King's College, often informally referred to simply as King's, is an independent secondary boarding and day school in New Zealand. It educates over 900 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. King's was founded in 1896 by Graham Bruce, making it one of the oldest schools in New Zealand. King's was originally situated in Remuera, Auckland on the site now occupied by The King's School, Remuera, in 1922 the school moved to its present site in the South Auckland suburb of Otahuhu.
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 Headmasters' and Headmistresses' UK Conference, the G20 Schools Group and Round Square group. King's has educated many of New Zealand's prominent public servants, business people, academia and sportsmen. Charging up to $37,700 per annum in 2014/15, King's is frequently the most expensive school in New Zealand.
King's students regularly achieve 'Best in the World' and 'Best in New Zealand' results in IGCSE and A-level exams. Top King's students attain scholarships to New Zealand, Australian and international universities and attend the Ivy League, Oxbridge and other top universities after graduation.
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.
At a February 2011 Education Review Office (ERO) review, King's College had 975 students including 31 international students. The school's gender composition was 85% male and 15% female, or 72% male and 28% female in the final two years. At the same review King's students identified as 79% New Zealand European (Pākehā), 7% Chinese, 4% Māori, 3% Indian, 2% Korean, and 5% other.
King's College is a stronghold of schoolboy rugby, competing in the 1A Rugby Competition. The annual King's College vs. Auckland Grammar School rugby game is one of the oldest and largest rivalries in New Zealand schoolboy rugby attracting thousands of spectators every year. The King's 1st XI Cricket team is ranked very highly in New Zealand winning 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 the A-Level GCE (Advanced Level General Certificate of Education), CIE (Cambridge International Examinations) and the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) as well as the New Zealand NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement).
Additionally, the school actively co-ordinates a community service programme which aids the South Auckland community around which the school is located. Some of the types of community service that students offer are: visiting the local refugee centre, helping out at Middlemore Hospital with reception duties, and helping pupils at local schools to learn to read.
All students are organised into Houses, which form separate communities within the College, and compete amongst themselves for numerous trophies and the much sought Merritt Shield. Boys' boarding Houses include Parnell, School, Selwyn, and St John's. Boys' day Houses (known as 'Townhouses') are Greenbank, Major, Marsden, Averill and Peart. The Girl's Houses are Middlemore (boarding), and Taylor (day).
Averill - Averill House was founded in 1961, and became the first weekly boarding House in 1977. It has since been made into a day house as of February 2013. The Averill House motto is "Non Sine Pulvere Plama" which means "The prize is not won without effort". Of the 81 boys in the House, 15 are Year 13 boarders. Averill is represented by the colour brown.
Greenbank - Greenbank House is the newest boy day house named after former Headmaster G N T Greenbank; opened in 1997 as an overflow House from the other three Day Houses with just 70 boys and has since grown to 108 in 2009. The Greenbank House motto, "Semper ad Optima" means "Always strive for the best". Greenbank is represented by the colour grey.
Major - Built in 1959 to relieve the two existing day Houses. Major is named after Charles Major, who "saved the school" back in its founding years. He was Headmaster after Graham Bruce. Major's House Colour is Black, the House motto is "Virtute ad Victoriam", meaning "with virtues comes victory", and is part of the day House complex, alondside Marsden and Peart. Major is represented by the colour black.
Marsden - Originally Marsden was known as Town House, until Town House was split into Marsden and Peart in 1947. It is named after the first Anglican missionary to arrive in New Zealand in 1814, Samuel Marsden. The motto is "Semper Ardentes", meaning "Always Determined". Marsden is represented by the colour white.
Middlemore - The Girls' Boarding House, established in 1984, caters for up to 50 boarders. The Middlemore House motto, "Nulli Secundus" means "Second to none". Middlemore is represented by the colour maroon.
Parnell - Established under the name Middlemore in 1924, was renamed in 1928 to mark the affiliation with the former Church of England Grammar School (est 1855) in Ayr Street, Parnell and has 64 boarders this year. Their motto, "Disciplina Fides Perservantia" means Discipline, Faith, Perseverance. Parnell is represented by the colour yellow.
Peart - Founded in 1947, named after the Headmaster killed in action in World War II. The motto, "Veritas Praevalet", means 'Let Truth Prevail'. Peart is represented by the colour sky blue.
