Class Notes 2023

FROM THE COMBINED EDITIONS OF 2023 REGULUS

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MAY REGULUS

Distinguished Professor Roy Kerr FRS CNZM FRSNZ (1950) was named as a semi-finalist in the 2023 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards. Roy is an eminent mathematician, internationally renowned for a discovery that sparked a revolution in physics when he discovered an exact solution to the Einstein field equation of general relativity, making him the first New Zealander to be awarded the Einstein Medal by the Albert Einstein Society in 2012. In 2022, University of Canterbury asteroid hunters named an asteroid they discovered after Roy. 

Hamish Rennie (1976) was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the New Zealand Planning Institute. This follows receiving the President’s Award for Graduate Research Supervision in 2020 by the New Zealand Geographical Society. Hamish was appointed as Head of the Department of Environmental Management at Lincoln University for 2023. 

Brett Lilly (1985), recently competed in the Canterbury District Trapshooting Championships where he finished second in B Grade single rise, following a shoot off. He shot exceptionally well in all of the rounds and won the overall B Grade category with a score of 217/255. 

In November 2022, the St Andrew’s campus was used as the set for a film, which was written and directed by Jonathan Ogilvie (1979). Jonathan (PhD from Macquarie University Sydney for his thesis The Cinematics of Surveillance and his screenplay Lone Wolf) is producing a film, loosely autobiographical, with the working title of Head South. A few of St Andrew’s Drama students and a couple of Pipe Band students enjoyed the opportunity to take a small part alongside the other actors in the film. In February, Jonathan spent the afternoon with the Year 13 Media students going over industry roles and script breakdown, plus some great information for our future filmmakers. He also shared some insights from his career, including his experience working with  renowned American director, Stanley Kubrick.

Amiria Rule (née Marsh, 2001) and Jamie Wright (2012) have joined the teaching staff at St Andrew’s College in 2023.

Thomas Eves (2006) performed Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto as a trumpet soloist with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra as part of the Appalachian Dream concerts at The Piano.

Harrison Crooks (2012) is an engineering geologist working in Brisbane. 

Richie Mo’unga (2012) signed a three-year deal with Japanese rugby club Toshiba, starting in 2024. 

Mitchell Crooks (2013) is a physiotherapist working in the Wellington Hospital area. 

Robbie Stokes (2013) won the opening round of the 2023 Mainland Rally Championship held on the first of the two-day Otago Rally. 

Henry Shipley (2014) was awarded the ANZ Aotearoa Player of the Match with a maiden international five-wicket bag (5–31) against Sri Lanka in his fourth appearance for New Zealand. He also made the Black Caps ODI squad for their tours of Pakistan (three ODIs) and India (three ODIs) in January. He wreaked havoc for Canterbury in the cricket team’s Ford Trophy win against Wellington by picking up five wickets, which included a hat trick. It was the fourth hat trick in the 52 years of the competition, and the first ever for Canterbury. 

Amosa Faitaua-Nanai (2015) was a coach of the St Andrew’s U19 netball team in 2022 and participated in the World Fast5 Netball. He was also named MVP against Australia. 

Thomas Russel, Zack Rumble and Ben Taylor (all 2017) were selected for the 2022 Rowing New Zealand Elite Development Squad. 

Britney-Lee Nicholson (2017) and Frankie Morrow (2019) have been selected to represent Canterbury in the Ford Futsal National Super League 2023. 

Juliet Robertson (2017) played for the New Zealand korfball team in the IKF Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship, where New Zealand placed fourth. This qualified them to go to the World Games in 2023 and is the first time New Zealand has made it to the semi-finals. 

Blair Currie (2018) was selected for the football season’s All Conference 1st team and awarded Conference Defensive Player of the Week during November at Spring Arbor University in Michigan, USA. In December, her Spring Arbor Cougars team won the national NAIA Women’s Championship Tournament. Blair was named Defensive Player of the Tournament and was named in the Tournament team. She finished as the top-ranked goalkeeper across all 188 NAIA women’s football colleges. Blair was also selected for the All-American College team, the first New Zealand footballer since All Whites star, Joe Bell, in 2019 to achieve this feat. 

