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 716 students as of July 2026.
About 55 percent of the students are of European heritage, 18 percent identify as Pasifika, 18 percent identify as Asian, and 20 percent are Māori, and there are various Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African students (MELAA).
A highlight for the school is the annual McEvedy Shield athletics event.
Contents
Location
The school stands on the Rongotai isthmus which separates Lyall Bay and the Cook Strait to the south from Evans Bay on Wellington Harbour to the north. Having the sea on two sides 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, and residential Rongotai to the west. Wellington's city centre is a few kilometres to the northwest.
History
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, it became purely a secondary school, catering to boys in what are now years 9 to 13.
The assembly hall, known as Renner Hall, was opened in 1966 and is named after the founding headmaster.
Achievement
The 2013 ERO report was favorable while pointing out areas for improvement, for example in monitoring achievement and attendance levels.
School leadership
Houses
The four houses at Rongotai College are named after the school's first four headmasters,
Renner (Red)
Heron (Blue)
Lock (Green)
Mackay (Yellow)
Notable alumni
Dates denote period enrolled as student
Arts
Andrew Fagan (1976–1979) – writer, singer and songwriter, former frontsman for The Mockers
Tofiga Fepulea'i – actor and comedian, member of the stand up comedy duo Laughing Samoans
Kyle Lockwood (1991–1995) – architectural designer, designer of the Silver fern flag
Ben Lummis (1992–1996) – singer, New Zealand Idol winner
Lani Tupu (1969–1972) – actor
Gordon Walters – artist and designer
Clive Revill (1944–1947) – actor, singer, two-time Tony Award nominee, Golden Globe nominee
Science
Dr Barry Dent (1973–1977) – CEO of BDG Synthesis, (organic chemistry)
Professor David J. Stevenson (1962-1966) - professor of planetary science at Caltech.
Professor Alex Malahoff (1951–1956) – pioneered use of submersibles to explore submarine volcanoes, CEO of GNS Science 2002–2012
Tony Mahon (1947–52) – built a reputation for his extensive research on geothermal energy; awarded Joseph Aidlin Award
Dr Campbell Nelson FRSNZ (1957–61) – ex-Professor of Earth Studies at Waikato University, awarded 2004 Hutton medal by the Royal Society
Miscellaneous
Sam Morgan (1989–1992) – founder of TradeMe
Gerald Shirtcliff – fraudster
Ivon Julian – flying ace of the Second World War
Frank Murphy – flying ace of the Second World War
Politics and public service
Hon. Justice Andrew Becroft (1971–1975) – High Court Judge, former Principal Youth Court Judge of New Zealand and Children's Commissioner
Hon. Justice Richard Heron (dec.) (1948–1954) – former High Court judge
Hon. Justice Rhys Harrison KC – former Court of Appeal judge (2010-2018), and former High Court judge (2001-2010)
Hon. Justice Tony Doogue – former High Court judge (1986-2002)
Sir Crawford Falconer KCMG - Diplomat, former New Zealand Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
David Farrar (1981–1985) – political activist, blogger and pollster
Professor Stuart McCutcheon (1968–1972) – Vice-Chancellor, the University of Auckland
Rear Admiral E.C. (Ted) Thorne CB, CBE, Rtd (1935–1938) – Chief of Navy 1972–1975
Peter Button – OBE, rescue helicopter pilot.
Sport
Derek Froude (1973–1977) – represented New Zealand in the men's marathon, at the Olympics in 1984 and 1992
Paul Lloyd (1979–1984) – represented New Zealand in the men's 110m hurdles, at the Commonwealth Games, Auckland in 1990
Shaka Sola - a shot putter and discus thrower who represented Samoa in discuss at the Olympics in 2004 and world champiopnships in 2005
Troy McLean – Wellington Saints and former Tall Blacks basketball player
Chris Tupu - former Tall Blacks basketball player and former Assistant Coach of NZ Under-17 basketball team at 2021 World Championships
Bruce Edgar (1970–1974) – former New Zealand cricketer
Don Neely – cricket historian, administrator, and former Wellington player
Jeetan Patel (1994–1998) – Black Cap (New Zealand cricketer)
Barry Sinclair – former New Zealand Test captain
Ian D S Smith (1970–1973) – sports commentator and former New Zealand cricketer
Billy Harris (1977–1981) – New Zealand football player
Chris Killen (1995–1998) – New Zealand football player
Jesse Randall (2016-2020) - New Zealand football player
Shane Rufer (1974–1979) – New Zealand football player
Videoed Canings Controversy
In October 1981, newspapers reported Principal, Noel Mackay, acknowledging that he had videoed the canings of about 25 boys. Mackay explained this as an experiment to see why experienced teachers often 'miss the target' and leave boys with embarrassing marks on their lower buttocks. Statements of support and criticism for Mackay followed. Both the Rongotai Parents' Association and Rongotai Ladies Auxiliary backed the Principal. Some students signed a petition in support of Mackay. The Education Department declined to comment, believing the matter was strictly between the Board and the Principal.
The Campaign Against Violence in Education (CAVE) called a special meeting to consider the Rongotai experiment. A CAVE spokesperson said the Rongotai case confirmed their fears of the sort of abuse they had suspected went on in schools. He added, "I find it rather creepy. The act of beating a young person is nasty in itself - photographing that nastiness is almost obscene."
The Governing Board appears to have been unaware of the filming before August 1981. The Board later asked for the practice to stop and for all videos to be erased. Mr Mackay offered his resignation, but the Board declined and set up a Committee of Inquiry. Mr Mackay stated that his offer of resignation was not linked to the videos.
Following a report from the Committee in November 1981, the Board found that Mr Mackay had acted within his authority while filming the canings and expressed their confidence in him.
Peter Street had complained to the Board after learning his son had been filmed during a caning. Mr Street, complained that his questions had not been answered by the inquiry and spoke of a whitewash. He asked the Board why there were inconsistencies in the answers given to him earlier by Mr Mackay and the Board chairman concerning the reasons for the experiment.
The Board collected all copies of the inquiry report and destroyed them.
In response to a 2019 allegation made by a former student of sexual impropriety by Mackay, the Rongotai College Board of Trustees stated they were unaware of the complaint until contacted by a reporter. The Chair of the Trustees added that the school and Board '... have strong protocols in place around the reporting and investigation of all forms of abuse... allegations will be taken seriously, investigated thoroughly and handled with confidentiality.'