The 2012 Intermediate Boys 4x25m Freestyle record was broken by the Hanover team - Joaquin Hare, Zac Wakeling, Lincoln Clapham and Finn Andrews. The new time was 58.19 beating the old time of 1.00.65.

Rodney College celebrated the 2023 cultural and sporting successes of their students on Tuesday 17 October. It was great to see so many back into the rhythm of playing sport, performing arts, music and drama. Congratulations to the main prize winners:

Student Official - Sebastian Kashammer, Junior Sportsman - Dominic Pratt, Junior Sportswomen - Millie Brierly and Kacey Williams, Senior Sportswomen - Isbe Kuinikoro and Kyla Middleton, Senior Sportsmen - Matthew Came and Alex Manuell.

We had a fabulous evening celebrating our senior students and all their achievements for the year. There were many scholarships given and the 2024 Student Leaders team was announced. Our Dux for 2023 was Toby Henderson and Proxime Accessit was Anthony Grindlay.

Congratulations to all our students!

A huge thankyou to Caltex Kaiwaka for their support and sponsorship of $1000 Starcash cards for our sports teams at Rodney College.

Matthew Came and Alex Manuell represented Northland at the National Squash Champion of Champions. Matthew was our B grade rep and Alex was the D Grade rep. Matthew played exceedingly well but did not place. Alex was seeded 5th in the draw but beat the 1st and 4th seeds respectively in pool play to finish top of his pool. He then beat the 3rd seed in the final, taking home the trophy. This is a great accomplishment—last year winning the E Grade National Champ of Champs title only to take out the D Grade this year.

Congratulations to Alex who is the reigning NZ Champ for Squash in D Grade 2023.

Eight gallant young men, seven students and Mr Sean Kingsley, our Physics teacher, volunteered to have their heads shaved to raise money for cancer. Together they raised over $5400 for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ

Congratulations to the following students who were selected to represent Northland

• Alex Manuell and Jack Pennefather U17 Boys Prem Basketball

• Charlene Masiutama U17 Girls Prem Basketball

• Matthew Came Junior Quadrangular Squash Tournament

Other representatives were

• Amy Watson-Walker, Jaylah Clinton Aotearoa Maori U13 Girls Tag - Oceania Cup

• Millie Brierly Aotearoa Maori U15 Girls Tag - Oceania Cup

• Charlene Masiutama, Matthew Came, Ashdyn Woodcock, Kacey Williams, Emma McCardle & Mila Thomas NZ Invitational Mixed U16 - Oceania Cup

• Norah Williams - Far North Natives - Tag Nationals

• Millie Brierly North Harbour U16 Mixed Touch - NZ Touch Nationals

• Sebastian Kashammer referee for U14 Junior Tag Nationals

Rodney College Kapa Haka had the privilege of joining Nga Uri o nga Waka, Otamatea High School Kapa Haka to compete at the annual Te Tai Tokerau Festival. This year the festival was held in Kaitaia. The students put hours of practice and time into their performance,

with many hours spent away on noho to practice at Otamatea.

Huge thank yous to Arapeta Waata and Raegan for their time and effort and to Wiremu Ngatipa of Otamatea for welcoming our students.

Toby Henderson, Mila Thomas and William Clapham all won gold at Northland Athletics in Whangarei. Toby won gold in the Senior Boys 100m 200m and 400m. Mila took gold in the Intermediate Girls 100m and William in the Intermediate Boys 400m. 17 March 2023

Mikaila Isla was awarded the Wrighton's Cup and PTA award for winning Dux 2022, the Highest All Round Academic Achievement. Proxime Accessit was Eve Hampson who was present the Kevey Cup and PTA award.

The Cultural Person of the Year was awarded to both Jake Stokes (Music) and Sean Brennan (Drama)

Kacey Williams won Junior Sports woman of the Year. Kacey played for the North Harbour Pasifika Netball team at the Pacific Challenge Netball Tournament.

