 

Harrison is a focused and capable young man who has lived The Grammar Way, leading by example, while being comfortable in who he is. Masters have described Harrison as focused, mature, determined and proactive when facing difficulties, and he is a contributor with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.

Harrison reflects the School’s values showing humility in his approach, commitment to his studies and extracurricular activities, respect for others and integrity through his words and actions.

There are three Senior Prefects who will assist the Head and Deputy Head Prefect for 2024:

M. A. G. Galloway 7G

Mark is a self-motivated and determined young man who has worked diligently to achieve in the Cambridge programme. He is studying A Level Spanish, Economics and History and AS Business Studies this year. In 2023, he earned the Florence Katherine McAdam Memorial Prize for Character and Excellence in Form 6.

Mark has contributed to School life in an extensive manner and displayed character in his approach. He has been involved with the Distance Squad, Duke of Edinburgh, the Headmaster’s Heritage Committee, Interact Group, Model UN, Spanish Debating and Theatresports.

S. H. A. S. Peita 7E

Storm achieved sound academic grades in Cambridge AS Level last year. In 2024, he is studying A Level English, Economics and History, AS Level Business Studies and NCEA Level 3 Te Reo Māori.

In 2023 he earned the Kairangi Haka Award for excellence in Kapa Haka and the Poutaki Reo Award for the top Te Reo Māori speaker.

In an extracurricular sense, Storm was leader of the Kapa Haka group, a member of the Headmaster’s Cultural Committee, the 1st XV Rugby team, Tuakana Teina, the Premier Touch team and the Premier Volleyball team. In 2023, Storm also earned Performing Arts Colours for Ngā Manu Kōrero.

M. T. Upu 7C1

Makea earned satisfactory grades in the Cambridge programme last year. This year, he is studying NCEA Level 3 Business Studies, English, Music, Physics and Te Reo Māori. In 2023, he earned the Graeme A. Crothall Scholarship for Tibbs House.

Makea is an active and well-rounded student who has been involved with Archery, Chamber Music, Contemporary Music, Grammarphonics, Kapa Haka, Rugby 2B, Samoan Cultural Group, Senior Softball, Big Band and he plays the saxophone. Makea is also the Head Prefect at Tibbs House in 2024.

During the first week of the summer holidays, the School’s Premier Touch Rugby team travelled to Rotorua to compete at the three-day New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships.

The team had a difficult pool competing against St Bede’s College, Hamilton Boys’ High School, New Plymouth Boys’ High School, Marlborough Boys’ High School and Te Puke High School.

Day one saw the team play all opponents with wins against Marlborough Boys’ High School (9-5) and New Plymouth Boys’ High School (5-4) but losses to St Bede’s College and Hamilton Boys’ High School.

On day two, the team had wins against Te Puke High School (11-1), Palmerston North Boys’ High School (9-8), Whangarei Boys’ High School (8-2) and Shirley Boys’ High School (9-2).

Having won all the games on day two, the Premier Touch Rugby team qualified for the semi-final of the Mahuri Plate against St John’s College, Hamilton. The team played superbly; by sticking to defensive processes they went on to win 7-4 and book a place in the final against Christchurch Boys’ High School for ninth place.

The team had excellent composure and built pressure on attack and defence, and led 5-4 at half-time. Some changes on attack in the second half proved to be effective and the team went on to win 9-6.

Congratulations to the team and to Masters in Charge M. Cuming and Z. King for their guidance and support.

29 members of the School’s Athletics team competed at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships in Christchurch in the first week of December. Over three days, the team endured all possible weather combinations, from dry and windy through to stormy and bitterly cold. However, the squad persevered and performed superbly, earning two Gold, five Silver and six Bronze medals from the meet.

The Track and Field events were successfully opened by the Junior and Senior Middle Distance runners, with five out of six Grammar competitors qualifying for the Semi-finals in the 800m. In the 3000m Form 3 student E. B. Mora ran to an impressive eighth place amidst a strong field. Deputy Head Prefect J. A. Mora demonstrated his experience by winning the Senior 3000m race in 8:33min to claim Gold. In the same race, Form 5 student C. P. Wagener ran a strong race ahead of the pack up until the final 200m, where he crossed the line in fourth place, an inspiring feat for a first-year senior.

Grammar athletes won bronze medals in the field events. Form 6 student J. A. Thomson secured his medal in the Senior Javelin with a throw of 51.63m despite a strong headwind, while Form 5 student M. K. Jacobs threw 12.71m to earn third place in the Junior Shot Put.

