Wesley College is a secondary school in Paerata, at the northern edge of

Pukekohe Pukekohe is a town in the Auckland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. The town is located at the southern edge of the Auckland Region, between the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour and the mouth of the Waikato River. The hills of Puke ...

Auckland Region Auckland () is one of the 16 regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban areas of New Zealand, urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland, Auckland metropolitan area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands o ...

, New Zealand. The school provides education from year 9 to 13. The school was founded by members of the

Methodist Church Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...

in 1844, making it one of the country's oldest schools. Initially located in Grafton and then the

Three Kings In Christianity, the Biblical Magi ( or ; singular: ), also known as the Three Wise Men, Three Kings, and Three Magi, are distinguished foreigners who visit Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh in homage to hi ...

area of

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

, it closed in 1868 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

. In 1985 it was one of the first boys schools in

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

to admit girls at the senior level.

Prince Albert College

Wesley College was located in Upper Queen Street when it closed in 1868; the building and land was donated to the Methodist Church for education purposes. In 1895, a new school with Methodist links started in that building, known as Prince Albert College. The school closed on 31 December 1906 due to financial pressures. The building was later used by

Auckland Girls' Grammar School Auckland Girls' Grammar School (AGGS) is a New Zealand secondary school for girls located in Newton, New Zealand, Newton, Auckland. Established in 1878 as Auckland Girls' High School, it is one of the oldest secondary institutions in the countr ...

Principals

The following have been principals of the school: * Revs. Alexander Reid, Thomas Buddle, George Stannard, HH Lawry, Wallis * 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–?Reflections on the History of Wesley College
(accessed:10-06-2007) * S. Hargreaves * Dr. B. Evans -present

Notable alumni

The arts

Temuera Morrison Temuera Derek Morrison (born 26 December 1960) is a New Zealand actor who first gained recognition in his home country for playing Dr. Hone Ropata on the soap opera ''Shortland Street''. He garnered critical acclaim for starring as Jake "The M ...

– Actor (Head Prefect, 1977) *

Ian Mune Sir Ian Barry Mune (born 1941) is a New Zealand character actor, director, and screenwriter. His screen acting career spans four decades and more than 50 roles. His work as a film director includes hit comedy ''Came a Hot Friday'', an adaptation ...

– Actor and Film Director * Richard Taylor – Multiple 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 Dewes – Ngāti Porou kaumatua and Māori language advocate *

Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō Siale ʻAtaongo Kaho, Lord Tuʻivakanō (born 15 January 1952) is a Tongans, Tongan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Tonga, prime minister of Tonga from 2010 to 2014. Descent and naming Tuʻivakanō was born in Niutoua on Tongata ...

– Prime Minister of Tonga (Voted in 2011 – Known as Siale Kaho while at College) * Jim Peters – Politician * Sir

Peter Kenilorea Sir Peter Kenilorea (23 May 1943 – 24 February 2016) was a Solomon Islander politician, officially styled The Rt Hon. Sir Peter Kenilorea as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. He was the first prime minister of an independ ...

– First Prime Minister and Current Speaker of Solomon Islands * Roger McClay – Politician and Children's Commissioner *

Todd McClay Todd Michael McClay (born 22 November 1968) is a New Zealand politician and former ambassador. He is the Member of Parliament for Rotorua. He was previously an ambassador for the Cook Islands and Niue to the European Union. Early life McClay ...

– Member of Parliament for Rotorua, former

Cook Islands The Cook Islands is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands whose total land area is approximately . The Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers of ocean. Avarua is its ...

diplomat (Ambassador to European Union) * Rt Hon. Baron Fielakepa – Chief of the Defense Staff, His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Kingdom of Tonga * Rob Storey – Politician *

Malietoa Tanumafili II Malietoa Tanumafili II (4 January 1913 – 11 May 2007) was a Samoan paramount chief and politician who was O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) of Samoa from its independence in 1962, and the holder of the Malietoa title from 1940, until his ...

– Former Head of State of

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...

* George Tupou II – King of Tonga *

Baron Vaea Siaosi ʻAlipate Halakilangi Tau’alupeoko Vaea Tupou (15 May 1921 – 7 June 2009), more commonly known as Baron Vaea of Houma, was a Tongan politician who served as Prime Minister of Tonga. Vaea was a nephew of Queen Sālote, who ruled Tonga ...

– former

Prime Minister of Tonga The prime minister of Tonga (historically referred to as the premier) is the head of government of Tonga. Tonga is a monarchy with the List of monarchs of Tonga, king, currently Tupou VI, former prime minister, as head of state. The current p ...

(Vaea attended between 1938 and 1941)

Science

Walter Buller Sir Walter Lawry Buller (9 October 1838 – 19 July 1906) was a New Zealand lawyer and naturalist who was a dominant figure in New Zealand ornithology. His book, ''A History of the Birds of New Zealand'', first published in 1873, was published ...

– lawyer, naturalist and ornithologist

Sport

;Rugby Union *

Uini Atonio Uini Atonio (; born 26 March 1990) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a Prop (rugby union), prop for Top 14 club Stade Rochelais, La Rochelle. Born in New Zealand, he represents France national rugby union team, France at interna ...

