Principal’s Welcome
As a proud Old Boy of this kura, I know first-hand the impact that Whangārei Boys’ High School can have on a young man’s life. The values of this school, alongside the lessons I learned in the classroom, on the sports field, and within the wider community, have shaped who I am today.
Since 1881, Whangārei Boys’ High School has upheld a proud tradition of excellence in learning, sport, culture, and service. Generations of young men have walked through our gates and left with the confidence, knowledge, and character to contribute meaningfully to society. That legacy is not something we simply look back on. It is something we carry forward, together.
We embrace excellence in everything we do. Our students are encouraged to honour the high standards set by those who came before them, while also forging their own path and defining their own success. At WBHS, high expectations are matched with strong support, ensuring every boy is known, challenged, and cared for.
We are a school that listens and learns together. We are present, engaged, and connected, whether in the classroom, on the sports field, or in the wider community. We support our students to grow, providing them with the skills and confidence they need for learning and for life, while also challenging them to aim higher and continually improve.
Whangārei Boys’ High School is more than a place of learning. It is a whānau. Strong relationships sit at the heart of our school, and we value the partnership we share with our students, their whānau, and the wider community. Our diverse student body reflects the community we serve, and we are committed to ensuring every boy leaves here academically prepared, culturally confident, socially responsible, and ready to contribute to the world around him.
As an Old Boy and now Tumuaki, it is a privilege to lead this school into the future while honouring the traditions and values that have shaped its past. Education is about more than acquiring knowledge. It is about building character, leadership, and a sense of purpose. At Whangārei Boys’ High School, we are committed to helping every young man discover his potential and step confidently into a future filled with opportunity.
We welcome you to be part of our brotherhood, proud history and our shared future.
Anchored in excellence.
Ngā mihi nui,
Alec Solomon
BPhEd. GradDipTchg(Sec) PGDipEdLd (distinction) M.EdLd(distinction)
Our Whakapapa, Our Story
Anchored in Brotherhood. Anchored in Excellence.
We are the sons of Whangārei, inheritors of a proud legacy forged in the north. We are part of an unbroken chain—each of us a link connecting our proud past with a bold future. That chain was first cast in 1878, when visionary Whangārei leaders believed education could shape young people of character, service, and leadership. For many years we were co-educational; in 1947 Whangārei Boys’ High School was established, and the next chapter of our identity as a boys’ school began. Since then, generations of young men have stood side by side—learning, striving, serving, and leading—and their legacy lives on in our traditions, our culture, and our crest.
This is the story of us. Not just a school. Not just a cohort. A brotherhood. A whakapapa. We belong to a lineage — and in that belonging, we find strength.
This is more than a kura; it is our whakapapa— a bond that ties us to this whenua, to our founding values, to old boys who carried the anchor into the world, and to our tūpuna whose courage and service echo through these grounds. We carry the name of Whangārei, the inheritors of a proud legacy. Our story did not begin the day we first walked through the gates; it began generations ago—and now the pen is in our hands.
We are each a thread in a much larger tapestry. At Whangārei Boys’ High School, belonging means more than wearing the uniform. It means holding the line for your brother when times are tough. It means upholding values when no one is watching. It means leaving this place better than we found it.
We are bound by Whanaungatanga & Manaakitanga, Tika & Pono, Māia & Aroha, Mahi Tahi. These values are not rules. They are commitments — to ourselves, to each other, and to the generations that follow. They anchor us in turbulent times and elevate us in triumph. Each of us contributes our own mark – bold, purposeful, respectful of the past, full of promise for the future. We aim not only to achieve, but to uplift; not only to win, but to grow; to compete with honour, learn with curiosity, and serve faithfully.
We are not perfect—but we are accountable. We are not all the same—but we are united. Each of us brings a different story and dream: yet when we walk together in black and gold, we move as one. One team. One legacy. One school. Today, the sun shines on us: we are the current link in the chain. Our strength is in how we stand together.
Ahead of us lie the future brothers of this kura. They will inherit the chain we carry now. The mana, strength, pride, and unity we build today will be their starting point tomorrow. So we ask: What will be said about our time here? What will those who come after us inherit? How will we honour the past while building the future?
Ka mua, ka muri — walking backwards into the future. Our path forward is shaped by the footsteps of those who came before. This is our whakapapa: an unbreakable chain—anchored in the past, held in the present, and stretching into the future.
Core Values
Whanaungatanga and Manaakitanga
This design is called a Manaia. It features the face of a bird, the body of a human, and the tail of a fish—symbolising a messenger between the mortal and spirit worlds, and serving as a spiritual guardian. Manaia powerfully represents the values of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga. Just as the Manaia is formed from different elements of the natural world, we as tauira and kaimahi come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. What brings us together, and strengthens our sense of connection, are the values of whanaungatanga-building strong relationships-and manaakitanga-showing care and respect for one another.
Tika and Pono
Hei Toki represents Tika and Pono. Traditionally carved from stone, the Hei Toki is recognised as a symbol of honesty, integrity, and strength. The word “hei” refers to something worn around the neck, while “toki” means adze—a tool used for carving and shaping. The Hei Toki is often passed down through generations, worn by those seen as resilient, determined, and committed to shaping their own path.
Hei Toki strongly represents the values of Tika (doing what is right) and Pono (being truthful and sincere). Just as the adze is used to shape and create, living with Tika and Pono allows us to shape our own future with integrity, purpose, and strength.
Mahi Tahi
The Tewhatewha is a powerful symbol that we believe best represents the value of Mahi Tahi. Traditionally used in times of war, the Tewhatewha is often adorned with feathers and held by chiefs as a sign of leadership, strength, and authority. While it was a weapon, it also held deep cultural significance and was used in ceremonial contexts, symbolising unity, direction, and purpose.
The Tewhatewha represents Mahi Tahi—working together as one— success in battle, leadership, and community depends on collective effort, trust, and collaboration. Like the Tewhatewha, Mahi Tahi reflects strength through unity and the importance of standing together with shared purpose.
Māia & Aroha
Māia and Aroha are each represented with their own distinct design, highlighting the unique qualities they embody—Māia symbolising strength and courage, and Aroha expressing compassion and love. Combined in a mirrored or balanced form, these designs celebrate how the two values work in harmony to guide and uplift our kura.
The bottom element is the Mangopare—a symbol often found in traditional kowhaiwhai patterns on the rafters of whare rūnanga (meeting houses). Representing the hammerhead shark, the Mangopare is a powerful symbol of strength, resilience, and determination. It is also closely associated with whenua (the land), grounding it in the physical and seen world.
Above it sits the Roimata tukutuku pattern, symbolising the tears of the albatross. This design is associated with the sky and speaks to the emotional, spiritual, and unseen. Roimata reflects compassion, empathy, and deep care—key aspects of Aroha.
By combining the Mangopare and Roimata, we have created a design that reflects the balance between courage and compassion—Maia and Aroha. Though different, these values are deeply connected. One grounds us in strength, the other lifts us with love. Together, they form a powerful and complete expression of character.