At the end of the first day, the 4x100m relay preliminary races were run with both the Junior and Senior teams qualifying for the finals, placing fourth overall.

On day two, more Grammar athletes were in action with Form 3 student T. O. Henderson qualifying for the 100m hurdles final by finishing in sixth place and the Thomson brothers both qualified for the 100m in their respective age categories (L. C. R. Thomson in the junior and J. A. Thomson in the senior). Form 5 student C. G. Howlett ran a strong race in the Senior 300m hurdles event to qualify for his respective final, while Form 4 student M. E. Wilkins qualified for the Junior 1500m.

Two medals were won in the field events with Form 3 student L. J. N. Caffery claiming Bronze in the Junior Discus with a throw of 45.82m and a Silver medal went to Form 4 student O. O. D. B. O. Neely in the Junior Javelin with a throw of 43.94m. 

Day three saw the weather change, providing challenging conditions for the athletes with light showers and a cold wind. On the field, T. O. Henderson finished seventh in the country in the Junior Hurdles. On the track, Form 3 student M. C. Bailey won Bronze in the Junior Racewalk, while Form 3 student H. C. Day and Form 4 student T. C. L. MacDonald raced head-to-head in the Junior Steeplechase, eventually finishing in second and third respectively.

In the 100m sprints, J. A. Thomson ran to seventh place in the Senior grade and L. C. R. Thomson to fourth in the Junior grade in 11.01s and 11.42s, respectively. In the Senior 300m, C. G. Howlett secured second in a time of 39.39s, while 2023 Captain of Athletics J. A. Mora concluded his final race for the School in strong fashion by placing second in the Senior 1500m.

The relays were the final races of the meet, with the athletes displaying the training they have invested by gaining three medals in four races. The Junior 4x100m team, consisting of Form 3 student J. J. Licence and Form 4 students J. T. Braun, M. M. Browne and L. C. R. Thomson, claimed second place in a time of 45.99s, with only 0.01 second ahead of third. Thomson later combined with fellow classmates H. C. Day, J. A. Smith and M. E. Wilkins to win Gold in the Junior 4x400m in a time of 3:33.49min, less than two seconds off the National record.

The Senior 4x100m team – Form 5 students C. G. Howlett and S. C. Paris, Form 6 student J. A. Thomson and Form 7 student J. P. Dew – secured Bronze in a time of 44.30s, while the 4x400m team consisting of R. W. Fitzpatrick, C. G. Howlett, J. A Mora and C. P. Wagener ran to fourth place.

After his strong performance in the 3000m and 1500m, J. A. Mora was officially selected in the New Zealand team.

Congratulations to the entire squad, to Master in Charge N. Leiseder and to coaches S. Bidet, S. Blackwell and C. Oates for their guidance and support of the team.

On Sunday 10 December, 10 members of the Distance Squad represented Auckland Grammar School at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Road Race Championships in Christchurch.

The course consisted of a flat and fast 1km lap that the boys had to run in particularly wet and windy conditions that resembled the conditions that they usually face during Cross Country races in winter. Despite the inclement weather, all year groups performed exceptionally well and did themselves proud amongst the high standard of competition.

In the Junior Race, Form 4 students X. R. Clark, B. D. H. Dransfield, and J. A. Smith ran bravely over the 4 kilometres of the course. Albeit only in their first year in this category, they jockeyed into great positions in the race and achieved good finishing placements. Their performance augurs well for the upcoming year.

The Form 3 team was composed of M. Bayley, F. E. M. Crump and E. B. Mora,. After their strong performance at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships earlier this year, the team secured second place. Mora ran smartly throughout the race to stay at the front and placed third, while Crump strategically gained positioning throughout the 3km of the race to cross the finish line in sixth position.

The Senior race started in pouring rain. From start to finish Form 5 student C. P. Wagener was strategically positioned near the front of the pack to stay sheltered from strong winds and poised to counter any opponent attacks. In the last lap, his acceleration stretched out the pack with only a handful of runners left to fight for the win. Despite running against opponents two years ahead of him and being overtaken 70m from the finish line, Wagener persisted, responding with an ultimate effort to regain the lead and cross the finish line as the winner, just over a second ahead of his closest competitor. A. V. Wilkins and R. W. Fitzpatrick also ran a superb race by running strategically and gaining positioning throughout the race to finish 15th and 21st respectively, securing a Silver medal in the three-man team.

After his strong performance, Wagener was officially selected in the New Zealand team.

Congratulations to the Distance Squad for their continued success in 2023 and to Master in Charge S. Bidet for his support and guidance of the squad.