September 16, 2015
Wesley producing champions in sport and culture
As the country gears up for the Rugby World Cup, Wesley College in south Auckland is skiting about producing more recent All Blacks and rugby internationals than any other school in the country.
They include Jonah Lomu, star for the first World Cup, Charles Piutau, Malakai Fekitoa, Nepo Laulala, and Wallaby Sekope Kepu.
Principal Steve Hargreaves says while Wesley is known as a rugby school, it is also stepping up its academic game with a greater focus on giving students a good NCEA qualification.
It is also a mini United Nations with students from around the country and the Pacific and a longstanding commitment to Maori culture dating back to its founding by the Presbyterian church.
That’s has an added push from new department head Vincent Hapi.
"Now we have a department that's really driving, strong kapa haka, it's part of chapel. Most mornings there will be some aspect that relates to, if it's not Maori culture it will be something from the Samoan or Tongan cultural heritage of our students. It's woven right through the character of the school," Mr Hargreaves says.
Wesley’s roll is now over 300, including about 30 girls.
Meanwhile, Auckland council has agreed to rezone Wesley College and its surrounding farmland as Local Centre and Mixed Housing Urban zones.
Wesley College Trust Board intends to develop up to 4500 sections which will allow it to rebuild the school elsewhere and create an endowment for its future maintenance.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com