Latest news with #King'sHighSchool
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Believe in yourselves, inductee tells students
Vietnam War veteran Lox Kellas (left) and former Blackcap Ken Rutherford stand in front of the King's High School Wall of Fame yesterday. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON A Vietnam War veteran and a former Blackcap have been honoured by their secondary school in Dunedin. Lox Kellas and Ken Rutherford were inducted into King's High School's Wall of Fame at an assembly yesterday. Mr Rutherford, who attended the school from 1979 to 1982, said it was remarkable to be recognised among his peers. His message to the King's students was "you've just got to keep going". "There's a lot to be said about reacting well to life's experiences when they perhaps don't go the way they're intended to and to have a real confidence in yourself that you can still achieve lots." Two years after Mr Rutherford left school, he was facing one of the most feared fast bowling attacks in the world in West Indies' Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Joel Garner. He got three ducks in his first four innings and was subsequently dropped from the team. However, he worked his way back into the international side after scoring runs in domestic cricket and made 107 not out against England in Wellington in the 1987-88 tour. Mr Rutherford was now the Northern Districts Cricket Association chief executive. Mr Kellas, who attained the army rank of major, said the honour took him by surprise. "There are a lot more former pupils out there that have done a lot more than I've ever done," the Vietnam War veteran said. He recognised a few of the names on the King's Wall of Fame and did not expect to see himself on it. "Life's full of challenges and if you accept those challenges and do it well, that's the reward." Mr Kellas, who attended the school from 1961 to 1966, was awarded a Queen's Service Medal in 2007 for services to New Zealand Police. He was involved in the community through a variety of initiatives and organisations including as the Returned Services Association Otago and Southland district president, a founding member of the Dunedin Coastguard and a Otago Peninsula Community board member. Mr Kellas said he kept his remarks to the King's students very short and addressed them as "tomorrow's leaders". He offered them a Gaelic quote which translated to "lead but serve". King's principal Nick McIvor said it was great to celebrate the fascinating lives and remarkable achievements of former students. Alongside Mr Kellas and Mr Rutherford, Geoff Thomas, Philip Craigie, Al Fastier, Graham Fortune and Tony Merriman were also inducted into the Wall of Fame.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Speech contest winner gets ‘heart-warming' response from peers
Receiving a roaring haka was a "heart-warming" moment for a Dunedin secondary student who took top honours in a Māori speech competition. King's High School student Zane Rakete-Gray, 16, won the Korimako senior English contest at the Ōtākou and Murihiku Ngā Manu Kōrero regional speech competition at the Dunedin Town Hall yesterday. Zane placed first in both impromptu and prepared speeches categories. For his prepared speech, Zane spoke about what the world could look like in 2085 if the present coalition government got its way. "There won't be a competition like this in 2085, our language will be dead, the land will be destroyed beyond repair and our environment will not be good enough to live in." The competition was a good way to express his culture to the rest of the country, if not the world, he said. "It just shows that there is still people who can speak Māori." When he was announced the winner, a haka erupted in the town hall from his peers in the King's and Queen's High Schools' kapa haka group, He Waka Kōtuia. "It was a bit heart-warming." For the Ta Turi Kara junior English contest winner Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepoti student Ngaki Kiore, 14, speaking was about showing her peers they could stand on a stage and speak their minds. "There is a place for you here, whether you speak te reo Maori or not." Ngaki's sister Matoia Wilson won the senior English competition in 2009 and Ngaki was proud to follow in her sister's footsteps. Her speech was about connection to her ancestors and why her Māori correspondence school's curriculum offered the best opportunity for students to succeed, Ngaki said. "At Kura Kaupapa we are not just based off learning, we are based off how we can grow in ourselves." About 40 speakers from 23 schools across Otago and Southland took part n over two days. Zane and Ngaki will be joined by Pei Te Hurinui Jones senior Māori contest winner Hana Davis and Rawhiti Ihaka junior Māori contest winner Kyra Bachelor-Tata at the national finals in Whanganui this September.
Otago Daily Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Runner ‘chuffed' with record
Former Dunedin ultra-distance runner Damian Watson nears the finish line of the Wild Horse 200 in South Wales. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Damian Watson did not just break the previous record for the Wild Horse 200 ultra-distance race across Wales, he absolutely smashed it, then ground it up into dust. The race can take up to five days to complete, but the Dunedin-born and raised runner won it in 51 hours and 51 minutes — about five and a-half hours faster than the previous race record-holder. The 38-year-old's mother Sharon Watson, of Dunedin, said it was held on a gruelling 200-mile (322km) trail, traversing the mountains of South Wales, along Offa's Dyke, traversing the Beacons Way before catching the Heart Of Wales Line on to the Wales Coast Path and finish line at Worm's Head. "It's not like the Coast to Coast in New Zealand. It's a lot longer — 322km straight." She said about 120 competed from across Europe and Watson was the only New Zealander. "He's pretty chuffed with the win. He's really competitive. "He's always been a sports person. He played ice hockey — he was a former Ice Black — and hockey, and then he took to marathon running. "He can be very hard on himself. That's why he was so chuffed. "He recently got third in a big race in the North Island which was a lot less kilometres in it, and he wasn't happy about it. "He had the fitness, but he lost it mentally at the end." Whatever went wrong upstairs, he seems to have fixed, she said. "There was no way anyone was going to catch him. "He basically led from the start and he was about 20km ahead." She said he was "a proud Kiwi" and the family was delighted to see footage of him crossing the finish line, holding a New Zealand flag. It appears there is no rest for the wicked. She said he went back to work the next day as a Trafalgar Tours guide on a bus. He spends the northern hemisphere summers tour guiding and doing marathons where he can, and in the New Zealand summer, he returns to help run his deli at Muriwai Beach with his business partners. Mrs Watson said the former King's High School student was not the easiest child in the family to raise, because he was so "driven". "But we're very proud of him."