Joaquin Hare was awarded Junior Sportsman of the Year 

The Senior Sports woman trophy was awarded to both Isbe Kuinikoro ,who represented Fiji in the U16 Fiji Auckland team at the Pasifika Netball Cup and named MVP and Rachel Came who won the Northland E Grade  Squash Champ of Champs qualifying for Nationals.

Alex Manuell and Matthew Came were awarded the Senior Sportsman of the Year. Alex played for Northland U17 Boys Basketball and won the Northland E Grade Title and was in the Rodney College  SS Badminton Team that placed 3rd. Matthew Came was Northland's C1 Grade Runner up and represented Northland at Quads Tournament in Rotorua placing 4th overall. He won Best Results trophy in Cricket, Most Outstanding Boy in Hockey was in the Rodney College  SS Badminton Team that placed 3rd.

The 2022 Student Leaders were announced yesterday after being delayed.

Congratulations to MONTEL VEMOA , HEAD BOY and  MIKAILA ISLA,  HEAD GIRL.

They have a strong team behind them = HOUSE LEADERS - Hanover Brendon Mason & Jamie Morrow, Miles - Cayene Odi, Zeph Jones, Tyburnia - Charlie Balle, Sean Brennan, Wattenbach - Izabellah Treadwell, Eve Hampson. SPORTS LEADERS - Xavier Edmonds-Cooper, Aidan Whittle. CULTURAL LEADERS - Samantha Hunia, Pania Ratu. SOCIAL ACTION - Harris Norhan, Natalie Pearson, WHANAU SUPPORT - Nevada Pilkington-Sharp, Jaide Collinson.

Ethan Skelling competed in the Special Olympics in Whangarei coming 2nd in both his 100m and 400m and placing 4th in his 200m

A small team of athletes attended College Sport Athletics at North Harbour as we were unable to attend Northland Athletics due to being in COVID Level 1. Xavier Henderson won the Intermediate Boys Long Jump with a jump of 5.56m and placed 2nd in the Shotput with a put of 12.24m. Toby Henderson placed 3rd in both the Intermediate Boys 200m and 400m, with Jackson Brierly placing 3rd in the Senior Boys 800m.

A thirty year old athletics record was toppled  at our Athletics Day. The Intermediate Boys 200m record of 24.26 set by G Thomas in 1991 was broken by Toby Henderson who ran 23.75. Xavier Edmonds Cooper broke the 2005 Intermediate Boys Shotput record which was  set by QL Wilson at 11.50m in 2005. Xavier set the new record at 12.04.

Rosa Ewing has literally out done herself, breaking her own record she set last year for the Senior Girls 50m Backstroke. Her new time was 36.81 with her 2020 record was 37.78.

Four boys took out the top academic awards at the Junior Prizegiving this year. Peter Sundvick was Overall Year 9 Student with Thomas Tameris placing second. Chevy Barnes was awarded the Davidson Cup for 1st Overall Year 10 student and Toby Henderson placing second.

Crimson-Lily Hodgkinosn was awarded the Wrighton's Cup and PTA award for winning Dux 2020, the Highest All Round Academic Achievement. Proxime Accessit was Georgia Brown who was present the Kevey Cup and PTA award.

Caleb Teaupa, our Cultural Person of the Year, is an amazing and talented student,  he was selected to perform at the Globe Theatre and was accepted to Toi Whakaari, NZ foremost national drama school.

Five of our students had a fantastic year on the sports field despite all the interruptions.  Junior Sportswomen was a joint win for Caitlin Heke and Norah Williams. Toby Henderson took Junior Sportsman, Louisa Tubailagi - Senior Sportswoman and Jesse Manuell - Senior Sportsman.

Crimson-Lily Hodgkinson, Alicia McDonald and Danielle Marshall were given the opportunity to atten the Dreaming Big event where successful and influential women in law, business and finance shared their experience. This year they were spoilt to have Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speak. This event was an invaluable experience particularly as they are heading into the next chapter of their lives.

Gage placed first in the National Bowhunter Series, in the Bowhunter Unlimited at Lake View Archery. Gage had a first and a second in the first 2 rounds, which  meant winning the series.

