King's College, Auckland

King's College (Latin: Collegium Regis; Māori: Kīngi Kāreti), often informally referred to simply as King's, is an independent secondary boarding and day school in New Zealand. It educates over 1000 pupils, aged 13 to 18 years. King's was originally a single sex boys school but has admitted girls in the Sixth and Seventh forms (Years 12 and 13) since 1980, and in the Fifth form (Year 11) since 2016.^[3] King's was founded in 1896 by Graham Bruce. King's was originally situated in Remuera, Auckland, on the site now occupied by King's School, Remuera, in 1922 the school moved to its present site in the South Auckland suburb of Ōtāhuhu.^[4]

King's College Kīngi Kāreti (Māori)
Address
Golf Avenue Ōtāhuhu Auckland 1062 New Zealand
Coordinates	36.9584°S 174.838160°E / -36.9584; 174.838160
Information
Other name	King's
Type	Independent, Day & Boarding
Motto	Latin: Virtus Pollet (Let Manliness Prevail or Let Moral Courage Prevail or Let Excellence Prevail)
Religious affiliation(s)	Anglican
Established	1896; 128 years ago
Ministry of Education Institution no.	89
Headmaster	Simon Lamb[1]
Years	9–13
Gender	Junior: Boys Senior: Co-ed
Enrolment	1,200[2] (February 2024)
Colour(s)	Maroon
Socio-economic decile	10
Affiliations	G20 Schools Round Square Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
Former Pupils	Old Boys or Old Collegians
School Song	Carmen Regale
Website	www.kingscollege.school.nz

The school has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of the school's board of governors. The college is a member of the Round Square group. King's celebrated its 125-year anniversary in 2021, while the 40 year anniversary of girls attending King's was celebrated in 2020.^[5]

Senior leadership

Role	Name
Head of King’s College	Simon Lamb[6]
Deputy Headmaster	John Payne [6]
Head Chaplain	Reverend Gareth Walters [6]
Deputy Head, Pedagogy	Melissa Irving [6]
Deputy Head, Academic	Geoff Smith [6]
Deputy Head, Pastoral Care	Rob Griffiths [6]

King’s is governed by the King’s College Board of Governors, which is made of 13 members and chaired by Shan Wilson.^[7]

Enrolment

As a New Zealand private school, King's receives around $2000 per student from the government and charges parents of students tuition fees to cover costs.^[8]

At a May 2017 Education Review Office (ERO) review, King's College had 1004 students including 50 international students. The school's gender composition was 81% male and 19% female. At the same review King's students identified as 63% New Zealand European (Pākehā), 11% Chinese, 10% Māori (including 2% Cook Islands Māori), 3% Indian, 3% Samoan, and 10% other.^[9]

Sports

King's College competes in the 1A Rugby Competition and has won 16 times, most recently in 2019.^[10] The annual King's College v Auckland Grammar School rugby game is one of the oldest rivalries in New Zealand schoolboy rugby. The King's 1st XI Cricket team won the Gillette Cup in consecutive years between 2009 and 2011, producing notable cricketers with the most recent being Tim Southee.

Teaching and community activities

The school, like some others in New Zealand, offers students Cambridge A-Level, and IGCSE courses as well as those from New Zealand's national qualification, the National Certificate of Educational Achievement.

The school co-ordinates a service programme which aids the South Auckland community.

Houses

All students are organised into Houses, which form separate communities within the College.^[11]

Name	Established	Gender	Boarding or Day	Colour
School	1922	Boys	Boarding	Red
St John’s	1922	Boys	Boarding	Blue
Parnell	1924	Boys	Day	Gold [12]
Selwyn	1945	Boys	Boarding	Green
Marsden	1947	Boys	Day	White
Peart	1947	Boys	Day	Sky blue
Major	1959	Boys	Day	Black
Averill	1961	Boys	Day	Brown
Middlemore	1984	Girls	Boarding	Maroon
Greenbank	1997	Boys	Day	Grey
Taylor	2006	Girls	Day	Purple
Marion Bruce	2020	Girls	Day	Teal

Traditions

The interior of the King's College Chapel

School song

The school song of King's College is the Carmen Regale, the melody of which was composed by Dutchman Eduard Kremser and the lyrics were authored by I G G Strachan.^[13][14] The school song is shared, among some other things, with King's School in Remuera.

Heritage listings

Three locations within King's College are included on the Heritage New Zealand List. King's College Chapel, a late Gothic style brick chapel that opened in 1925, is listed as a category 1 historic place.^[15] King's College Main Block, and the statue dedicated to former principal Charles Thomas Major are both category 2 historic places.^[16][17]

Notable former pupils

Main category: People educated at King's College, Auckland

King's alumni or former pupils are traditionally named Old Boys or Collegians.

