Waitaki Boys' High School facts for kids

Waitaki Boys' High School is a school just for boys in Oamaru, New Zealand. It's a secondary school, which means it's for students from Year 9 to Year 15. The school has both day students and students who live at the school in boarding houses. It first opened its doors in 1883. Around 400 students attend the school.

The school has a special system with four different houses. These houses are named Don, Forrester, Lee, and Sutherland. Students belong to one of these houses. Waitaki Boys' High School also works with its nearby sister school, Waitaki Girls' High School, for some fun cultural activities.

The buildings at the school are very old and have a special look. They are built in a style from the British colonial times. One important building is the Hall of Memories. This hall is a special place built to remember students who went to the school and later died in wars. Many classroom buildings are named after famous past students. These former students are often called Waitakians or Old Boys. The oldest and main building is named after Denis Blundell.

A Look at History

The idea to start a boys' high school in Oamaru came from Samuel Shrimski. He was a Member of Parliament for the Waitaki area. He thought it was important for boys in the region to have a good school.

Who Goes to Waitaki Boys'

As of 2025, about 365 students attend Waitaki Boys' High School. The school welcomes students from many different backgrounds. It aims to help all students succeed.

Famous Former Students

Many students who went to Waitaki Boys' High School became well-known in different fields. Here are some of them:

• Peter Arnett – a famous journalist.
• Fraser Barron – a brave bomber pilot during World War II.
• James Bertram – a professor and journalist.
• Denis Blundell – a lawyer who became a governor-general.
• Charles Brasch – a well-known poet.
• Ian Cathcart – a professional basketball player.
• Sir Malcolm Grant – a leader in health and education.
• Dean Hall – a video game designer and mountaineer.
• Brian Henderson – a popular newsreader in Australia.
• Donald Gilbert Kennedy – a teacher and colonial administrator. He was also a Coastwatcher during World War II.
• Dylan Kennett – an Olympian and World Champion in track cycling.
• Douglas Lilburn – a professor and composer.
• Robert Macintosh – a pioneer in the field of anaesthetics.
• Terry McCombs – a politician and headmaster.
• Greg McGee – a rugby player and playwright.
• Arnold Nordmeyer – a politician who was a Minister of Finance.
• David Sewell – a cricketer.
• Angus Tait – an innovator in electronics and a businessman.
• Des Wilson – a well-known campaigner in Britain.