Gage also competed in the NZFAA Bowhunter Nationals held in Massey where he won silver. Gage was also presented a certificate for breaking a NZ Archery record at the first round of the National series in UM Animal Round earlier in the year. He also won Junior Bowhunter Unlimited in the ADAA Field Championships at Massey Archery.

Congratulations to Billy Whelan who, representing Northland in the U18 Longboard, placed second at the NZ Scholastic Surfing Champs, . Billy made it to the finals of 4 competitors from around NZ. He was leading for most of the competition and placed 2nd with 11.75  to the 1st place surfer with 12.7. This was an outstanding achievement Billy, well done!

Congratulations to Louisa Tubailagi who was selected to play for Northland U18 Womens Rugby team. This led to being selected to play for the Northland Kauri Squad for the Farah Palmer Cup. Louisa has made the starting line up for the last two weeks. Louisa also played for Fiji in the World School 7s Tournament in Dec 2019. 

Georgia Brierly, ex Rodney College student was also selected for the Northland Kauri Squad.

Samantha-Lee Wakeling, one of our Year 9 students has had a very impressive season in Equestrian.

Samantha placed 1st in Horse of the Year in the 1.10 Championship which is an amazing achievement in this very prestigious event. She was one of the youngest riders in the 1.10 Pony Championship and was on one of the most inexperienced ponies in the class that she won .

 She also placed 1st at Auckland Cup Showjumping Champs, Northland Open Pony 1.10 Champs Taupo Christmas Classic Open Pony 1.10 Classic and Woodhill Sands Open Pony 1.10 Championship.

Samantha has been selected for the Dunstan Young Rider Camp in October, there were over 500 applicants and 52 young riders from around the country were selected.

Louisa Tubailagi had a great day on Athletics Day breaking a newly set record by Georgia Brierly in Senior Girls 100m in 2019. Her new time was 12.97 beating the old record of 13.06. Louisa also won the Senior Girls 200m, 400m, 800m,  1500m, Long Jump and first equal in the Senior Girls High Jump.

Rosa Ewing broke a Senior Girls 50m Backstroke record, which was set by Winter Cotton back 2014 at  40.04. Rosa new record was 37.78sec

Jenae Hampson won the Wrightson's Cup and PTA Award of Dux, the highest all round Academic Achievement, and Carlos Gillon won the Kevey Cup and PTA Award for Proxime Accessit.

Rosa Ewing won the overall top prize, the Cornes Trophy, for Year 11 and Danielle Bright won the Izard Irwin Cup for overall top Year 12.

Rodney College had seven finalists at the Northland ASB Awards with 2 students winning their code, a great achievement at such a prestigious evening.

Golf                      Tarrin Rous

Karting                 Billy Richards

Official                 Jackson Brierly

Official                 Oliver Broadhead

Parasports           Brennan Massey

Rugby Union       Georgia Brierly

Rugby Union       Patrick Abellera

Both Tarrin Rous and Billy Richards won their codes, which is a very high honour indeed. For Tarrin this is the third time he has won the Golf category.

Javarne Porter, who attended Whangarei Boys High for Year 13 (far right), also won the Rugby code. This was particularly special as all three finalists had played rugby for Rodney College.

Sports and Cultural Prizegiving top awards were given to:

Cultural Person of the Year - Jordan Teaupa,

Junior Sportswoman of the Year - Caitlin Heke

Junior Sportsman - Toby Henderson and Xavier Edmonds Cooper

Senior Sportman - Jesse Manuell

Senior Sportswoman - Georgia Brierly

Tamara Marshall competed at Equidays held at Mystery Creek, Hamiliton from 18 - 20 October. Tamara jumped in a 1.10 round and got into the jump off, she also competed in the 1.20 Derby. From this Tamara was selected to be a Demo rider for a clinic with Daniel Meech who has represented NZ at the Olympic games and was part of the NZ team that won the Nations Cup in 2018 in Abu Dhabi.  He is based in Germany now so this was a great experience for her.