Academic

• George Cawkwell – ancient historian
• Richard F. Thomas — classicist

Arts

• Jack Body – composer
• Marton Csokas – actor
• David de Lautour – actor
• Laura Hill – actor
• Elizabeth Marvelly – singer^[18]
• Jamie McDell – singer
• James Wallace – businessman, arts patron, and convicted sex offender
• KJ Apa – actor^[19]

Business

• Jamie Beaton - founder of Crimson Education
• Sam Chisholm – former chief executive Nine Network and British Sky Broadcasting
• Rob Fenwick – Sustainable Advisory Panel
• Hugh Fletcher – chief executive of Fletcher Challenge
• Douglas Myers – brewer, philanthropist
• David Richwhite – merchant banker (of Fay, Richwhite)^[20]

Public service

• John Manchester Allen (1901–1941), MP for the National Party^[21]
• Douglas Rivers Bagnall, DSO DFC (1918–2001), RAF Wing Commander, notable WWII Wellington bomber pilot and commander^[22]
• John Percy Bayly, Member of the Legislative Council of Fiji
• Sir Peter Blanchard, KNZM, PC – Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, Member of the British Privy Council
• Roy Calvert, DFC (1913–2002), WWII pilot
• Brian Carbury, DFC (1918–1962), leading flying ace of the Battle of Britain
• Sir Robert Chambers, KNZM, QC - Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand^[23]
• Paul East, CNZM, KC, PC – former Cabinet Minister and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom^[24]
• Sir Leon Götz, KCVO, (1892–1970), MP for the National Party^[25]
• Sir John Henry, KNZM, KC – Justice of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand, Privy Councillor (see Privy Council of the United Kingdom)
• Colin Kay, CBE – former Mayor of Auckland and New Zealand triple jump champion^[26]
• John Lewis – former Headmaster, Eton College and Geelong Grammar School
• Sir Jim McLay, KNZM, QSO – former Deputy Prime Minister, former leader of the National Party,^[27] former Permanent Representative to the United Nations (New York) for New Zealand, and current Representative of New Zealand to the Palestinian Authority
• Simon Moore, KC – Justice of the High Court
• Sir Keith Park, GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC, RAF – New Zealand soldier, World War I flying ace and World War II senior Royal Air Force commander, the key military figure in the Battle of Britain
• Geoffrey Sim, QSO, (1911–2002), Member of Parliament representing the National Party^[28]
• George Tupou V, (1948–2012), King of Tonga from 2006 to 2012
• Sam Uffindell, Member of Parliament representing the National Party^[29]
• T. M. Wilkes, CBE, MC (1888–1958), Controller of Civil Aviation, New Zealand, developer and regulator of civil aviation policy^[30]

Science

• Charles Fleming – scientist and environmentalist
• Allan Wilson – evolutionary biologist

Sport

• Pita Alatini – All Blacks rugby player
• Teariki Ben-Nicholas – Rugby player for the Highlanders
• James Bevin – First-class cricketer
• Daniel Braid – 2002–03 All Blacks, 2002– Auckland NPC and Blues Super 14 rugby teams
• Mark Chapman — Black Caps cricketer
• Marcus Child – New Zealand hockey player
• Simon Child – New Zealand hockey player
• Mark Craig – Black Caps cricketer
• Peter Dignan – Olympic bronze medallist: rowing
• Alistair Dryden – Commonwealth Games silver medallist: rowing^[31]
• Ryan Fox – Professional Golfer
• Peter Hillary – Son of Sir Edmund Hillary, mountaineer and motivational speaker
• Bill Hunt – Olympic skier
• Josh Ioane – All Blacks and Highlanders rugby player
• Mitchell Karpik – Maori All Blacks and Chiefs rugby player
• Ian Kirkpatrick – All Blacks rugby player and captain
• James Lay – Samoa and Bristol Bears rugby player
• Jonah Lowe – Maori All Blacks and Hurricanes rugby player
• Stefan Marinovic – Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand football goalkeeper
• Hamish Marshall – New Zealand Test/ODI cricketer
• James Marshall – New Zealand Test/ODI cricketer
• Peter Masfen – Olympic rower^[31]
• Anthony Mosse – Olympic bronze medallist, Commonwealth Games double gold medallist, silver medallist and bronze medallist
• Jared Panchia – New Zealand hockey player
• James Parsons – All Blacks and North Harbour NPC and Blues Super 14 Rugby teams (Captain)
• Marcel Renata – Maori All Blacks and Blues rugby player
• Jamie Smith – New Zealand hockey player and captain
• Kim Smith – Olympic long distance runner^[32]
• Tim Southee – Black Caps cricketer
• Rob Waddell – Olympic gold medallist: rowing; crew Member Emirates Team NZ
• Ali Williams – All Blacks and Auckland NPC and Blues Super 14 Rugby teams
• Dan Williamson – Olympic gold medallist in rowing^[33]

Headmasters

The statue dedicated to former principal Charles Thomas Major, a category 2 historic place listing

The following individuals have served as headmaster of King’s College.