Marcus Armstrong (2018) was named the fourth IndyCar driver in the Chip Ganassi Racing line-up for 2023. In the season opener he finished 11th and Top Rookie. 

Rhys Mariu (2019) had an outstanding first-class debut for Canterbury, scoring 68 in the first innings and guiding Canterbury home to an outright win over Northern Districts with a 78 not out in the second innings. 

Seb Calder (2019) and Joel Lam (2020) represented the Crusaders, against fellow Old Cols Will Stodart (2021) and Sam Gilbert (2016) who lined-up for the Highlanders, in the first game for the Farmlands Cup Pre-Season. 

Benji Freeman (2021) signed with the Taranaki Steelformers Airs basketball team for the 2023 Sal’s New Zealand NBL season.

Tapenisa Havea (Head Girl 2021) was one of 76 nominees in the 60th ISPS Handa Halberg Awards, run by the Halberg Foundation. Tapenisa was nominated in the Sky Sport Emerging Talent category for her incredible performances as a shot put and discus athlete. 

Holly Munro (2021) was named as one of three new apprentice players ahead of the 2023 ANZ Premiership. She joined the Premiership team for various training sessions to get a taste of the elite netball environment and has been a part of the Tactix pre‑season. She was also selected for the National Netball League Mainland squad. Arlya Guard (2022) was named in the Development squad. 

In February, Molly Spark (2021) raced in both the Coast to Coast and then the gruelling Godzone just 12 days later. 

Kiara Bercelli (2022) has signed a professional contract with U C Sampdoria in the Italy Serie A League, which is the highest level of football in Italy. Kiara played for St Andrew’s in the 1st XI in 2020– 2021, which won the Canterbury Championships, and the St Andrew’s Girls’ futsal team, which won a bronze medal nationally. 

As part of her prize for winning the Play It Strange songwriting competition in 2022, Grace Lawrence (Head Girl – 2022) had a professional music video made for her song, Differently Now. 

Maddie Morrow and Karereatua Williams (both 2022) accepted full Basketball Athletic Scholarships to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, USA. 

Rory Sloan (2022) was selected for the 2023 Māori Secondary Schoolboys’ Cricket team. 

GOLD DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S HILLARY AWARDS

St Andrew’s College proudly hosted the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award – National Awards Ceremony, with the awards presented by Governor-General, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro.

The 14 Old Collegians who received their Gold Awards were Ewan Lawson (2018), Lucy Cammock-Elliott (2020), Rory Dephoff (2020), Libby McKinnel (2020), Pippa McAnergney (2020), Ben Wilson (2020), Hamish Bain (2021), Ben Ferrier (2021), Sophie Goode (2021), Eva Hitchon (2021), Alyssa Le (2021), Ariana Mellish-Temple (2021), Oliver Odlin (2021), Emma Prince (2021)

AUGUST REGULUS

Colin Watson (1940) attended the Methven Museum’s King’s Birthday royal commemoration. Colin was invited as a Methven resident who had a royal connection, having received one of the last birthday cards from the Queen when he turned 100 last year.

Graeme Sanders (1973) founded Today Homes 35 years ago, which is now managed by his three sons, Simon Sanders (2007), Mike Sanders (2009) and Jon Sanders (2012).

Dale Stephens (1977) has been selected as National’s Christchurch Central candidate for this year’s general election.

The University of Canterbury has bestowed an honorary Doctor of Commerce on illustrious graduate, international businessman, and philanthropist Mark Stewart (1980).

John Storey (2005) has completed his PhD, looking into different nasal high flow therapies that can be used to clear carbon dioxide from apnoeic neonates. John’s study was completely supported by the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Programme. He is now working in Hamilton with Gallagher as a Research and Development Engineer in their Security Department.

Richard Storey (2006) has passed his final surgical examination to become an orthopaedic surgeon.

Logan van Beek (2008) helped his Netherlands cricket team to a famous ODI win over the West Indies. Following a dramatic tie, he hit 30 runs from six deliveries before claiming two wickets for eight runs.

International full-back, Telusa Veainu (2008), from Stade Français Paris Rugby, has signed with UK side, Sale Sharks, on a one-year deal for the 23/24 season. Telusa has been in France since 2020 having previously spent five years in the Premiership with Leicester Tigers.