– Counties Manukau, La Rochelle, France *

Stephen Donald Stephen Rex Donald (born 3 December 1983) is a New Zealand rugby union player who played for the Green Rockets Tokatsu, NEC Green Rockets in the Japanese Top League. A Fly-half (rugby union), first five-eighth or Centre (rugby union), centre, he ...

– New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Counties, Waikato, Chiefs, Bath, New Zealand All Black * Rhys Duggan – New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s Waikato, Chiefs, New Zealand All Black * Epalahame Faiva – Wakato, New Zealand u20s *

Malakai Fekitoa Malakai Fonokalafi Fekitoa (born 10 May 1992) is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Benetton and the Tonga national team. Early life Fekitoa was born in Haʻapai, Tonga. The ...

– Auckland, Highlanders, New Zealand All Black * Frank Halai – Waikato, NZ Sevens, Counties Manukau, Blues, New Zealand All Black * Kauvaka Kaivelata- Counties Manukau Steelers, Pukekohe Rugby Club, Manukau Rovers, Chiefsu18, Chiefs Super Rugby * Sekope Kepu – New Zealand U17's, New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Counties, NSW Waratahs, Australia – Wallabies * Casey Laulala – New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Counties, Canterbury, Crusaders, Cardiff Blues, New Zealand All Black * Nepo Laulala – Canterbury, Crusaders, New Zealand All Blacks *

Jonah Lomu Jonah Tali Lomu (12 May 1975 – 18 November 2015) was a New Zealand professional rugby union player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players in the history of the sport, and as one of the most talented sportsm ...

– New Zealand U16's, New Zealand U17's, New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Counties, Wellington, North Harbour, Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Cardiff Blues, NZ Sevens, New Zealand All Black *

Tevita Mailau Tevita Mailau (born 25 April 1985 in Sydney, Australia) is a rugby union player who plays for Stade Montois in the Top 14 and Tonga internationally. He previously played for the Blues (Super Rugby), Auckland Blues in Super Rugby and Auckland Rug ...

– New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Northland, Auckland, Blues, Tonga Ikale Tahi * Seilala Mapusua – New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Otago, Highlanders, London Irish, Kubota Spears, Manu

Sione Molia Sione Molia (born 5 September 1993) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for National Provincial Championship club Counties Manukau and the New Zealand national sevens team. International career He made his ...

– All Blacks Sevens * Charles Piutau – New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u20s, Auckland, NZ Sevens, Blues, New Zealand All Black *

Siale Piutau Siale Piutau (born 13 October 1985) is a rugby union player who currently plays as a Centre (rugby union), centre for Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks in the Japan Rugby League One. Although born and educated in New Zealand, he represented Tonga natio ...

– Counties, Highlanders, Tonga Ikale Tahi * Augustine Pulu – Counties, Chiefs, New Zealand All Black, NZ Sevens *

David Raikuna David Raikuna (born 24 August 1987 in Suva, Fiji), is a professional rugby union player. He currently plays for Stade Rochelais in the Top 14. He has also played for the New Zealand sevens team. Raikuna plays predominantly as a winger, althou ...

– Counties, North Harbour, Blues, NZ Sevens * Doug Rollerson – Manawatu, New Zealand All Black * Sitiveni Sivivatu – Counties, Waikato, Chiefs, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Pacific Islanders, New Zealand All Black * George Stowers – New Zealand Secondary Schools, NZ u21s, Counties, Chiefs, Ospreys, Pacific Islanders, Manu Samoa * Niva Ta'auso – Counties, Connacht, New Zealand Divisional XV, Junior All Blacks * Michael Tagicakibau – Taranaki, London Welsh, Saracens, Fiji * Sailosi Tagicakibau – Chiefs, London Irish, Pacific Islanders, Manu

* Jonathan Taumateine – Counties Manukau, Manu Samoa u20s, New Zealand u20s, Chiefs * Ezra Taylor – Otago, Highlanders, Reds, Connacht, Manu Samoa * Karl Tu'inukuafe – North Harbour, Chiefs, New Zealand All Blacks * Hale T-Pole – New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Southland, Highlanders, Pacific Islanders, Tonga Ikale Tahi * Viliame Veikoso – Otago, Fiji * Tupou Vaa'i – Chiefs & New Zealand All Blacks ;Rugby League * Glen Fisiiahi –

New Zealand Warriors The Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand that competes in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership and is the League's only team from outside Australia. They were formed in 1995 as the Aucklan ...

player * Fetuli Talanoa –

Tonga Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in the southern Pacific Ocean. accordin ...

Rugby League International/

South Sydney Rabbitohs The South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club, also known as the South Sydney Rabbitohs, is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra, New South Wales, Maroubra that competes in the Nat ...

* Tame Tupou – Kiwis/

Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Red Hill, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in April 1987, the Broncos compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) and play their home games at ...

Bradford Bulls The Bradford Bulls are a professional rugby league club in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, and compete in the Championship, the second tier of British rugby league. The club have won the League Championship six times, the Challenge Cup f ...

* Tom Ale – NZ Warriors * Adam Pompey – NZ Warriors * Lunalangi Veainu – Kiwi Ferns, Black Ferns, Counties Manukau Heat *

References

External links

Wesley College website

Old Friends NZ — Wesley College Schools, Auckland
{{Authority control Educational institutions established in 1844 Boarding schools in New Zealand Methodist schools in New Zealand Secondary schools in Auckland Christianity in Auckland Franklin Local Board Area