Onslow College

State co-ed secondary school in Wellington, New Zealand

Onslow College

Onslow College and surrounds

Address

Burma Road

Johnsonville

Wellington

6440

New Zealand

Coordinates| 41°13′51″S 174°47′49″E﻿ / ﻿41.2307°S 174.7970°E﻿ / -41.2307; 174.7970
Information
Type| State co-ed secondary; years 9–13
Motto| Latin: Levavi oculos meos in montes
Māori: Ka anga atu aku kanohi ki nga maunga
Lift your eyes to the hills
Established| 1956; 68 years ago
Ministry of Education Institution no.| 269
Principal| Sheena Millar
School roll| 1420[1] (August 2024)
Socio-economic decile| 10Z[2]
Website| onslow.school.nz

Onslow College is a state co-educational secondary school located in Johnsonville, a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. In 2022 it had 1405 students.[3] The current principal is Sheena Millar.

## History

[edit]

Onslow College opened in 1956 to serve Wellington's rapidly growing northern suburbs.[4][5] It was named after the 4th Earl of Onslow, governor of New Zealand from 1889 to 1892.[4]

The school roll grew from 201 third form pupils in 1956 to 1180 pupils in 1969.[4]

Former principal Stuart Martin described the "Onslow Way" as "socially liberal but educationally conservative, decile 10 but physically run down".[4] In 1969, Peggy-Anne Wendelken became New Zealand's first woman chair of a school board of governors; at this time Onslow's board had student representation, twenty years before this became a legal requirement.[4]

The school has not had a school uniform since 1974 when it was abolished following student protest,[6] despite the strong opposition of the Headmaster.[4] In 2016 Onslow was one of the first schools in the region to have gender-neutral toilets for students.[7]

Several staff have received awards for teaching excellence. Terry Burrell, received the prestigious Prime Minister's Science Teacher Prize in 2014,[8] and the same year Esme Danielsen (Maths) received a Woolf Fisher Fellowship.[9]

Onslow students won The Prime Minister's Future Scientist Prize in 2009, 2016 and 2018.[10]

Music – Smokefree Rockquest Wellington regional finalists in 2021 were Obsidian Sun.[11] In 2016 Onslow College bands and individuals took out five of the eight awards the Regional Final: Best Vocalist – Raquel Abolins-Reid, Musicianship Award – Noah Spargo, Best Lyricist – Sarah Mc Bride, 3rd placed band – Bird on a Wire, 1st placed band and overall winners of the Wellington Regional Final – Retrospect.[12][13]

In 2017 Onslow College won the Wellington regional "Festival Cup"[14] for the school best representing the spirit of the Big Sing,[15] a school choral festival organised by the New Zealand Choral Federation.

On 13 February 1997, 18-year-old former student Nicholas Hawker murdered 15-year-old St Mary's College student Vanessa Woodman on the school's grounds. Hawker was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 10-year non-parole period.[16] He was released on parole in 2015, but is not allowed in the North Island.[17]

## School Buildings

[edit]

On Friday 25 October 2024 the school received an engineering report on two of the school's blocks stating they were earthquake prone.[18] The first building listed was the O block which was discovered to have a New Building Standard (NBS) ratting of 30%, with an inner stairwell having a ratting of 15% and the building having a 6% inter-story drift between floors.[19] The second building listed was the Gym (Block Q) which has an NBS ratting of 15% with the celling braces posing the greatest risk.[20] As a result of the low NBS ratting on these two buildings the school has made the decision for the two buildings to be closed until further notice.[21]

## Principals

[edit]

The school has had the following principals:[4]

* 2018–present Sheena Millar
* 2010–2018 Peter Leggat
* 2009–2009 Hamish Davidson (acting)
* 2001–2009 Dr Stuart Martin
* 1998–2000 Peter Smith
* 1994–1998 John Carlyon
* 1987–1993 Neale Pitches
* 1979–1986 Bill Officer
* 1977–1979 Harvey Rees-Thomas
* 1966–1977 Dudley Hughes
* 1956–1965 Colin Watt

## Notable alumni

[edit]

Main category: People educated at Onslow College

### Academia

[edit]

* James Belich – professor of history and writer[22]

### The arts

[edit]

* Jackie van Beek – film and television director, writer and actor[23]
* John McDougall – guitarist-songwriter (The Holidaymakers)[24][25]
* Fazerdaze (Amelia Rahayu Murray) – singer-songwriter[26]
* Kate Camp – poet and author[27]
* Nick Bollinger – musician (Rough Justice, Windy City Strugglers), music critic and author[28][29]
* Peter Marshall – singer (The Holidaymakers)[24][25]
* Rosemary McLeod – writer[30]
* Sue Wootton – author
* Taika Waititi – film director and actor. Academy award winner.[31]
* Leon Wadham – actor, writer and director[32]
* Riiki Reid – singer-songwriter[33]
* Ben Schrader – urban historian

### Broadcasting and journalism

[edit]

* Ian Wishart – editor Investigate magazine[34]
* Rocky Wood – non-fiction author and freelance journalist

### Politics

[edit]

* Catherine Delahunty – Green Party MP[35]
* Georgina Beyer – the world's first transgender mayor and later member of parliament.[36][37]
* Tāmati Coffey – Former TVNZ Breakfast weather presenter; Labour Party MP (2017–2023)
* Trevor Mallard – former Labour Party MP and Speaker Of The House[35]
* Sandra Lee-Vercoe – first Maori woman to win a general seat in Parliament
* Sara Templeton \- local body politician.