Leo Carter (2012) and Rhys Mariu (2019) represented Canterbury against the Central Stags, in cricket’s Ford Trophy Grand Final.

Isaac Leota (2012 and current Preparatory School teacher) was selected for the New Zealand Universities rugby team that toured Japan at the end of May. Also selected in the team were Sam Lester (2015) and Charlie Murray (2019).

Robbie Stokes (2013) won the 2023 Lone Star Canterbury Rally.

Martini Talapusi (2013) was selected for the Pre-Rugby World Cup 2023 Manu Samoa squad.

Sophie Gualter (2014) is only the second woman to be included in the famed London Scottish Regiment Pipe Band. This esteemed band is known for performing at royal events and participated in the procession for the Queen’s death.

Sam Lane (2015) was selected for the Black Sticks hockey team’s tour of Europe. The team played Pro League games against Belgium and Argentina in Antwerp, and the Netherlands and Germany in Amsterdam.

Sam Gilbert (2016) was named in the All Blacks XV squad for 2023.

Twins, Britney-Lee and Ryan Nicholson (both 2017) and Jasmine Donald (2020) were selected for the 2023 Ngā Whanapoikiri Māori o Aotearoa Tane and Wahine football squads.

Thomas Russel and Ben Taylor (both 2017) from the 2017 winning St Andrew’s Maadi Cup crew have been selected by Rowing New Zealand to race in the Men’s Coxless Pair at the World Rowing Cup III regatta in Switzerland and World Championships in Serbia.

Robbie Manson (2007) has been selected to row in the Men’s Double Scull event.

Jack Aimer (2018) is one of nine recipients nationwide of a competitive William Georgetti Scholarship from Universities New Zealand. In August, Jack is leaving to study a Master of Advanced Studies (MASt) in Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Olivia Brett (2019) was selected to attend the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup 1 in Szeged, Hungary in May. She also received the MacDonald/ Thompson/Ferguson/Bramwell Cup for 2022 Team of the Year alongside her teammates, Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin and Tara Vaughan.

Manaia Butler (2020) was selected in the New Zealand Universities Women’s rowing eight crew, to race against Australia in a Trans-Tasman test. This was an amazing achievement after only nine months in the sport.

Genevieve Henstock (2020, pictured on tile) has been employed as a Production Assistant for the upcoming Avatar 3 movie, due out in December 2024, working alongside the legendary director, James Cameron, and an ensemble of A-list actors.

At the Hastings Easter Highland Games, Campbell Wilson (2020) was announced the U21 New Zealand Piobaireachd (classical pipe music) winner.

Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (2021) joined the U20 Fijian team which competed in the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa in July.

The Regional Leadership, Climate and Community Resilience Committee appointed Oscar Bloom (2021) as one of two youth members with full voting rights to a key committee of the Canterbury Regional Council. Oscar is currently studying Law and Communications at the University of Canterbury.

Lochie Frazer (2021) was part of the New Zealand squad for the World Aquatics Men’s U20 Water Polo Championships, held in Bucharest in June.

Tanae Lavery (2021) was named in the New Zealand U23 3×3 Basketball team which played in the FIBA 3×3 U23 Nations League for the first time in Shandong, China.

Ethan McBreen (2021) won his first national crown, becoming the 2023 New Zealand Enduro Champion at the Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championships.

Tapenisa Havea (Head Girl 2021) finished 19th in discus at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas, the annual collegiate track and field competitions for athletes representing Division 1 institutions organised by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the USA

Lose Faingaanuku (2021) was selected for the Tongan team to play at the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 in Cape Town.

Will Stodart (2021) was named in the New Zealand U20 rugby team, which played in the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa in June.

Kiara Bercelli (2022) was selected for the Oceania Football Confederation U19 Women’s Championship in Fiji in June.

Cameron Paul (2022) was named as vice-captain, to help lead the New Zealand U19 squad at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifier in June.

Milly Christie, Brianna Sloper (both 2022) and Charlotte Sloper (2020), along with Siara Clarke (Year 12) performed with the Highland Dance Company of New Zealand at the Virginia International Tattoo, held in Norfolk, USA.