Period	Headmaster
1896–1901	Graham Bruce[34]
1902–1904	G Bigg-Wither[34]
1904–1905	L G W Wilkinson[34]
1905–1926	C T Major[34]
1926–1935	Canon H K Archdall[34]
1936–1939	J N Peart[34]
1940–1946	H B Lusk[35]
1947–1973	G N T Greenbank[34]
1973–1987	I P Campbell [34]
1988–2002	John Taylor[34]
2003–2009	Roy Kelley
2009–2014	Bradley Fenner
2014–2016	Michael Leach
2016–present	Simon Lamb

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of King's College

Notes King's College first applied for arms in 1963 and was granted by the College of Arms in 1966. The Letters patent, however, were apparently forgotten about and not received from the College of Arms until 1980.[36][37] Crest On a Wreath Or Gules and Azure a Conical Cap per pale Gules and Azure turned up Ermine encircled by an Ancient Crown Or and ensigned by a cross formy fitchy Argent tied about the foot and pendent to the front a Cord twisted Gules and Or and to the back Azure and Or the tassels Or Escutcheon Per pale Gules and Azure between two Chevronels Or three Estoiles each of eight points alternatively wavy and straight Argent all between three Towers each issuing from an Ancient Crown Or Motto Virtus Pollet (Let Excellence Prevail)

Notes

1. Nelson, Alexandra (21 July 2016). "Meet the new head of King's College". Manukau Courier.
2. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
3. "Our History". King's College. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
4. "Contact us". www.kingscollege.school.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
5. "Our history". www.kingscollege.school.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
6. "Leadership".
7. "Governance".
8. "Fees and Disbursements". King's College. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
9. "Kings College Report – 15/5/2017". Education Review Office. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
10. "1A Winners Historic Results". Auckland Rugby Union. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
11. "Our Houses". King’s College. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
12. Yumpu.com. "Parnell Newsletter Term 2 2013 - King's College". yumpu.com. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
13. King's College Website: http://issuu.com/kingscollegenz/docs/kc-courier-summer2011/45
14. King's College Website: http://www.kcoca.com/courier.cfm?Page=CourierArticle&CourierArticleID=381
15. "King's College Chapel". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
16. "King's College Main Block". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
17. "Charles Thomas Major Statue". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
18. Hewitson, Michele. "Michele Hewitson interview: Lizzie Marvelly". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
19. Jones, Bridget. "Our little brother the Shortie star". New Idea New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
20. "The merchant banker's banker". The New Zealand Herald. 16 October 2004. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
21. Gustafson 1986, p. 297.
22. "Wing Commander Douglas Bagnall". Daily Telegraph. 3 January 2001. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
23. "The Hon Justice Robert Stanley Chambers" (PDF). cdn.auckland.ac.nz. 2013. p. 4. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
24. Gustafson 1986, p. 308.
25. Gustafson 1986, p. 315.
26. McKinnon, Murray (5 June 2008). "Former NZ Triple Jump champion Colin Kay dies". Athletics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
27. Gustafson 1986, p. 331.
28. Gustafson 1986, p. 342.
29. Johnston, Kirsty (8 August 2022). "National MP Sam Uffindell 'asked to leave' prestigious King's College after violent nighttime attack on younger boy". Stuff.
30. Who's Who in New Zealand, vol. 5, G. H. Scholefield, A. H. & A. W. Reed, 1951, p. 249
31. "King's rowing clean up at Auckland Rowing Association Awards". King's College, Auckland. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
32. "From Papakura to the Olympics". Papakura Courier. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
33. "Daniel Williamson". Rowing New Zealand. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
34. Hamilton 1995, p. 8.
35. Teal, Jane (15 August 2017). "From the Archives: The Lusk Albums" (PDF). InBlackandWhite (127). Christ's College: 8.
36. "Coat of Arms Symbols and meaning". King's College Archives. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
37. King's Courier (PDF). Vol. 4. September 1983.

References

• Hamilton, Bruce (1995). O Floreat Semper… The History of King's College 1896–1995. Auckland: AGM Publishing. ISBN 0-473-03389-5.
• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.