Georgia Brierly has again been selected to attend the Red Bull Ignite7 in November where athletes  chosen from across the country take part in a four-day event. The event includes an intensive high performance skills and testing assessment and a televised one-day tournament designed to earmark new talent to enhance the pathway to our All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens teams. Georgia will then be playing for NZ Dutch Barbarian 7s team in the World School Sevens Tournament in December

Tamara Marshall was selected to represent Northland for Squash at the National Junior Individual Comp and the Inter-District Teams Championship in Auckland.

Billy Whelan placed 2nd in the National Scholastic Surf Champs held in Raglan. Billy competed in the U18 Longboard event. He kept his composure throughout the competition, leading the whole way on finals day, but in the dying minutes one of the other surfers got a brilliant wave.  Billy came a very close 2nd, beating higher seeded surfers.

Congratulations to our students who have been selected to represent Northland in Rugby.

U16 Girls                                 U18 Boys 

Prescilla Barlow                     Patrick Abellera        

                                               Jesse Manuell

U18 Girls                                 Noah Pride

Georgia Brierly ©                 

Louisa Tubailagi                    U18 Vikings

Mya Wilson-Hiraka                Jayden Wright

Four Year 13 students were invited to attend "Dreaming Big" in Auckland. Successful women shared their stories of hardships and obstacles that they faced as they moved up the hierarchy of the workforce. The students were encouraged to dream big and to never give up. They were also invited to Government House to have afternoon tea with Her Excellency, the Governor General of NZ, The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy.

Our Squash Team - Nicholas Sundvich, Tamara Marshall and Aiden Henare won the Northland Secondary School Mixed Open Squash Teams event held at the Whangarei Squash Club in June.

Tamara Marshall and her horse Midway Manolito competed at Horse of the Year, held in Hawkes Bay, in the Show Jumping where she did extremely well.

Tamara placed 1st in 1.10 metre division, 2nd in the 1.20 metres 2 phase and 4th in 1.15 metre 2 phase. Some very renowned riders where competing in these divisions and to place is awesome.

She also rode as part of the Waitemata Team which came 7th overall.

Six students won gold at the Northland Secondary Schools Athletics on Thursday 14 March. Xavier Edmonds Cooper - (Jnr Boys) 1st Shotput, Toby Henderson - (Jnr boys) 1st 300m, 2nd 200m, 3rd 800m, Caitlin Heke - (Jnr girls) 1st Javelin, 3rd 70m hurdles, Georgia Brierly - (Snr girls) 1st 100m, 1st 200m, 1st 400m, Jesse Manuell - (Snr boys) 1st 400m, 2nd 200m, 2nd= 100m, and Jackson Brierly - (Int boys) 1st 800m, 1st 1500m.  A fantastic day for all the athletes that competed.

Eight records were broken at this year's Swimming Sports. Rosa Ewing broke seven, one having stood for over 20 years. The records broken were: Intermediate Girls - 50m Freestyle 30.34, 100m Freestyle 65.44, 25m Backstroke 16.44, 50m Backstroke 34.69, 50m Breastroke 34.69, 25m Butterfly 15.03, 75m Medley 56.53. The eighth record broken was by Georgia Brierly in the Senior Girls 25m Breastroke 18.69.

Congratulations to Daniel Blunden (Year 13) for being selected for the Northland Senior Secondary Schools Cricket Team competing in Gisborne. Daniel will also be trialling for the U19 Northern Districts Team at this event.

Congratulations to our two top junior students for 2018

Year 9 - Olivia Platt

1st=  Mathematics

1st=  Social Studies

1st  Design & Visual

1st  Science

1st  English

JCEA – Excellence

Year 10 - Grace Meyers

2nd= Physical Education

2nd  Spanish

2nd  Drama

1st= Food

1st  Art

1st  Science

1st  Social Studies

1st  Mathematics

1st  English

JCEA – Excellence

Oskar Primbs was awarded Dux 2018 with the Highest All Round Academic Achievement. Oskar also won the Leaders of Tomorrow Entrance Scholarship for Otago University.  Daniel Blunden was awarded Proxime Accessit for 2018.