U20s and 1st XI football player Hugo Debenham (2022) signed for USA-based Tyler Junior College in the Southwest Conference.

Milla Newbury (2022) won a gold medal in the Adult Gold 1 Ladies – Interpretive division and a silver in the Adult Gold 1 Ladies Freeskate division at the 2023 Canterbury Ice Figure Championships.

Tom Rae (2022) is one of three New Zealanders to have been honoured for his work in the Milky Way Photographer of the Year competition. Judges showcased 25 of the best entries from more than 3000 submissions from around the world.

Karereatua Williams and Maddie Morrow (both 2022) were in the victorious Canterbury team which took out the U19 National Basketball Tournament in Rangiora.

Rector, Christine Leighton, attended the NZQA Top Scholar Awards, hosted in the Grand Hall at Parliament to see Top Scholar Corin Simcock and Top Technology Scholar Tom Edwards (both 2022) recognised for their outstanding academic achievements.

Tineke Hinton (2023) was named in the New Zealand Women’s Beach Volleyball team, to compete in the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. 

NOVEMBER REGULUS

Intrepid mountaineering field guides, Mike White (1953) and Jim Wilson (1954), were recognised for their ascent of Antarctica’s Mt Terror more than 50 years after their expedition. They were the first to summit the 3262m (10,702ft) extinct volcano on the eastern side of Ross Island during a three-month expedition in 1958–1959. The men, part of New Zealand government efforts to map the frozen continent, travelled to the ice aboard the USS Staten Island icebreaker, a trip expected to take four days, that instead lasted 29 days because of the weather and ice conditions.

At the Rotary Club of Papanui’s 65th Anniversary celebration, Euan Hilson (1954) received a long service award for being a club member for 56 years – the equal longest serving member ever.

Mike Camm (1962) picked up the Outstanding Contribution to Te Taiao Award at the Northland Regional Council Whakamānawa ā Taiao – Environmental Awards, which recognise the people and organisations making a difference for Northland’s environment. This conservation hero has spent 25 years on a mission to ensure the future of kiwi and other native species. Beginning by converting his own property into a wildlife haven, Mike expanded his efforts, forming the Tutukaka Landcare Trust in 2003 and being its driving force for two decades. He is the current Chair of Kiwi Coast.

Richard Lemon (1968) was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in June for his services to the Agricultural and Pastoral industry. Richard has been involved in Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) events in the Canterbury and Ashburton region since 1976.

Dr Richard Musgrove (1978) is a freelance science and business writer based in Far North Queensland, Australia. Richard has been a Senior Researcher at the South Australian Research and Development Institute, and Operations Manager at Northern Gulf Resource Management Group, in Far North Queensland. His career has taken him to deep-sea trawlers in the Great Australian Bight, Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market, and the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, as well as cattle stations in FNQ’s Dry Tropics, and the stage at South Australian Science Communicators.

Liam Connell (2005) received his PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science. The title of his thesis was ‘Loyalty more personal and fervent: Australasian imperial identities, 1892–1902’.

Robbie Manson (2007), Ben Taylor, Thomas Russel and Zack Rumble (all 2017) were named in Rowing New Zealand’s 2023 New Zealand Summer Squad with a focus on the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the Rowing World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, Ben Taylor qualified for the Paris Olympics in the Men’s Pair.

Logan van Beek (2008) rewrote the record books in June with an astonishing display of power hitting in his Netherlands side’s famous ODI win over the West Indies in Harare. Following a dramatic tie in Harare, Logan clubbed 30 from six Jason Holder deliveries before taking on bowling responsibilities and claiming two for eight.

Jaxon Lane (2012) was part of the Melbourne Mustangs ice hockey team who took out the Goodall Cup in the Australian Ice Hockey League in August.

Hamish Dalzell (2013) has been selected to play the 2023–2024 rugby season for the Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves in Japan. Hamish previously played for the Crusaders, Canterbury and Auckland NPC teams, the Japanese team Panasonic Wild Knights, and Rugby New York’s Ironworkers. He also represented the New Zealand U20 rugby team in 2015–2016.

Martini Talapusi (2013) was selected for the pre Rugby World Cup Manu Samoa squad.

