John Paul College, Rotorua
Encyclopedia
Education in New Zealand
Education in New Zealand follows the three-tier model which includes primary schools, followed by secondary schools and tertiary education at universities and/or polytechs....
in Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It caters for year 7 to 13 boys and girls and offers a Catholic education to its students. It was opened in 1987 and combined two existing schools, Edmund Rice College (for boys) and MacKillop College (for girls). The school was founded to serve the Catholic families of Rotorua. John Paul College incorporates strong Catholic values, being named after the late Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
Roll
John Paul College has a diverse, multicultural roll. In 2004 its ethnic composition was: NZ European, 62%; Māori 18%; Asian 11%; Pacific Islands 5%; and Other 4%. The college excels in sporting and cultural activities. Academically, the school offers for senior years the National Certificate of Educational AchievementNational Certificate of Educational Achievement
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement is, since 2004, the official secondary school qualification in New Zealand.It has three levels, corresponding to the levels within the National Qualifications Framework, and these are generally studied in each of the three final years of...
assessment system (NCEA). As of 2011, it has a maximum school role of 1,100 students, not counting international students.
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart
In 1902, Mother Mary MacKillopMary MacKillop
Mary Helen MacKillop , also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on...
(St Mary of the Cross), the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, went to Rotorua during the last of her four visits to New Zealand. Her doctors had suggested that she might find in the mineral waters some relief from the rheumatic condition that was progressively limiting her activities and causing her considerable distress. In the course of her treatment, on 11 May 1902, she suffered a severe stroke and she seemed near death. As soon as she was recovered sufficiently to be moved, Bishop Lenihan
George Michael Lenihan
George Michael Lenihan OSB was fifth Catholic Bishop of Auckland .-Early life:George Michael Lenihan was born in 1858 in London to Irish parents who died while he was a child. Aged 14, he entered the Benedictine College at St Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate under the Abbot Alcock whose associate was...
, the fifth Catholic Bishop of Auckland, arranged for her to be transported by rail to Auckland where she convalesced at the Remuera convent for the best part of a year. "It was evidently during her stay in Rotorua that Mother Mary McKillop saw the great need for a Catholic school there, and set the arrangements in motion." Father C Kreijmborg, Mill Hill missionary priest, in 1902, built a school near the lake in St Michael's Parish and prepared a convent for the sisters who arrived the following year. By 1922 the School was proving inadequate for the number of children seeking admission. The decision was made to build a new school in Ranolf Street and St Joseph's School opened in 1924. The school included a secondary department. "in 1954 the staffing levels at St Joseph's, Rotorua, had reached chronic levels. Class sizes were 57, 75, 78, 80 and 100. The educational impact was severe and struggling staff were advised by the Diocesan Director of Schools on how to 'ensure at least some people progress until staffing can be improved'." This led to the secondary section being closed in 1957, with the only available options for Rotorua Catholic families then being Rotorua Boys' High School
Rotorua Boys' High School
Rotorua Boys' High School is a state school educating boys from Year 9 to Year 13. It is situated just outside of the Rotorua CBD at the intersection of Old Taupo Road and Pukuatua Street in Rotorua, New Zealand....
, Rotorua Girls' High School
Rotorua Girls' High School
Rotorua Girls' High School is a state school educating girls from Year 9 to Year 13, located in Rotorua, New Zealand.- History :Rotorua Girls' High School was formed in 1959 after Rotorua High School, founded in 1927, was divided into Rotorua Boys' High School and Rotorua Girls'...
or a boarding school outside Rotorua.
However, there was a strong demand for Catholic secondary education in Rotorua in the late 1950s. The population growth had been very marked in the Bay of Plenty from 1950. This population growth was contributed to by Forestry, farming and tourism developments. The population of Rotorua was under 10,000 in 1945 but was 20,000 by 1963.
Edmund Rice College
In 1959, the seventh Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Archbishop ListonJames Michael Liston
James Michael Liston, CMG was the Seventh Catholic Bishop of Auckland.-Early life:James Michael Liston was born in Dunedin on 9 June 1881, one of a family of five children of James Liston, a hotel-keeper, and his wife, Mary . His parents were both born in Ireland. He was educated at Kavanagh...
