The day of celebration for our Year 13 students was a day to savour and remember.

Starting just after sunrise was our Final Year 13 Chapel, which, adorned with flowers and bathed in candlelight, was a perfect and poignant setting for a heartfelt farewell. To round off a most meaningful morning in the St Peter’s school calendar, was the guard of honour, in which our junior students lined the avenues for their Year 13 seniors, and which concluded, most appropriately, with the highlight of our school Haka. Throughout the day, from Chaplain, to Lead Dean, to Board Chair and our departing Head Students, there were words of reflection, support and encouragement. For those who were unable to attend, please see below my Senior Prizegiving address to our graduating Class of 2023.

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Tēnā tatou katoa, nau mai haure mai, parents and friends, special guests, colleagues and students. I would like to acknowledge that the land we gather on today is the ancient lands of Ngati Haua and Ngati Koroki Kahukura, we pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and we acknowledge their deep connection with this land. I would personally like to acknowledge our Kaumatua Reverend Haki Wirihana for his faith and guidance through what has been an unprecedented period of service here at St Peter’s. Kaumatua, tēnā koe.

At the end of this academic year, Mr Mike Kilgour, who nears his 45th year at St Peter’s, will round off what has been an incredible contribution to this school. Putting this in perspective, I was just four years old and in my very first year of school when Mr Kilgour was starting work at St Peter’s. And what a contribution he has made. Mike will forever be remembered not just as a treasured colleague, but also a true legend of St Peter’s. And, as a man who magically balances both strength and love in his character, he is a beacon and model for what we stand for as a school, and what we seek from each other. Mr Kilgour, Sir, thank you.

In opening, I would like to start by extending my great thanks to all students for your engagement in so many areas of school life; to my colleagues for your dedication in and out of the classroom; to parents for your support of our school; and to our Board Chair, Mr John Macaskill-Smith, and all members of the St Peter’s Trust Board for your stewardship. The intersection of all these stakeholder groups, the way we gather, the nature of our interactions, the tone of our collaboration, and the quality of partnership, are what determine and distinguish us as a school, and will continue to do so in the years ahead, leading to our centenary year in 2036. To all here today, and those who cannot be with us, tēnā koutou katoa.

It is an honour and a privilege to be given the opportunity to lead this school and to lead a life in this great nation, Aotearoa New Zealand. In recent weeks, I have been reflecting on the mighty Kahikatea, the tallest tree in New Zealand’s native forests. We have a Kahikatea stand on our own beautiful campus, of course, keeping watch over us. Strong, forbearing, reliable. And in whose shadow we will stand, following this prizegiving, when the school perform the Haka to our graduating Class of 2023. Unlike other native giants such as the Tōtara and the Kauri which root deep into the ground, the Kahikatea possesses a shallow root system. I believe many of you may know this already, that to gain strength, the Kahikatea grows large buttress roots that entwine with other Kahikatea, to form an intricate tapestry and strong foundation, allowing it to grow to such great heights. The lesson for us, is that the strength and stability of the Kahikatea is gained from a collective unity of purpose. And it is this theme that I would like to promote in today’s address.

Just yesterday, I saw a collective unity of purpose in the Junior Production of Newsies, and we saw the same in the outstanding senior production of Anastasia earlier in the year. Every week, I see a collective unity of purpose in our sports teams and crews, in fixtures, regattas, at Tournament Weeks, AIMS Games and exchanges. I see and hear a collective unity of purpose in our boarding community, certainly not just in Top House or Haka competitions or MasterChef dinners, but in the infinite number of supportive interactions that take place in all of our boarding houses on a daily basis. I certainly saw and heard a message of love and a collective unity of purpose at the recent Broadhurst House Dinner.