### Sport

[edit]

* Alan Isaac – International Cricket Council President[38]
* Gavin Larsen – New Zealand cricket player[39]
* Jeremy Coney – New Zealand cricket player
* Joe Wright – New Zealand Olympic Rower 2015[40]
* Noah Billingsley – New Zealand football player[41]
* Richard Ussher – New Zealand multisport athlete & World AR champion 2005/2006

## Notable staff

[edit]

* Jeremy Coney – New Zealand cricket player
* Penny Kinsella – New Zealand cricket player
* Tina Manker – German Olympic rower

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
2. ^ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
3. ^ "Onslow College". Education Review Office. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
4. ^ a b c d e f g Onslow College, 1956–2006 : a biography. Wellington: Onslow College. 2006. ISBN 0-473-11627-8.
5. ^ "View of new building, Onslow College, Johnsonville, Wellington". National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 1956. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
6. ^ "School uniform debate: Principals argue for and against". Stuff. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
7. ^ "Wellington High, Onslow College get gender-neutral bathrooms". Stuff. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
8. ^ "Prime Minister's Science Teacher Prize Winner 2014 | The Prime Minister's Science Prizes". Retrieved 8 July 2020.
9. ^ "Past Fellowships 2004 – 2019 – Woolf Fisher Trust". Retrieved 8 July 2020.
10. ^ "Ngā toa i mua Previous winners | The Prime Minister's Science Prizes". Retrieved 22 September 2021.
11. ^ "Rockquest | Aotearoa's only nationwide, live, original music, youth event". www.smokefreerockquest.co.nz. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
12. ^ "Onslow College band Retrospect eye people's choice in Smokefree Rockquest". Stuff. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
13. ^ "Onslow College: ONSLOW COLLEGE BULLETIN TERM TWO, WEEK NINE". moodle.onslownet.school.nz. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
14. ^ "New Zealand Choral Federation – Big Sing Wellington" (PDF). 7 June 2017.
15. ^ "The Big Sing". New Zealand Choral Federation Inc. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
16. ^ Reid, Neil (27 September 2009). "Victim's mum fights killer's freedom bid". Sunday News (via Stuff.co.nz). Retrieved 23 July 2014.
17. ^ "Schoolgirl Vanessa Woodman's killer freed on parole". Stuff. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
18. ^ "Wellington's Onslow College closes multiple buildings following seismic reports". RNZ. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
19. ^ "Wellington's Onslow College closes multiple buildings following seismic reports". RNZ. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
20. ^ "Wellington's Onslow College closes multiple buildings following seismic reports". RNZ. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
21. ^ "Wellington's Onslow College closes multiple buildings following seismic reports". RNZ. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
22. ^ "Canvas books wrap: Jumping Sundays by Nick Bollinger, and a conversation with Kiran Dass canvas". The New Zealand Herald. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2024. "... Onslow College, where I was entering my 4th Form year, a threatened strike by students (led by future historian James Belich who ..."
23. ^ Screen, NZ On. "Jackie van Beek NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
24. ^ a b "Peter and The Wolves, by Peter and The Wolves". Peter and The Wolves. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
25. ^ a b "EELMAN RECORDS NEW ZEALAND Lots Of History". www.eelmanrecords.com. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
26. ^ FAZERDAZE Interview- growing up in New Zealand, self confidence, music video, retrieved 11 November 2022
27. ^ "Writers Festival author tells of mischievous childhood". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
28. ^ "Goneville – a memoir of the 70s rock'n'roll music scene". Stuff. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
29. ^ "Goneville – by Nick Bollinger from The Listen Anytime Library". RNZ. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
30. ^ Romanos, Joseph (3 June 2010). "The Wellingtonian interview: Rosemary McLeod". Dominion Post. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
31. ^ Catherall, Sarah (10 December 2014). "My secret Wellington: Taika Waititi". Fairfax New Zealand.
32. ^ "Wellington drama student wins scholarship". Wellington.Scoop. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
33. ^ Chumko, André (4 September 2022). "Riiki Reid talks music, identity and inspiration". Stuff. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
34. ^ Screen, NZ On. "Ian Wishart | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
35. ^ a b "Delahunty, Catherine; Mallard, Trevor - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
36. ^ "Georgina Beyer". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
37. ^ The Georgina Beyer story ... how a change for the better came about Archived 31 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
38. ^ "The Wellingtonian Interview: Alan Isaac". Stuff. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
39. ^ "The Wellingtonian interview: Gavin Larsen". Stuff. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
40. ^ "Joe Wright". NZ Olympic team. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
41. ^ "Noah Billingsley off to US university to further his football career". Stuff. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* NZQA Provider Details – Onslow College
* School 50th Reunion website
* A Brief History of Onslow College
* Education Review Office (ERO) reports for Onslow College

* v
* t
* e

Schools in the Wellington Region, New Zealand

State secondary & composite|

* Aotea College
* Heretaunga College
* Hutt Valley High School
* Kāpiti College
* Kuranui College
* Makoura College
* Mana College
* Naenae College
* Newlands College
* Onslow College
* Ōtaki College
* Paraparaumu College
* Porirua College
* Rongotai College
* Taita College
* Tawa College
* Upper Hutt College
* Wainuiomata High School
* Wairarapa College
* Wellington College
* Wellington East Girls' College
* Wellington Girls' College
* Wellington High School

State-integrated|

* Bishop Viard College
* Chanel College
* Hutt International Boys' School
* Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School
* Rathkeale College
* Sacred Heart College
* Solway College
* St Bernard's College
* St Catherine's College
* St Mary's College
* St Matthew's Collegiate School
* St Oran's College
* St Patrick's College, Wellington
* St Patrick's College, Silverstream

Private|

* Chilton St James School
* Queen Margaret College
* Samuel Marsden Collegiate School
* Scots College

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template