, made a request to the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers in New Zealand
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
(already established in the diocese at St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
) to establish a secondary school for boys in Rotorua. In 1962 the Christian Brothers decided to go ahead with the Rotorua foundation. The site for the college already existed. In 1946, Patrick Keaney had bequeathed 4 acres 27 perches to the Parish of St Mary. In 1958 a further 10 acres 2 roods were purchased. The building of the school commenced in 1962. Edmund Rice College was officially opened in July 1963. On the first day, the college had a roll of 115 boys, of whom 25% were Maori.
"Edmund Rice College school bell rang for the first time in 1963 to the sounds of a construction site. Hammers punctuated English lessons and Maths was conducted as the building multiplies in size around the 115 founding students. It was a rugged start to Rotorua's first Catholic boys' college. The boys were pioneers. The facilities in the early days were very basic. The ovals were just farm fields, the buildings were not complete. Nonetheless, in its opening year the school field[s] sports teams, sent a contingent to Tauranga to meet the Queen and staged a musical. Parents took time off to develop the playing fields and roads. The opening year, 1963, was 201 years after the birth of the school's namesake and founder of the Christian Brothers, Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice
Edmund Ignatius Rice
Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice , was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two orders of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers....
. Edmund Rice College was fully staffed by Christian Brothers when it opened but gradually lay teachers were employed as fewer Brothers became available. The college was integrated in 1983, as a Form 3-7 Secondary College with an attached intermediate School."
MacKillop College
MacKillop College (named after Mary MacKillopMary MacKillop
Mary Helen MacKillop , also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on...
(St Mary of the Cross)) for girls was opened by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart on 14 February 1966, on a site adjoining Edmund Rice College, with a foundation roll of 146 girls in Forms I, II and III. The day began with an assembly at which Father D McKenna, parish priest of St Mary's, Rotorua, blessed the five rooms ready for immediate use and he blessed a crucifix for each room. Work had started building the college in 1965. The buildings were finally completed in 1975. MacKillop College was officially opened by Archbishop Liston
James Michael Liston
James Michael Liston, CMG was the Seventh Catholic Bishop of Auckland.-Early life:James Michael Liston was born in Dunedin on 9 June 1881, one of a family of five children of James Liston, a hotel-keeper, and his wife, Mary . His parents were both born in Ireland. He was educated at Kavanagh...
on 8 May 1966. Difficulties in providing a wide range of subjects at senior level resulted in sharing classes with Edmund Rice College. This was convenient also because the two colleges were situated so closely to each other. In general, the girls went to Edmund Rice College for the science subjects while the boys took languages and biology at MacKillop College. "Integration brought an interesting situation. MacKillop was structured as a 'Form 1-7' school, while Edmund Rice was deemed to be a 'secondary school with an attached intermediate'. This meant teachers working [in] the Form 1 and 2 classes in each school were on different pay scales and the schools were staffed according to two different formulae. And this for schools which were about 200 metres apart!"
Amalgamation
The cost of upgrading the schools when they were integrated and the need to ensure that facilities were not duplicated led Bishop GainesEdward Russell Gaines
Most Reverend Edward Russell Gaines, DD was the Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland and was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New Zealand ....
, the first Catholic Bishop of Hamilton, to decide to amalgamate the schools. For example, the Education Department estimated the cost of upgrading Edmund Rice and MacKillop Colleges to meet integration requirements at $1.2 million. "The decision was surprisingly controversial, and the consultation process could have been done better. There was a feeling among some that the decision to amalgamate had been taken, and that any consultation was simply 'going through the motions'." "Bishop Gaines drove the change and it was his financial genius which pulled off the sale, and later the purchase back of [the] McKillop [College site], for a very healthy profit to the school. The funds from the initial sale enabled John Paul College to build and refurbish, to meet the needs of the growing numbers of students." The amalgamation was completed in May 1987 and Edmund Rice College and MacKillop College closed. Edmund Rice College was in its 25th year. The Christian Brothers Community was reduced to three, was relocated in rented accommodation nearby, and the Brothers former home became the administration centre of John Paul College. At the end of 1989 the Christian Brothers Community was withdrawn from Rotorua.
John Paul College
"In May, 1987, John Paul College opened its doors to 687 students. For a time the new school operated in both places, but the former Edmund Rice College was chosen for the new site because it had more potential for development."John Paul College attained its 20th anniversary in 2007. It considers itself to be a Lasallian School whose mission is to form a Community where teachers and students can live their faith and become the persons that God wants them to be. "We believe that the love of Christ binds us together as children of God, peoples of all races and conditions, rich or poor, bright or otherwise, for all are made in God's Image and are members of His family. On this faith rests the mutual love and respect that is fostered between teacher and student in our Schools.