There is collective unity of purpose in the ongoing collaboration within faculties around the St Peter’s Diploma, curriculum in general, and the curation of meaningful learning experiences and academic pathways for our students. I have seen and heard a collective unity of purpose in classrooms across the school, from Technology to English to our Agri Centre, and all faculties in between, from both NCEA and IB students. I recall a collective unity of purpose in a meeting with members of the Rainbow Owls group, who provided an important perspective on their student journey. We spoke about the intersection of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, and of a culture in which students more instinctively reach outside of their friendship groups to more consciously include others.

I have seen a collective unity of purpose in the work and leadership of our Head Prefects and wider prefect team; And each week we are centred and drawn together in Chapel services, by our Co-Chaplains, in faith, song, prayer and unity. I have seen a solidarity and collective unity of purpose in our cohort of international students, and indeed no small amount of character in these students, who are brave enough to live thousands of kilometres from their homes and loved ones. Equally, alongside Ms O’Leary, I saw a collective unity of purpose at the Relay For Life, from early until late, and heard the same from Ms McCarthy about all who contribute and give back in our service initiatives, and from Mr Powell in his reports on expeditions and camps far from our Cambridge bubble. We see the same, of course, in our cultural and co-curricular groups – Kapa Haka, Pacifica, Debating, Musical Theatre Academy, Music ensembles such as Petra Musica and Voice Collective, and more. Despite such diversity, there is – all around us at St Peter’s – unity of purpose, of interest, of mindset, of support. And this is a mere snapshot, of course.

To our Year 13 students, the Class of 2023, the conversations, feedback and feed-forward you have provided my colleagues and I, not just this year but throughout your time here, will shape the future of St Peter’s. We have heard you. We have heard your enthusiasm to see the School honour the seniority of its most senior students in more sophisticated ways, and we share your value in the unity of the Year 13 cohort – a “collective unity of purpose”. Part of your legacy will be leaving behind these principles for us to activate. It is important to point out that the School’s new strategic direction – the St Peter’s Seven-Year Student Journey – has been crafted from gaining a deeper understanding of your individual and collective journeys here at St Peter’s.

In my conversations with many of you in recent days and weeks, you have been reminiscent and spoken fondly of your teachers, coaches and the broader team of staff who are so dedicated in your support. Thank you, in your maturity, for noticing the words we say, the things we encourage, the way we speak, the behaviours we reward, the challenges we set, the encouragement we give, the opportunities we provide, the kindness we show, the hard work we model, the courtesies and considerations we afford you and each other, the habits that we champion, the expectations that we set, the listening that we do, the guidance that we offer, the smiles that we give. On this note, I would like to reiterate my great and sincere thanks to all staff across the school for your dedication in creating the environment, the experiences and the connections that set this school apart, and make such a difference in the lives of our students.

At the graduates dinner last Friday, we were treated to the inspirational words of St Peter’s alumnus and para-Olympian Anna Taylor; we were guided by the wisdom of our longest serving staff member, Mr Mike Kilgour; and inspired by the concept of commonality by the Chair of our Alumni Association, Mr David Wybourne – the commonality being that we will forever share a connection to St Peter’s – and this, again, is a reference to a collective unity of purpose. We were also reminded in a toast to students by Ms Lisa Manning – Mum to Maia – of the ‘pulled heart-strings’ of parenting. To all parents here today, especially those who end their St Peter’s school journey with us – I know for some this is after multiple and overlapping seven-year journeys – I would like to thank you sincerely for your great investment in your son or daughter and, through them, in us as a school. Overall, parents and caregivers, thank you for your partnership, within which, lies not only the key to performance and progress, but also, at its best, reflects a collective unity of purpose.

Finally, to the Class of 2023, just as our own grove of Kahikatea stands strong to the natural elements, I wish you every success, as you are tested to stand equally as strong and resolute in the adventures and challenges that lie ahead of you. As you embark on a year of new connections, I encourage you to recall Aotearoa New Zealand's tallest indigenous tree, as a symbol of your connection to St Peter’s, and of a collective unity of purpose that – as a St Peter’s Alumnus – will never ebb nor fade and will be ever present in your support.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa.

Marcus Blackburn

Head of School