Sam Williams (2014) visited the College in August. Sam was Head Sacristan in 2014 and had served in the Chapel in a sacristan role for five years. Sam spoke in chapel about ‘Loving God and Loving your Neighbour’. He gave personal anecdotes of his time at the College and gave some practical insights into how one might do this. He challenged the students, no matter what their beliefs, to constantly consider what they can do to love others and bring about unity. Sam is preparing to be a priest in the Church of England and resides in Oxford.

Britney-Lee Nicholson (2017) was selected for the New Zealand Futsal Ferns, which played Indonesia in Manila as part of the PFF Women’s Tri-Nation Invitational Tournament. Britney-Lee scored the Ferns’ only goal of the game. The tournament marks the beginning of the Futsal Ferns’ preparation to qualify for the inaugural 2025 FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup.

Marcus Armstrong (2018) has been re-signed to Chip Ganassi Racing to a multi-year contract extension and was announced as 2023 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year in his debut in the NTT IndyCar Series season. He has competed exclusively in road and street course races until now and will now be expanding his driving duties to compete on ovals with a full season beginning next season.

Tom Rance (2018) was named in the 2023 New Zealand Barbarians U85kg rugby team.

Olivia Brett (2019), along with Dame Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin and Tara Vaughan, won gold at the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Germany to become the first K4 crew from New Zealand – male or female – to win a world title. The result in their 500m final qualifies the team for next year’s Olympics.

Rhys Mariu (2019) was contracted to the Canterbury Cricket Men’s team.

Alicia Smith (2019) and her team from UC Aerospace built and launched a winning rocket 10km into the sky at an international aerospace competition. The Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) student team won their category and placed third overall at the Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico, United States. Alicia, who works at Dawn Aerospace part-time, will finish a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Mechanical Engineering, with a minor in Aerospace Engineering, at the end of 2023. She has already lined up a fulltime job at Rocket Lab in Auckland.

Cameron Wilson (2019) completed a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology at Victoria University and is a diver and aquarist, working at the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier.

Karina Ahn (2021) won a bronze medal at the ICN Body Building Competition.

Benji Freeman and Tanae Lavery (both 2021) played in the New Zealand U23 National Basketball Tournament. Benji’s Taranaki team defended their title, and he was named in the tournament team. Tanae’s Canterbury team was fifth in the tournament, and his Lincoln University Men’s basketball team placed third at the BLIA World Cup in Taiwan in August.

Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (2021) was selected to join the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua team for the 2024 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season. Isaiah played for the Manawatu Turbos in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship this season.

Harri Silcock (2021) was jointly the youngest competitor in the Ashley Forest Rallysprint held in September where he finished third overall in the Cross Car class. Earlier in the season, Harri placed second overall in the Cross Car category and third Overall for the New Zealand Hillclimb Championships weekend in South Otago.

At the TYR Pro Swim Series in the US in August, Taiko Torepe-Ormsby (2021) equalled the New Zealand Open record in 50m freestyle with a time of 22.11. His time was 0.01 inside a world championship qualifying standard.

Pippa Henderson (2022) was selected for the Volley Ferns tour to Chile in June, and has joined Navarro College volleyball in Texas, USA.

Scarlett Kirby (2022) competed as part of the 2023 New Zealand U21 Squad in the 2023 IKF U21 Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The team finished sixth.

Milla Newbury (2022) competed at the New Zealand Ice Figure Skating Championships at the start of October, winning bronze in the Adult Interpretive – Gold 1 Women’s event.

Tom Rae (2022) won the Artstart 2023 Waitaha McCormack & McKellar People’s Choice Award for with his photograph 'Vast'. Artstart 2023 Waitaha was an exhibition made up of the top artworks shortlisted from a group of over 1500 submissions across Canterbury Secondary Schools.

Luke Zhu (2022) has departed for Harvard University to undertake his first-year tertiary studies. Luke played a pivotal role in the Mathematics Department after first arriving at St Andrew’s College as a Year 7 student. He initiated the student‑led Mathematics Club and provided tutoring for a wide range of students within the College and across other Christchurch schools.

Tineke Hinton (2023) won bronze at the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Women’s Beach Volleyball.