Waitaki Boys' High School


Waitaki Boys' High School is a secondary school for boys located in the northern part of the town of Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand, with day and boarding facilities, and was founded in 1883., it has a school roll of approx 400.
The school has a house system with four houses, Don, Forrester, Lee and Sutherland. It organises some cultural activities together with its nearby sister school, Waitaki Girls' High School.
The school is notable for its British colonial architecture, encompassing such historic buildings such as the Hall of Memories, an assembly hall, built to honour its former pupils who died in various wars. Most of the blocks of classrooms at Waitaki Boys High School are named after famous past students, also known as Waitakians or Old Boys. The main, and oldest block of the school is named after Denis Blundell.

Founding the School

The idea of establishing a boys' high school originated with Mr. S. E. Shrimski, who was one of the two members of parliament representing the Waitaki electorate.

Rectors

The following is a complete list of the rectors of Waitaki Boys' High School:
NameTerm
1John Harkness1883–1896
2John Robert Don1897–1906
3Frank Milner1906–1944
4James Thomas Burrows1945–1949
5Malcolm Leadbetter1950–1960
6John Hammond Donaldson1961–1976
7Keith Albert Laws1976–1985
8Geoff Tait1986 - 1988
9Benjamin Rory Gollop1988–1998
10Paul Baker1999–2011
11Paul Jackson2012–2015
12Clive Rennie2016-2017
13Darryl Paterson 2017-

Notable alumni