We believe as lay colleagues to the De La Salle Brothers we give testimony to the Providence and Presence of God as we educate the young in the tradition of Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle
Jean-Baptiste de La Salle
Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle or John Baptist de La Salle was a priest, educational reformer, and founder of Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools...
, giving attention to all and especially to pupils whose development is hindered by economics, personal and other problems."
The school is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar refurbishment and building program, with the Edmund Rice Administration Centre, Whare Tapere, 10 new classrooms and the refurbishment of the old McKillop block now completed. The school is expected to build a new auditorium, as well as an extension to the gymnasium.
Sister Anne Marie Power R.S.J. has said that Mary MacKillop
Mary MacKillop
Mary Helen MacKillop , also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on...
(St Mary of the Cross) "would have a smile of approval for this important educational venture which is doing so much for the Catholic youth of Rotorua - a place very dear to her heart for the care that was afforded her there in a time of failing health, and especially because it was she herself who initiated the founding of the first Catholic school in Rotorua." The school is also a fitting legacy for Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice
Edmund Ignatius Rice
Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice , was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two orders of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers....
and the efforts of the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers in New Zealand
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
.
John Paul College Houses
The names and colours of the John Paul College Houses are:- Kanea - yellowYellowYellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
- La Salle - silverSilverSilver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
- MacKillop - greenGreenGreen is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
- McKenna - blueBlueBlue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
- Rice - redRedRed is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
Each House is named after its patron:
- Kanea - Kanea was the daughter of Mita Taupopoki, the distinguished leaders of Tuhourangi. Like her father, who was an astute man, Kanea was blessed with outstanding qualities of mind. All her life she practiced the virtues of her Catholic faith. She was a role model for the young women of Te Arawa in the exemplary manner in which she lived her life. She was a descendant of Hinemoa and Tutanekai.
- La Salle - Saint John Baptiste de La Salle (1651-1719) was a prominent Catholic saint in France who made it his life's work to help improve the education of children. He founded a order known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools (now known as the De La Salle Brothers). He is the Pantron Saint of Teachers and his feast day is the 7th of April.
- McKenna - Father Daniel McKenna was a Mill Hill Missionary born in the city of LimerickLimerickLimerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on the 6th of December 1911. Educated in Ireland he moved to New Zealand after becoming a Priest on the 9th of July 1939. He was Parish preist of Saint Michael's from December 1951 until the creation of St Mary's Parish in 1954, when he became its first parish priest. He remained priest of this Parish for the next 30 years. He was instrumental in the creation of the Catholic primary schools and in establishing both McKillop College and Edmund Rice College. He died on the 14th of January 1983. - MacKillopMary MacKillopMary Helen MacKillop , also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on...
- Mother Mary Helen MacKillop (15 January 1842 8 August 1909) also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, an AustralianScottish AustralianScottish Australians are residents of Australia who are of Scottish ancestry.According to the 2006 Australian census 130,204 Australian residents were born in Scotland, while 1,501,204 claimed Scottish ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry.- History :The links between...
nunNunA nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
who, together with Father Julian Tenison WoodsJulian Tenison WoodsJulian Edmund Tenison Woods was an English Roman Catholic priest and geologist, active in Australia. With Saint Mary MacKillop, he helped to found the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart at Penola in 1866....
, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred HeartSisters of St Joseph of the Sacred HeartThe Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, often called the Josephites , were founded in Penola, South Australia in 1866 by Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods....
who founded Catholic education in Rotorua and who staffed MacKillop College. - Rice - Edmund Ignatius RiceEdmund Ignatius RiceBlessed Edmund Ignatius Rice , was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two orders of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers....
, the founder of the Christian BrothersCongregation of Christian BrothersThe Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
.