Billy Whelan had a great season of surfing having been selected from the NSS Scholastic Surfing series to represent Northland at the NZ Secondary Schools Surf Champs. Billy placed 4th in the Long Board division which is a very creditable result.

Brennan Massey competed in Australia over the October break, representing NZ in Power Chair Football at the Australian Nationals and The Ditch Cup.  Brennan also won his code, Parafed-Power Chair Football at the Northland ASB Sports Awards.

Victoria Vakatini Harding competed at the World Cup in Australia representing NZ in Tag Football in the Kiwi Tag Blacks Mixed U21 over the October break. Victoria also won the Tag Code in the Northland ASB awards. Previously Victoria had captained the Aotearoa Maori U18 Girls team where they played Samoa, Cook Islands and also represented Northland at NZ Nationals.

Georgia Brierly returned from Europe having competed in the NZ Dutch Barbarian Womens Rugby Sevens tournament held in Amsterdam over the October break. The NZ team won all their games. Georgia was then selected to attend the Redbull Ignite7 camp, at Trust Stadium. She placed 2 highest in the Bronco testing, 3rd highest in the counter movement jump and 8th overall women for skills.

NZ Secondary Schools Weightlifting Championships were held over the first weekend of September in Auckland, hosted at the Functional Strength HQ. Kayla Wray a Year 12 student finished 3rd overall in the 69kg, 15 and over section winning the bronze medal. She lifted two personal bests - 40kg in the Snatch and 50kg in the Clean and Jerk. ...

Olivia Platt competed in the Northland Ballet & Dance Inc 2018 Competitions.  She competed in 9 sections over the whole weekend, mostly in the 12 years and older age group. Some dances were just in her age group of 13 years, but the over 12 years can go up to 18 years. Olivia won 9 catergories and took 5 Special awards.

What an awesome achievement, and well deserved for all her hard work.

Rodney College has had eleven students selected to play for Northland Rugby teams with 2 players Kingi Herewini and Javarne Porter selected to play for Blues U18 squad, which played against the Hurricanes U18 squad.  Patrick Abellera was also selected for the Blues U17 Development Squad.

Below are the list of representatives

U18 - Sage Walters-Hansen, Javarne Porter, Kingi Herewini

Vikings - Ethan Whyte, Patrick Abellera

U16 - Noah Pride, Jesse Manuell, 

U13 open weight - Xavier Cooper, RJ Joseph

U15 - TeHiri Barlow

Georgia Brierly and her brother Jackson Brierly both won second place in their divisions at Northland Cross Country. Northland Cross Country is held at Barge Park where Georgia competed in the Senior Girls Division and Jackson Brierly in the U16 Boys.  

The Rodney College Golf team took out the Team Qualifier Tournament at Mt Denby in Whangarei. The team, (left to right) Jack Oldfield, Aaron Allott, Pacey Laing-Smith and Tarrin Rous, won both the Nett Division and the Gross Division.  Winning the Gross Division qualified them for the NZ Secondary Schools Finals being held at Manawatu Golf Club, in Palmerston, later this year

After a week of training at Bluelight Skills Camp,Patrick Abellera was awarded with the Overall Excellence Trainee Student award.The programme focuses on leadership training, practical skills, respect, team work, self confidence and self discipline.

Kingi Herewini was invited to play in the Africa Pacific Dragons U18 side in Paarl, Cape Town, South Africa. The was made up of players selected from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, tonga and Fiji to compete in a three day World Schools Festival rugby tournament.

Three students took gold in their events at Northland Athletics. Georgia Brierly hit the trifecta winning the Senior Girls 100m, 200m and the 400m. The Senior Girls Javelin was won by Sapphire Norburn-Cormack having won this event in her division for the last 5 years. Jarod Tantrum  won the Senior Boy Javelin with a throw of 41.23m.