School - The House was founded in 1922, when the College moved to Middlemore. School House is represented by the colour red and shares the same motto as the College, "Virtus Pollet".
Selwyn - Selwyn was founded in 1945 and resided 'at the top of the drive' until the new House was opened on 1 July 2004. This building is located inside the Golf Road gates, immediately on the right hand side as one drives into the College. It has a maximum capacity of 82 boys from Year 9 - 13. There are no dormitories as all students are in rooms, which are shared at Years 9, 10, 11 with individual rooms for Years 12 and 13. Rooms at Year 11, 12 and 13 have ensuites. The house colour is green and the motto is "Per Fidem Fortis" meaning "Strength Through Faith".
St John's - Named 'St John's' to recognise the direct link with St John's Collegiate School, which merged with King's in 1913. The St John's House motto, "Religio Doctrina Diligentia" translates to "True religion, sound learning, useful industry." St John's is represented by the colour blue.
Taylor - Taylor House was established in 2006 and it is home to the Day Girls of King’s College. Originally part of Middlemore House, the differing needs of day and boarding girls meant that a new facility was required. Taylor House is located next to Marsden, in the building that was formerly the Headmaster's residence. The statue in the garden (Mana Wahine) was a present at the opening from former Headmaster, John, and his wife, Sarah Taylor who is the eponym of the house. The Taylor House motto "Potens Pollensque” means "capable and strong." Taylor is represented by the colour purple.
Both Middlemore and Taylor cater for Year 12 and 13 girls.
An important aspect of King's culture is the annual House Music competition. This is divided into two parts: the Small House features a small group (usually no more than 15) of students from each House, who perform a vocal musical item, with optional instrumental accompaniment. The other part of the competition, Big House, requires each House to perform a musical item involving all of their students. The results are then added together, with the points going towards the Cultural Challenge Shield. The Big House Music night, now held at Auckland's Vector Arena, is one of the highlights of the school year and attracts large audiences of families and friends. Music is an important part of the College curriculum and not only is it taught as a core subject through to senior level but many students take advantage of the wide range of itinerant music teachers who are available to teach, on an individual basis, a great range of instruments. Piano, strings, brass and woodwind with classical guitar and percussion are the most popular chosen by students. The College is proud of its orchestra and bands which perform regularly at College functions and are frequent competitors in inter-school festivals.
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. The school song is shared, amongst some other things, with King's School in Remuera.
King's alumni or former pupils are traditionally named Old Boys or Collegians.
George Cawkwell - ancient historian
Jack Body - composer
Marton Csokas - actor
David de Lautour - actor
Laura Hill - actor
Elizabeth Marvelly – singer
Jamie McDell - singer
James Wallace - Art Collector, James Wallace Art Trust
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)
Quinton Winders - the 'Stop/Go Murderer'
John Manchester Allen (1901–1941), MP for the National Party
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
Paul East, CNZM, QC - former Cabinet Minister and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
Leon Götz, KCVO, (1892–1970), MP for the National Party
John Henry, KNZM, QC - 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
John Lewis - former Headmaster, Eton College and Geelong Grammar School
Jim McLay, KNZM, QSO - former Deputy Prime Minister, former leader of the National Party, former Permanent Representative to the United Nations (New York) for New Zealand, and current Representative of New Zealand to the Palestinian Authority
Simon Moore, QC - Justice of the High Court
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
George Tupou V, (1948-2012), King of Tonga
Charles Fleming - scientist and environmentalist
Allan Wilson - evolutionary biologist
Pita Alatini - All Blacks rugby player
Daniel Braid - 2002-03 All Blacks, 2002- Auckland NPC and Blues Super 14 rugby teams
Simon Child - New Zealand hockey player
Peter Dignan - Olympic bronze medallist: rowing
Peter Hillary - Son of Edmund Hillary, mountaineer and motivational speaker
Bill Hunt - Olympic skier
Ian Kirkpatrick - All Blacks rugby player and captain
Hamish Marshall - New Zealand Test/ODI cricketer
James Marshall - New Zealand Test/ODI cricketer
Jamie Smith - New Zealand hockey player and captain
Kimberley Smith – Olympic long distance runner
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
