Lindisfarne College, New Zealand

Lindisfarne College is a private Presbyterian boys' day and boarding intermediate and high school in Hastings, New Zealand. The school is named after the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne, site of the medieval Celtic monastery and castle on the northeastern coast of England. The college was established on 14 April 1953, by the Herrick family. The founding roll of 33 students now comprises over 500 students. Roughly half the school students are full or weekly borders. Its sister school, Iona College for girls, is situated in nearby Havelock North.

Lindisfarne is currently in the process of constructing a new performing arts block. Recently, various buildings around the school have been upgraded including the dining hall, gymnasium, and music department. The current rector is Ken MacLeod, who succeeded Grant Lander in 2010.

The college's overarching philosophy is based on 'four cornerstones of learning' — academic excellence, cultural participation, sporting endeavour, and the Christian dimension. It focuses heavily on producing alumni with 'admirable' content of character, through its 'Good Man' programme.^[3]

Scottish Heritage

Lindisfarne places a major emphasis on its Scottish and Presbyterian heritage. This tradition began in accordance with the wishes of the Herrick family, who gifted the land on which the college stands for the creation of a school in 1953. Additionally, the college's founding rector, Rev. F. H. Robertson, was a prominent minister in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, and established a uniquely Presbyterian and Scottish dimension to the college. The college hosts an annual Burns supper, maintains an active pipe band, and hosts the annual Easter Highland Games for the Hawke's Bay region. The college's formal uniform includes the wearing of tartan kilts, and its social studies curriculum includes the mandatory learning of the school's Celtic heritage. Students are also required to learn the college hymn, the college song, the college prayer, and a haka of the local Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.

Te Whāiti-Nui-A-Toi Programme

Lindisfarne has also developed a strong Māori cultural dimension since the establishment of the Te Whāiti-Nui-A-Toi Scholarship in 1972. The scholarship, which has historical connections to the Māori Synod through the work of Presbyterian Missionaries to the Ngāi Tūhoe people of the Te Urewera region, provides funding support for Māori boys attending the college. Te Whāiti-Nui-A-Toi scholars have also represented Lindisfarne at major cultural events, such as the Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools Cultural Festival and the Manu Korero speech competition. Sir Rodney Gallon served as de facto patron of the Te Whāiti-Nui-A-Toi scholarship programme from 1972 until his death in 2012.^[4]

Joint Activities & Exchanges

Lindisfarne is located adjacent to Hastings Girls High School, with which it has numerous joint musical ensembles, notably the Concord Symphonic Band. The college also produces annual theatrical productions, in conjunction with either Hastings Girls' High School, Iona College, or Woodford House. Lindisfarne has also had long-standing associations with Turakina Maori Girls' College and St Joseph's Māori Girls' College through the kapa haka activities of Te Whāiti-Nui-A-Toi Scholars attending the college.

Annual sporting exchanges have been established between Lindisfarne and other Scottish-heritage boys' schools in New Zealand, including Scots College, Wellington, and Saint Kentigern College, Auckland. Additional sporting rivalries exist between Lindisfarne and Rathkeale College, Wanganui Collegiate School, and Napier Boys' High School.

Houses

Lindisfarne has an established house system with four houses: Aidan, Cuthbert, Oswald, and Durham. Boys whose fathers are alumni of the school are placed in the same house that their father was in. Brothers are usually placed in the same house as well, to create a sense of family within houses. Students participate in various inter-house activities during the course of the year, with the ultimate goal of winning the Gahan Shield.

Each house is named after an aspect of the college's Celtic heritage:

• Aidan - (Red)

It is named after St. Aidan of Lindisfarne, founder of the monastery on the Holy Isle.

• Cuthbert - (Black)

It is named after St. Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne (685-687).

• Oswald - (Blue)

It is named after St. Oswald, King of Northumbria (634-642).

• Durham - (Green)

It is named after the Bishopric of Durham, in the cathedral of which the remains of King Oswald and St. Cuthbert are interred.

College Rectors and Roll

• 1953-1954 — Reverend F. H. Robertson
• 1955-1956 — P. H. G. Southwell
• 1956-1959 — J. W. Scougall
• 1959-1970 — A. C. Francis
• 1970-1978 — J. H. N. Pine
• 1978-1980 — P. M. Hill
• 1980-2000 — W. G. Smith
• 2000-2009 — G. W. Lander
• 2010–Present — K. MacLeod

Notable alumni

Politics

• John Falloon — Former MP for the New Zealand National Party.

Civics

• Hon. Justice Joseph Williams — High Court Judge and former Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court.^[5]

Sport

• Israel Dagg — All Black (2010-present)
• Mick Duncan — All Black (1971)
• Campbell Johnstone — All Black (2005)
• Duane Kale — (ONZM) Paralympic Games Swimmer 1996 Atlanta Paralympics (Quadruple Gold Medal, Silver x 1, Bronze x 1). Chef de Mission 2008 Summer Paralympics, Chef de Mission 2012 Summer Paralympics.
• Taine Randell — All Black (1997-2002). All Black Captain (1998-1999)
• John Timu — All Black (1988–94) and New Zealand Rugby League team (1995-2000)

References

External links

• Lindisfarne College official website