Saint Kentigern College

A group of Presbyterian ministers and laymen founded Saint Kentigern College in 1953, naming it after Saint Kentigern of Glasgow. Its first headmaster was a minister from the University of Glasgow, Reverend Adam MacFarlan.{{Cite web |title=Saint Kentigern {{!}} Our College History |url=https://www.saintkentigern.com/about-us/our-heritage/our-history/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=www.saintkentigern.com}} When MacFarlan retired, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to education and the community, in the 1983 Queen's Birthday Honours.{{London Gazette

| issue = 49376

| date = 11 June 1983

| page = 34

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Saint Kentigern College Executive Head Warren Peat left at the end of 2008 to become headmaster of John Paul College, near Brisbane, Australia. Stephen Cole then took up the role of headmaster.{{cite news|url=http://www.saintkentigern.com/college/news.asp?CategoryID=9&ID=593|title=Executive Head, Warren Peat, announces his resignation|access-date=8 August 2008|publisher=Saint Kentigern College|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010191609/http://www.saintkentigern.com/college/news.asp?CategoryID=9|archive-date=10 October 2007|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://saintkentigern.com/college/default.asp?CategoryID=13&ID=613|title=NEW HEAD APPOINTED|access-date=1 January 2009|publisher=Saint Kentigern College}} Cole left Saint Kentigern at the end of Term 1, 2017, and the position of Head of College was then disestablished and replaced with separate positions for Principal of Middle College (Years 7–10) and Principal of Senior College (Years 11–13). At the same time, a new role as Head of Saint Kentigern was created, with former headmaster of Rangitoto College David Hodge taking up the position.{{cite news|title=Head of Saint Kentigern Appointed|url=https://www.saintkentigern.com/news/head-saint-kentigern-appointed/|website=www.saintkentigern.com/|access-date=24 June 2018}}

In 2019, the Saint Kentigern Trust Board decided to move away from the separate middle college and senior college model, returning to a single college structure. Russell Brooke, formerly the principal of ACG Parnell College, was appointed as the new principal of Saint Kentigern College.{{Cite web |title=Introducing the new Principal of Saint Kentigern College |url=https://www.saintkentigern.com/news/introducing-new-principal-saint-kentigern-college/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=www.saintkentigern.com}} Brooke resigned in October 2021, following a period of unexplained leave which had been in effect from August 2021.{{Cite web |last=Krause |first=Nick |date=2021-10-15 |title=Saint Kentigern College principal resigns |url=https://www.times.co.nz/news/saint-kentigern-college-principal-resigns/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Times |language=en-NZ}} Subsequently, Duncan McQueen assumed the role of acting principal until Damon Emtage joined Saint Kentigern College as principal in January 2023. Emtage had previously worked in several independent schools in Australia, including Brisbane Grammar School and Wesley College Melbourne.{{Cite web |title=Saint Kentigern :: Welcoming our new College Principal |url=https://www.saintkentigern.com/news/welcoming-our-new-college-principal/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=www.saintkentigern.com}}

In 2019, the college sold its girls' school and preschool campus to Auckland Hebrew Congregation. The congregation and Kadimah School, a Jewish day school, now occupy the campus.[https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/111878939/auckland-private-school-saint-kentigern-sells-campus-to-hebrew-congregation Auckland private school Saint Kentigern sells $23m campus to Hebrew Congregation] Stuff. 8 April 2021[https://www.kadimah.school.nz/news-1 News] Kadimah School. Retrieved on 5 December 2023 Saint Kentigern Girls' School resumed operations at a newly constructed facility on Shore Road in Remuera in 2022.[https://www.saintkentigern.com/news/saint-kentigern-girls-school-opens-its-doors-shore-road/ Saint Kentigern Girls’ School opens its doors on Shore Road] Saint Kentigern College. 8 June 2022

In 2023, the college received a bomb threat in November causing an early closure for the day. Bomb threats were made to 15 other organisations.{{Cite web |title='Bomb threat' closes schools as over 70 concerning emails received |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/24/bomb-threat-closes-schools-as-more-concerning-emails-received/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=1 News |language=en}}

Students are allocated into one of six houses and compete throughout the year in house competitions. Each house is named after a Scottish Presbyterian church martyr, as follows:

• Wishart for George Wishart (yellow)
• Hamilton for Patrick Hamilton (red)
• Chalmers for James Chalmers (blue)[http://saintkentigern.com/about-us/pastoral-care/the-houses/chalmers/ Tutor Groups] Saint Kentigern College. Retrieved 24 June 2018.James Chalmers (missionary)
• Cargill for Donald Cargill (green)
• Wilson for Margaret Wilson (purple){{cite web|url=https://www.saintkentigern.com/news/four-houses-become-six-college/|title=Four Houses to Become Six at the College!|date=17 June 2016|access-date=24 June 2018}}
• Stark for Helen Stark (teal)

{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2023}}

Alumni of the Rugby Program who have represented New Zealand (for the All Blacks) include Steve Surridge, John Afoa, Joe Rokocoko, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Matt Duffie, Seta Tamanivalu, Dalton Papali'i, Braydon Ennor, Finlay Christie and Tamaiti Williams.{{Cite web |title=Saint Kentigern :: Beyond The College Gates |url=https://www.saintkentigern.com/college/college-sports/beyond-college-gates/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=www.saintkentigern.com}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2023-06-19 |title=Four Saint Kentigern old boys selected for All Blacks |url=https://www.times.co.nz/news/four-st-kentigern-old-boys-selected-for-all-blacks/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Times |language=en-NZ}}

