It was a pleasure to recognise Michael Mayell as the 2024 recipient of the Altiora Peto Award. The Altiora Peto Award recognises the outstanding character and achievement of a living Old Boy. The recipient will best reflect the school’s motto of Altiora Peto. He will be a fine role model for the young men of today’s school.

This award is an outstanding feature of CBHS and the OBA. We were privileged to have Michael speak in assembly today and we appreciated his speech to the boys which included reminiscence of his time at CBHS, starting Cookie Time and his new projects including drinkable rivers.

Born in Dunedin and raised in Christchurch, Michael attended Christchurch Boys' High School from 1975 to 1978. He founded Cookie Time selling homemade cookies, which led to a thriving business presence in New Zealand and Japan. Mayell also founded the Cookie Time Charitable Trust, One Square Meal, and Nutrient Rescue, focusing on health and environmental sustainability.

Michael's innovative approach and contributions to the business community have earned him numerous accolades, including the New Zealand Food Awards and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. His current mission is to help Kiwis become the most energized and healthy people on the planet and to promote regenerative living solutions.

Michael was an inspired choice for the award. His messages including lean in, fail and then succeed, never stop learning, replace screen time with nature time, your words create your world and radical responsibility resonated. After assembly numerous boys stopped to talk with Michael and have their photo taken.

CBHS and the OBA extends its congratulations and thanks to Michael.

Altiora Peto