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Plaque laid in memory of student
The plaque in memory of Enere McLaren-Taana at Trinity Catholic College. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH A Dunedin secondary school has honoured a former student with a memorial plaque a year after he was tragically killed in a stabbing at the bus hub. Trinity Catholic College hosted a liturgy led by college chaplain Fr Vaughan Hook for Enere McLaren-Taana on Thursday. Staff and students were joined by Enere's family and his peers from his former school, King's High School. Trinity principal Kate Nicholson said about 100 people took part in a time of reflection remembering Enere's life. "It has been such a hard year for Enere's whānau and those who cared for him, and the grief is still very real. "Providing this opportunity to bring everyone together to share this anniversary was truly a privilege to be part of." A plaque was unveiled and blessed followed by haka by Trinity and King's students. Ms Nicholson said the liturgy concluded with Trinity students singing I say to you with love in tribute to Enere — the same song that was sung at Otago Polyfest for him last year. The 14-year-old found guilty of manslaughter after the fatal stabbing will be sentenced in July.
Otago Daily Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Hastie making most of chances
Highlanders halfback Nathan Hastie is not the demonstrative type. He was a little uncomfortable with the suggestion he is having a breakthrough season. But he is having a breakthrough season. The 24-year-old has impressed in the No 9 jersey and has made the most of his starts. Folau Fakatava has started the last three matches, but Hastie has got the nod for the game against Moana Pasifika on Sunday. The former King's High School head prefect has a good feel for the game. He follows his instincts as often as he does the pre-game blueprint and mostly makes good decisions. He is also healthy. The Australian-born player has had his share of setbacks on the injury front. He injured his shoulder in 2022 and was sidelined for the NPC season. Last year he required surgery when he tripped on a rug and fell through a window. His flatmate and Highlanders first five Cameron Millar had to call an ambulance. But in four weeks he was back playing rugby and back with some extra appreciation for the game. "Yeah, it's been really good. Body's healthy," he said when asked about his season. "I've managed to get a bit more game time this year, so I'm really enjoying that. Every time I get to play, it's always good fun." His performances have attracted some sterling reviews in print. But, at that point in the interview, you got the feeling Hastie wanted to run back to halfway with his head down as was the way for rugby players in this country for decades. "Just doing my thing, really. Nothing too much out of the blue or the ordinary. "Just back myself, back my running game, back my kicking game. "Just go out there and try and play my best footy." His best footy starts by getting to the ruck as quickly as possible and making decisions from there. It is not quite as simple as pass, kick or run. There is a game plan to follow. There might be a gap in the defence to exploit. The game situation might require taking the tempo out of the game and leaving the ball at the back of the ruck a little longer. All those decisions get easier the more experience you have had. Hastie is not there yet. But he does have good instincts. "I like to go for a wee run every now and then and try and get a wee offload away. I think that's one of the strengths of my game. "But yeah, I love that part of my game. And then just do my own role and stick to the game plan." Hastie grew up in Perth. His father is from Dunedin and his family moved back in 2016. He slotted into life in New Zealand nicely. He excelled at sports. Hastie captained the King's first XI cricket team and represented Otago at under-19 level. He was a left-arm spinner but has not played cricket since rupturing his ACL in his last year at school. Injury setbacks are part of the journey for most professional athletes. But it is not always easy to keep your spirits up. "It's quite hard being injured and especially for the whole season. Just try and stay connected with the team. Try and help out where you can. "Just see it as an opportunity to get better in other places." The Highlanders' playoff prospects are on life support. A loss to Moana Pasifika would be a major blow. They are not going into the match with much form behind them. They were dispatched 43-10 by the Crusaders in Dunedin last weekend and well beaten 46-10 by the Chiefs in Hamilton in the previous game. They edged Moana Pasifika 31-29 in February. They had led 31-10 at halftime and were lucky to hold on. Hastie was a standout performer for the Highlanders in that match. Highlanders v Moana Pasifika Kick-off 3.35pm Sunday at Forsyth Barr Stadium The teams Highlanders: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Sam Gilbert, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), Jonah Lowe, Cameron Millar, Nathan Hastie, Hugh Renton (co-captain), Sean Withy, TK Howden, Oliver Haig, Fabian Holland, Saula Ma'u, Soane Vikena, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Jack Taylor, Josh Bartlett, Rohan Wingham, Mitch Dunshea, Veveni Lasaqa, Folau Fakatava, Taine Robinson, Jake Te Hiwi. Moana Pasifika: William Havili, Tevita Ofa, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Danny Toala, Kyren Taumoefolau, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Jonathan Taumateine, Semisi Tupou-Ta'eiloa, Ardie Savea (captain), Miracle Faiilagi, Samuel Slade, Tom Savage, Chris Apoua, Millenium Sanerivi, Tito Tuipulotu. Reserves: Tomasi Maka, Monu Moli, Pone Fa'amausili, Ofa Tauatevalu, Sione Havili Talitui, Melani Matavao, Julian Savea, Patrick Pellegrini.