Kayla Wray competed in the Auckland Weightlifting Champs this month and took the bronze in the Junior section. Kayla lifted 44kg in the Clean and Jerk and in the Snatch she lifted 39kg. About a year and a half ago Kayla was into crossfit until her coach introduced her to his weightlifting coach, and its all happened from there.

Outstanding performance!

Rosa Ewing broke 6 records at the Rodney College Swimming Sports for Intermediate Girls.She broke the 25m Butterfly, 15.07, 75m Medley 58.68, 50m and 100m Freestyle, 31.19 and 1.07.50 respectively, 25m Backstroke, 17.47 and the 50m Backstroke, 36.03.  Ethan Whyte also broke the 25m Senior Boys Breastroke with a time of 16.66 and the Lower North 25m Senior Boys Breastroke record with a time of 16.25.

Luke Stevens was awarded Dux with the Highest All Round Academic Achievement for 2017. Lachlan Ewing was Proxime Accessit.

Jennifer Thomas represented the Northern Districts area at the Royal Agricultural Society Show in Hastings, competing in the Dairy section. Jen won Parader of the Year and will be representing the Northern Districts and New Zealand at the Adelaide Show in 2018

Our Rodney College Golf team, Aaron Allott, Tarrin Rous and Jack Oldfield won the NZ Secondary Schools Qualifier Tournament with the three best gross scores count. This win means they are eligible to represent Northland in the NZ Secondary School Golf Tournament in Hastings on the 4 September.

Students from Kingsway, Mahurangi, Orewa, Rodney and Wentworth Colleges represent their school for this award, which celebrates achievement alongside community service. Harrison Warahi represented Rodney College in the Lions Young Ambassadors Award and was placed third receiving $200 towards his future studies.

Kaylee Tantrum's glass dress that she designed and made won the youth section at the Hospice/ Mahurangi College Wearable Arts and was chosen for 'Walk the Line" at NZ Fashion week.

Three Rodney College students are making their way to the National  Smokefree Rockquest competition. The band Weevils (Asher Prini - guitar /vocals and Jade Zaia - drums) were awarded second place. Mollie Harvey also placed second but  in the Solo/Duo acts.  Now we wait as the video submissions are judged and the 100 plus entries are culled to 30 acts.

Kingi Herewini, one of our Year 12 students have been selected in the Te Hiku o te Ika Maori Rugby U18 Team.  Players were selected from the entire Blues and Chiefs franchise area; this includes Northland, North Harbour, Auckland, Counties, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley and King Country. This team carries the mana of a proud rugby area and the players understand this.  

Three Rodney College students, Lewis Harris, Kaea Korewha and Jesse Manuell  were selected for the Northland Maori U15 Squad after playing for the Northland U15s South Zone Maoris over Queens Birthday weekend.

Rodney College had a team of five students competing in the North Island Secondary Schools  Athletics Champs,  in April.  Javarne Porter competed exceptionally well with a jump of 5.97m in the Intermediate Boys Long Jump, coming 4th in his division.

Well done to all five students, it was great to have Rodney College well represented at such a high level.

Nine gold medals were won at Northland Athletics in Whangarei this year. Jade Zaia = 1st Snr Boys Discus and  1st Snr Boys Shot Put, Harrison Warahi = 1st Snr Boys 800m, Sapphire Norburn-Cormack = 1st Int Girls Javelin, Georgia Brierly = 1st Int Girls 100m, 200m and 400m, Javarne Porter = 1st Int Boys Long Jump, Luca Rudolph = 1st Int boys 800m.   In total, twenty-one Rodney College students placed in the top 3 for their event.

Tarrin Rous competed in the US Kids Golf Auckland Tour – Eight events at various courses in Auckland. This is a worldwide event run by the US Kids Golf in America, for kids from 6-18yrs (He played in the 13-14yr division).

Tarrin had to play a minimum of four events and score 84 or less, at least once.  During each event, points are allocated to each player, dependant on their results for the day.  At the completion of all eight events, the players with the most points qualify to enter the US Kids Golf World Championships at Pinehurst, USA.