Rongotai College is a state single-sex boys' secondary school in the southeastern suburb of Rongotai, Wellington, New Zealand. Serving Years 9 to 13 (ages 12 to 18), the school has 622 students as of July 2015.
About 40 per cent of the students are of European heritage, 20 per cent identify as Pasifika, and 15 per cent Maori, and there are various Middle Eastern, Asian and African students.
A highlight for the school is the annual McEvedy Shield athletics event.
The school stands on the isthmus separating Lyall Bay and Cook Strait to the south from Evans Bay on Wellington Harbour to the north. It thus has the sea on two sides, and this gives it a particularly bracing microclimate, with gusty winds from the north and, in winter, icy blasts from the south. It is bounded to the east by Wellington Airport. Wellington's city centre is a few kilometres to the north-west.
Rongotai College was opened in 1928 with Mr Fritz Martyn Renner as its first headmaster and a teaching staff of seven. It was started as an "overspill" for Wellington College, which was overstretched, and Rongotai became the new school for Wellington boys in the eastern suburbs.
Rongotai College originally accepted enrolments from students of Intermediate School age. However, when Evans Bay Intermediate School opened its doors in 1964, the school became purely a secondary school, catering for young men in what are now called years 9 to 13.
The Assembly Hall, known as the Renner Hall, was opened in 1968 and is named after the founding headmaster.
The 2013 ERO report was favourable whilst pointing out areas for improvement, for example in monitoring achievement and attendance levels.
The four houses at Rongotai College are named after the school's first four headmasters:
Renner (Red)Heron (Blue)Lock (Green)Mackay (Yellow)Dates denote period enrolled as student
Andrew Fagan (1976–1979) - writer, singer and songwriter, former frontsman for The MockersTofiga Fepulea'i - actor and comedian, member of the stand up comedy duo Laughing SamoansKyle Lockwood (1991-1995) - architectural designer, designer of the Silver fern flagBen Lummis (1992–1996) - singer, New Zealand Idol winnerLani Tupu(1969-1972) - actorGordon Walters - artist and designerDr Barry Dent (1973-1977) - CEO of BDG Synthesis, ( organic chemistry)Professor Alex Malahoff (1951-1956) - pioneered use of submersibles to explore submarine volcanoes, CEO of GNS Science 2002-2012Tony Mahon (1947–52) - built a reputation for his extensive research on geothermal energy; awarded Joseph Aidlin AwardDr Campbell Nelson FRSNZ (1957–61) - ex-Professor of Earth Studies at Waikato University, awarded 2004 Hutton medal by the Royal SocietySam Morgan (1989–1992) - founder of TradeMePolitics and public service
Hon. Justice Andrew Becroft (1971–1975) - Principal Youth Court Judge of New ZealandDavid Farrar (1981–1985) - political activist, blogger and pollsterHon. Justice Richard Heron (dec.) (1948–1954) - former high Court judgeProfessor Stuart McCutcheon (1968–1972) - Vice-Chancellor, the University of AucklandRear Admiral E.C. (Ted) Thorne CB, CBE, Rtd (1935-1938) - Chief of Navy 1972-1975Troy McLean - Wellington Saints and former Tall Blacks basketball playerBruce Edgar (1970–1974) - former New Zealand cricketerDon Neely - cricket historian, administrator, and former playerJeetan Patel (1994–1998) - Black Cap (New Zealand cricketer)Barry Sinclair - former New Zealand Test captainIan D S Smith (1970-1973) - sports commentator and former New Zealand cricketerBilly Harris (1977-1981) - New Zealand football playerChris Killen (1995–1998) - New Zealand football playerShane Rufer (1974-1979) - New Zealand football playerWynton Rufer (1976–1979) - New Zealand football playerTerry Serepisos (1977–1981) - former owner of Wellington Phoenix FCMichael Utting - New Zealand football playerMitesh Patel (1990–1994) - Black Sticks (New Zealand hockey player)Sione Faumuina (1994–1997) - rugby league player, Castleford Tigers, formerly New Zealand Warriors and North Queensland CowboysRoy Kinikinilau (1993–1998) - rugby union player, Waikato and Chiefs, formerly Hurricanes, HighlandersMotu Matu'u - Wellington Hurricanes HookerGrant Nisbett (1964–1968) - sports broadcasterMa'a Nonu - All Black Second Five-EighthMark Reddish - rugby union player, Wellington Lions, Hurricanes, HighlandersArdie Savea - All Black,[Wellington Lions]], Wellington Hurricanes FlankerJulian Savea - All Black, Wellington Lions, formerly New Zealand Sevens team, IRB International junior player of the year, Wellington Hurricanes wingerOfisa "Junior" Tonu'u (1999–2000) - All Black halfbackDerek Froude (1973–1977) – represented New Zealand in the men's marathon, at the Olympics in 1984 and 1992Paul Lloyd (1979–1984) – represented New Zealand in the men's 110m Hurdles, at the Commonwealth Games, Auckland in 1990Al Hobman dec. – former professional wrestler, trainer and promoterGreg Wilcox (1974–1978) – former New Zealand world champion yachtsman OK Dinghy class