Wesley College is a secondary school in Paerata, at the northern edge of Pukekohe, Auckland Region, New Zealand. The school provides education from year 9 to 13.
The school was founded by members of the Methodist Church in 1844, making it one of the country's oldest schools. Initially located in Grafton and then the Three Kings area of Auckland, it closed in 1868 before reopening in 1876 in Three Kings again. From the beginning there was an emphasis on educating Maori boys, and also played a prominent role in educating students from countries of the South Pacific. In 1924 the school was moved to its current location of Paerata, near Pukekohe. In 1985 it was one of the first boys schools in New Zealand to admit girls at the senior level.
Wesley also has a proud rugby tradition having been the most successful 1st XV in NZ with 5 national titles (1991, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2004). The 2001 1st XV featured All Blacks Sitiveni Sivivatu and Stephen Donald, Kiwi League rep Tame Tupou as well as Manu Samoan rep Sailosi Tagicakabau. This team went through the season unbeaten and scored the most points ever in a NZ 1st XV Final with a 53–32 win over Rotorua Boys' High School at Albany.
Wesley College was located in Upper Queen Street when it closed in 1868; the building and land was donated to the Methodist Church for education purposes. In 1895, a new school with Methodist links started in that building, known as Prince Albert College. The school closed on 31 December 1906 due to financial pressures. The building was later used by Auckland Girls' Grammar School.
The following have been principals of the school:
Rev. J H Simmonds 1895–1923R. C. Clark, MA (Melb), Dip Ed 1924–1944Rev. E. M. Marshall, BA, Dip Ed 1944–1964C. A. Neate, MA, Dip Tchg 1965–1967E. Te R. Tauroa, B AgricSc, Dip Ed, Dip Tchg 1968–1973 Believed to be the first Māori principal of a secondary school, later Race Relations Conciliator.J. B. McDougall, E.D., B Agric Sc, Dip Tchg 1974–1988G. V. Cowley, MSc (Hons), Dip Tchg, JP 1989–2002I. F. Faulkner, JP, MA (Hons), Dip Tchg 2003–presentTemuera Morrison – Actor (Head Prefect, 1977)Ian Mune – Actor and Film DirectorRichard Taylor – Multiple Academy Award Winner (Lord of the Rings Trilogy)Arnold Manaaki Wilson – Artist and Sculptor, Father of Contemporary Maori Art, First Maori to gain a Diploma in Fine ArtsKoro Dewes – Ngāti Porou kaumatua and Māori language advocateSialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō – Prime Minister of Tonga (Voted in 2011 – Known as Siale Kaho while at College)Jim Peters – PoliticianSir Peter Kenilorea – First Prime Minister and Current Speaker of Solomon IslandsRoger McClay – Politician and Children's CommissionerTodd McClay – Member of Parliament for Rotorua, former Cook Islands diplomat (Ambassador to European Union)Rob Storey – PoliticianMalietoa Tanumafili II – Former Head of State of SamoaGeorge Tupou II – King of TongaBaron Vaea – former Prime Minister of Tonga (Vaea attended between 1938 and 1941)Walter Buller – lawyer, naturalist and ornithologistRugby UnionUini Atonio - Counties Manukau, La Rochelle, FranceMalakai Fekitoa – Auckland, Highlanders, New Zealand All BlackStephen Donald – New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Counties, Waikato, Chiefs, Bath, New Zealand All BlackRhys Duggan – New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s Waikato, Chiefs, New Zealand All BlackFrank Halai – Waikato, NZ Sevens, Counties Manukau, Blues, New Zealand All BlackSekope Kepu – New Zealand U17's, New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Counties, NSW Waratahs, Australia – WallabiesCasey Laulala – New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Counties, Caterbury, Crusaders, Cardiff Blues, New Zealand All BlackNepo Laulala – Canterbury, Crusaders, New Zealand All BlacksJonah Lomu – New Zealand U16's, New Zealand U17's, New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Counties, Wellington, North Harbour, Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Cardiff Blues, NZ Sevens, New Zealand All BlackTevita Mailau – New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Northland, Auckland, Blues, Tonga Ikale TahiSeilala Mapusua – New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Otago, Highlanders, London Irish, Kubota Spears, Manu SamoaCharles Piutau – New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u20s, Auckland, NZ Sevens, Blues, New Zealand All BlackSiale Piutau – Counties, Highlanders, Tonga Ikale TahiAugustine Pulu – Counties, Chiefs, New Zealand All Black, NZ SevensDavid Raikuna – Counties, North Harbour, Blues, NZ SevensDoug Rollerson – Manawatu, New Zealand All BlackSitiveni Sivivatu – Counties, Waikato, Chiefs, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Pacific Islanders, New Zealand All BlackGeorge Stowers – New Zealand Secondary Schools, NZ u21s, Counties, Chiefs, Ospreys, Pacific Islanders, Manu SamoaNiva Ta'auso – Counties, Connacht, New Zealand Divisional XV, Junior All BlacksMichael Tagicakibau – Taranaki, London Welsh, Saracens, FijiSailosi Tagicakibau – Chiefs, London Irish, Pacific Islanders, Manu SamoaEzra Taylor – Otago, Highlanders, Reds, Connacht, Manu SamoaHale T-Pole – New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand u19s, New Zealand u21s, Southland, Highlanders, Pacific Islanders, Tonga Ikale TahiViliame Veikoso – Otago, FijiRugby LeagueGlen Fisiiahi – New Zealand Warriors playerFetuli Talanoa – Tonga Rugby League International/South Sydney RabbitohsTame Tupou – Kiwis/Brisbane Broncos/Bradford Bulls