Motto
JPC's current logo is "Carpe Diem," Latin for "Seize the Day." In previous yeears the motto has been, "Enter To Learn, Leave To Serve"Principals
John Paul College- Mr Jack Griffith 1986 - 1988 (Foundation Principal)
- Mr Steve Robb 1989 - 1995
- Mr Bede Roughton 1996 - 2002
- Mr Patrick Walsh 2003 - (Current Principal)
MacKillop College
- Sr Angela Gould 1966 - 1967 (Foundation Principal)
- Sr Alphonsus Hogan 1969 - 1971
- Sr Gertude McGowan 1972 - 1983
- Mr Jack Griffith 1983 - 1987 (Final Principal)
Edmund Rice College
- Br Victor Antonine SullivanCongregation of Christian Brothers in New ZealandThe Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
: (1963–1968) (Foundation Principal) - Br Rex Anthony SissonCongregation of Christian Brothers in New ZealandThe Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
(1969–1975) - Br Michael Alwin SheahanCongregation of Christian Brothers in New ZealandThe Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
: (1976–1981) - Br Norman Campion GilliesCongregation of Christian Brothers in New ZealandThe Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
(1982–1987) (Final Principal)
John Paul College
- Sr Lorraine (surname?): Marist Sister 1989? - ??
- Sr Sian Owen: Sister of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart 1993 - ??
- Mr Jack Griffith: Foundation Principal of John Paul College 1986 - 1988.
- Mr Steve Robb: Second Principal of John Paul College 1989 - 1995.
- Mr Bede Roughan: Third Principal of John Paul College 1996 - 2002.
- Ms Margaret Van Etten: Teacher at McKillop College; founding Deputy Principal 1987 - 1998
- Mr John Taylor: Teacher at Edmund Rice College 1979 - 1987; founding Deputy Principal at John Paul College 1987 - 1998.
MacKillop College
- Sr Alice Taehan: member of the St Joseph's Community in 1983; teacher at MacKillop College (?).
- Sr Aloyisius (surname?): teacher at MacKillop College from 1967.
- Sr Angela Gould (deceased 15 August 1981): Foundation Principal of MacKillop College 1966 - 1967
- Sr Alphonsus Hogan: Second Principal of MacKillop College 1969 - 1971
- Sr Benedict (surname?): foundation teacher at MacKillop College, Rotorua, from 1966.
- Sr Bernard (surname?): teacher at MacKillop College in 1966 (a foundation teacher ?).
- Sr Blanche Kay: member of the St Joseph's Community in 1983; teacher at MacKillop College (?).
- Sr Constance Fox: member of the St Joseph's Community in 1983; teacher at MacKillop College (?).
- Sr Denis O'Connell: member of the St Joseph's Community in 1983; teacher at MacKillop College (?).
- Sr Eleanor (surname?): a teacher at MacKillop College in 1974, co-producer of "Oklahoma" (a co-production by MacKillop College and Edmund Rice College).
- Sr Francisco (surname?): foundation teacher at MacKillop College, Rotorua, from 1966.
- Sr Genevieve Dempsey (deceased 1 April 1994): member of the St Joseph's Community in 1983; teacher at MacKillop College (?).
- Sr Gertrude McGowan: third principal of MacKillop College, Rotorua, 1972–1983; member of the St Joseph's Community in 1983.
- Sr Gregory (surname?): teacher at MacKillop College from 1967.
- Sr Helen Caughly: member of the St Joseph's Community in 1983; teacher at MacKillop College (?).
- Sr Imelda Harper: member of the St Joseph's Community in 1983; teacher at MacKillop College (?).
- Mr Jack Griffith: Fourth and final Principal of MacKillop College 1983 - 1987.
- Sr Reginald O'Connell: member of the St Joseph's Community in 1983; teacher at MacKillop College (?).
- Sr Stanislaus (surname?): foundation teacher at MacKillop College, Rotorua, from 1966.
- Sr Teresa Flood (deceased 4 September 1985: foundation teacher at MacKillop College, Rotorua, from 1966; member of the St Joseph's Community in 1983.
