JUNE 2025

With term two 2025 now in the history books, we reflect on another huge term at Mount Maunganui College.

The Mount Maunganui College student-directed “Julius Caesar” Shakespeare team performed at the National Shakespeare Festival in Wellington over King’s Birthday weekend.  The performance was directed by students Florence Steer, Eva Dixon, and Rain Denyer, with a cast including Ruby Goodyear, Juno Steer, Lily Pearson, Leah Catley, and Mpho Dyosi.  They performed magnificently with a cast of female assassins attacking Julius Caesar.

The team won two national awards:

  • Most outstanding Student Directed Ensemble work
  • Most effective Design Award

Out of over 5000 student performers nationwide, Florence, Eva and Rain all made it through to the top 25 students to be awarded places in the National Student Shakespeare Production. A huge achievement individually and collectively.

Elodie Keeble won 3rd place in the SGCNZ Ida Gaskin Essay competition.

Our Kapa Haka, Ngā Toka a Tirikawa placed fourth in the region, qualifying for the Nationals for the first time ever. This was a huge effort, combined with our whanau in Matapihi, and we are extremely proud of this group and their achievements.

There is plenty more to celebrate this term. Read on to see what some of our past and present students have been up to.

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BRITTANY JENKINS

Recent graduate Brittany Jenkins (2024) earned fantastic recognition for her cricketing achievements with Northern Districts. Congratulations Brittany.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/brittany-jenkins-named-northern-districts-young-female-player-of-the-year/RZRX3I5VENGFPDPYSDLWKHX3CU/ 

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HANNAH CROSS

Congratulations to Hannah Cross (2021), who is making waves in the creative industry, pageantry and fashion space. 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/on-the-up-tauranga-artist-model-hannah-cross-selected-as-finalist-in-miss-universe-new-zealand-2025/HFYWYSNE4RGDNEXAPM553O7KKM/

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SAM TAYLOR

We would also like to wish all alumni currently studying in the U.S. a happy resolution to the challenges they are currently facing. Here is Sam Taylor (2019) from Harvard’s take on the current situation.

https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/27-05-2025/we-will-not-go-quietly-the-maori-harvard-student-fighting-for-his-future

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JOEL SHADBOLT / L.A.B

Congratulations to Joel Shadbolt (2007) and L.A.B. for their achievement at the Aotearoa Music Awards. L.A.B were awarded the Te Manu Matarae Tui award. 

https://aotearoamusicawards.co.nz/news/l-a-b-announced-as-winner-of-2025-aotearoa-music-awards-te-manu-matarae-tui 

Check out the feature on Joel from the archives below!

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HIGH ACHIEVERS 


Shakespeare

Eva Dixon, Rain Denyer and Florence Steer have all been selected into the National Student Shakespeare Production. Three students from one school is a rare achievement and a first for Mount Maunganui College.

Basketball

  • Cole Hopoi has been selected to represent New Zealand at the 2025 Nike All-Asia Basketball Camp. Cole has been selected as one of three in the country, to travel to Beijing, to compete against 90 of the top players from 11 different countries.  Cole has also been selected for the NBA Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp. Cole has been selected as one of five boys from New Zealand, and one of the 30 top male basketball players identified in his age group across the Asia-Pacific. This selection follows Cole’s previous involvement representing New Zealand at the 2025 Nike All-Asia Basketball Camp.
     
  • Charis Broughton, Shamar Broughton and Riley McClenaghan have been selected in the New Zealand Under 16 Girls Basketball team. The girls will travel to Kuala Lumpur to compete in the FIBA  Under 16 Women’s Asia Cup.

Obstacle Racing

  • Caitlyn Fortescue has been selected in the New Zealand Obstacle Racing Team and she will represent New Zealand at the Obstacle Course World Champs in Sweden in early September.


Flag Football

  • Josh Bell has been selected for the New Zealand U17 Flag Football team. Josh will be travelling to Los Angeles next month to compete in the Junior International Cup.
     

Rock Climbing

The following Mount Maunganui College students have been announced in the following New Zealand Youth Development Squads for Rock Climbing.

  • Boulder Youth Development Team
    Cara Hicks
    Caitlyn Fortescue
    Mila Piatek
    Marley de Jong
     
  • Lead Youth Development Team
    Mila Piatek
    Lucy Ranger
    Gwyneth Parchomchuk

Mila Piatek has also been selected for the New Zealand Youth Climbing Team. She will be representing New Zealand at the IFSC Youth World Championship in two climbing disciplines (speed and boulder) in Helsinki, Finland this July and August.

For the third consecutive year Mount Maunganui College won the BOP Secondary Schools Climbing Championships Top School Trophy. This is a significant achievement to all athletes involved and all competitors should be proud of their efforts individually and collectively.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

20 years ago

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JOEL SHADBOLT 

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2005 SCHOOL BALL 

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2005 YEAR 13