The 1st XV were the previous holders of the Moascar cup. First in 1981 from defeating Wesley, and again in 1999 when they defeated the then World champion, Kelston Boys, by 18–14. Other notable years were in 1996, 1998 and 2000, where they were Runners up in the 1A competition.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

2001 saw the 1st XV eclipse the previous year's 1A competition and storm the championship in their defeat of King's College in the final. The 1st XV was relegated from 1A in 2003, but promoted back to the premier grade in 2005 after going undefeated in the 1B competition.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

The Saint Kentigern 1st XV won back-to-back 1A titles in 2011 and 2012, its first Top 4 National Championship in 2012, and back-to-back Co-educational National Titles in 2010 and 2011. As a result of winning the Top 4 National Final, the 2013 First XV was invited to the Sanix Youth World Invitational Tournament. The tournament was staged in early May, where the 1st XV defeated Hartpury College to take the world championship title.{{cite news|title=World Champions!|url=http://www.times.co.nz/front-page-feature/world-champions.html|access-date=9 May 2013|work=Howick and Pakuranga Times|date=9 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054920/http://www.times.co.nz/front-page-feature/world-champions.html|archive-date=21 September 2013|url-status=dead}} The team then went on to win their third consecutive Auckland 1A title in 2013 with a last-minute penalty. They became the first-ever side to win a three-peat of 1A rugby titles. Saint Kentigern has also gone on to win the 2015 and 2017 Auckland 1A competitions. In 2019 Saint Kentigern won the CO-ED division in the National First XV Championship beating Feilding High School 29–22.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

In 2018 Saint Kentigern's was excluded from the competition due to their recruiting practices by rival schools.{{Cite web |date=2018-12-05 |title=Poaching scandal: Elite school kicked out of rugby comp |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-elite-auckland-school-st-kentigern-college-kicked-out-of-top-rugby-competition-as-rivals-promise-boycott/Z2D37BWC4HD4CURY4BI6OZGRXE/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite news |title=Auckland college Fist XV boycotted by rivals |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2018/12/rugby-st-kentigern-college-kicked-out-of-auckland-first-xv-competition.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211115346/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2018/12/rugby-st-kentigern-college-kicked-out-of-auckland-first-xv-competition.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 December 2018 |access-date=2024-11-07 |work=Newshub |language=en}}

In more recent times there has been a resurgence in Saint Kentigern old boys playing at Super Rugby level. TJ Faiane, Sione Mafileo, Matt Duffie, Dalton Papalii, Sam Nock, Blake Gibson, Finlay Christie, and Tanielu Tele’a are Saint Kentigern old boys in the current Auckland based Blues (Super Rugby) squad. Other former St. Kentigern old boys who play in the Super Rugby competition include: Etene Nanai-Seturo – Chiefs (rugby union), Tiaan Tauakipulu – New South Wales Waratahs, Ere Enari – Crusaders (rugby union), Braydon Ennor – Crusaders (rugby union), Pari Pari Parkinson – Highlanders (rugby union), Tevita Mafileo – Hurricanes (rugby union) and Scott Scrafton – Hurricanes (rugby union). In addition, there are a few old collegians who play in the Premiership Rugby in England and some in the Top 14 (french rugby competition). There are also a couple of old boys playing in the National Rugby League, including the 2011 Saint Kentigern's college 1XV captain Albert Vete who currently plays for Melbourne Storm and Suliasi Vunivalu who is also in the current Melbourne Storm team. Vunivalu has played 7 tests for the Wallabies and is currently based in France. Vunivalu was dubbed the highest try scorer for the club in 2016.. Another notable mention is the Saint Kentigern old boys who are in the current New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team: Rivez Reihana, Tamaiti Williams, and Etene Nanai-Seturo. By 2019, Reihana and Williams were on the development sides for the Chiefs and Crusaders, respectively. In July 2023, Williams made his debut for the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship, and in September went on to play for them in the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

The 2024 Education Review Office (ERO) report states that the school had 2,316 students, 26 of whom were international. The gender composition was 58% male and 42% female. 68% of students were NZ European, 14% Chinese, 5% Māori and 13% other ethnic groups.{{cite web|url=https://ero.govt.nz/institution/81/saint-kentigern-college|title=St Kentigern College|publisher=Education Review Office|date=5 August 2019|access-date=25 March 2022}}

{{main category|People educated at Saint Kentigern College}}

• Kirstyn Goodger (born 1991), Olympic rower{{cite web |title=Kirstyn Goodger |url= https://www.rowingnz.kiwi/Person?Action=Profile&Person_id=92 |publisher=Rowing New Zealand |access-date=24 July 2021}}
• Ross Keenan (born 1943), businessman{{cite book |title=Who's Who in New Zealand, 1991 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=6x8OAQAAMAAJ |access-date=6 May 2020 |last1=Lambert |first1=Max |year=1991 |edition=12th |publisher=Octopus |location=Auckland |page=336|isbn = 9780790001302}}
• Dontae Russo-Nance (born 2005), basketball player{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300681591/kiwi-hoops-phenom-dontae-russonance-announces-hes-heading-to-renowned-us-academy|title=Kiwi hoops phenom Dontae Russo-Nance announces he's heading to renowned US academy|work=Stuff |date=7 September 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527024842/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300681591/kiwi-hoops-phenom-dontae-russonance-announces-hes-heading-to-renowned-us-academy|archive-date=27 May 2023}}
• Tamaiti Williams (born 2000), All Black, rugby player
• Christopher Luxon (born 1970), 42nd New Zealand Prime Minister, politician

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.saintkentigern.com Saint Kentigern College Website]

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Category:Educational institutions established in 1953

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Category:Scottish-New Zealand culture

Category:Schools in East Auckland