Edmund Rice College
The following is a list of Christian Brothers known to have been associated with Edmund Rice College. Further information: Congregation of Christian Brothers in New ZealandCongregation of Christian Brothers in New Zealand
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
- Br Paul Alonzo Boyd
- Br Ian Robert Carroll
- Br Richard Ignatius Carroll
- Br Raymond Bonaventure Connolly
- Br Simon Germaine Coughlan
- Br John Stanislaus De Courcy
- Br Brian De Porres Fitzgerald
- Br Brian (Peter) Eulogius Fitzgerald
- Br Michael Paul Follas
- Br William Peter Galland
- Br Garvey
- Br Norman Campion Gillies
- Br Richard Steven Glen
- Br Michael Patrick Guthrie
- Br Terry Felix Hunter
- Br Noel Thaddeus Jeffery
- Br Anthony Dominic Johnston
- Br Austin A Loftus
- Br Gerard Vincent Lovell
- Br Christopher Claver Marlow
- Br John Paul McKean
- Br Michael Joseph McMenamin
- Br John Nicholas Melia
- Br James Alexis Morris
- Br Peter Gregory Mullane
- Br Patrick Vincent Mullin
- Br David Michael O'Dea
- Br David Garnier O'Donoghue
- Br Desmond David O'Hehir
- Br Arthur Edwin O'Kane
- Br John Didicus O'Neill
- Br Francis William Perkins
- Br John Paschal Prendergast
- Br John Virgil Riley
- Br Ignacy John Rubisz
- Br Michael Alwin Sheahan
- Br John Henry Shepherd
- Br Rex Anthony Sisson
- Br Anthony Leo Smith
- Br Ray Clement Stedman
- Br Victor Antonine Sullivan
- Br Neville Anthony Symons
- Br Edward John Thorpe
- Br Gary Joseph Wellsmore
Business
- Theresa GattungTheresa GattungTheresa Gattung is a former CEO of Telecom New Zealand.Gattung was educated at McKillop College, Rotorua, the University of Waikato and Victoria University of Wellington...
- former CEO of Telecom New ZealandTelecom New ZealandTelecom New Zealand is a New Zealand-wide communications service provider , providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider , a major ICT provider to NZ businesses , and a wholesale network infrastructure provider to other NZ CSPs...
(old girl of MacKillop College)
Church
- Brother Michael Patrick Guthrie cfcCongregation of Christian Brothers in New ZealandThe Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
- first old boy of Edmund Rice College to enter the Christian Brothers.
- Father Trevor MurrayRoman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New ZealandThe Latin Rite Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New Zealand is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. It was formed on 6 March 1980 from a portion of the territory in the Diocese of Auckland.-Ordinaries of Hamilton, New Zealand:...
- first old boy of Edmund Rice College to be ordained a priest.
- Father Robert SharplinRoman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New ZealandThe Latin Rite Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New Zealand is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. It was formed on 6 March 1980 from a portion of the territory in the Diocese of Auckland.-Ordinaries of Hamilton, New Zealand:...
: old boy of Edmund Rice College - chaplain of John Paul College in 2004.
Sport
- Dame Susan Elizabeth Anne DevoySusan DevoyDame Susan Elizabeth Anne Devoy, DNZM, CBE is a New Zealand squash player who dominated the sport in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She won the World Open on four occasions.-Playing career:...
, DNZM (1998, for services to sport and the community) - World Champion Squash Player 1985, 1987, 1990 and 1992 (runner-up in 1989) (old girl of MacKillop College).
Entertainment
- Cliff CurtisCliff CurtisClifford Vivian Devon "Cliff" Curtis is a New Zealand actor who has had major roles in film, including The Piano, Whale Rider, and Blow, and most recently has appeared in NBC's television series Trauma. He is also co-owner of independent film production company Whenua Films...
- international television and film star; has won three New Zealand Film and TV awards for the films: Desperate RemediesDesperate RemediesDesperate Remedies is a novel by Thomas Hardy, published anonymously by Tinsley Brothers in 1871.-Plot summary:This brilliant but neglected novel - the first that Hardy ever published - not only rivals the detective fiction of Wilkie Collins but bears the undoubted imprint of the mature Hardy...
, Best Performance in a Supporting Role: Male (1993); Jubilee, Best Actor (2000); and Whale Rider, Best Supporting Actor (2002); also acted in [The Piano]], Once Were WarriorsOnce Were WarriorsOnce Were Warriors is New Zealand author Alan Duff's bestselling first novel, published in 1990. It tells the story of an urban Māori family, the Hekes, and portrays the reality of domestic violence. It was the basis of a 1994 film, directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Rena Owen and Temuera...
and River QueenRiver QueenRiver Queen is a 2005 New Zealand film directed by Vincent Ward and starring Samantha Morton, Kiefer Sutherland and Cliff Curtis. The film opened to mixed reviews but performed well at the local box-office.-Plot:...
. He is currently starring in the US primetime drama TV series, Trauma. (old boy of Edmund Rice College)
- Clinton Roberts - radio personality, currently airing on THE EDGE FM and also appears on popular New Zealand music channel prime time daily show, Vodafone Select Live. (Old boy John Paul College - 2005)