Nelson College

14/09/2026

The kākā campaigning legends of 9A Social Studies went right to the source last week, visiting The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. Armed with binoculars and a wildlife-tracking antenna, the lads managed to locate around three kākā but unfortunately, they remained elusive and hidden in the trees! The boys were treated to a tuatara catching the first rays of spring sunshine.
The students have spent this term learning about New Zealand’s changing environment with Forest and Bird’s Bird of the Year competition as a vehicle for doing so. The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is doing great work in Nelson creating a viable habitat for precious taonga, and we're lucky to be able to get along!

Big thanks to Rick Field for hosting us and sharing his knowledge. Hopefully the boys convinced him - and you - to now at birdoftheyear.org.nz (don't forget to validate your vote via em

https://hail.to/nelsoncollege/article/JqUTk5c

11/09/2026

To the untrained eye, this may look like a simple slab of concrete, but to us it's much more than that.

Imagine a school of around 1000 teenage boys milling about at lunchtime. Jostling, bustling, play fighting and running about like boys do. Now imagine an expanse of beautifully wet concrete, glistening in the sun, smooth as a mirror, just begging to be 'embellished'. This is the marshmallow test for teenagers! And those embellishments never came!

No handprints, no footprints, no initials, tags, smiley faces or '[insert name] was here.'
This is more than a concrete slab - this is a monument to restraint, respect, consideration for others and the sport they're passionate about.

So this humble slab of concrete will always remind us of good behaviour and our school values: Manaaki, Pono, Kairangi. What a thing of beauty!

Well done to every boy who resisted the overwhelming temptation that wet concrete presents. Lesser men would have crumbled!

Thanks to Not Just Concrete for the great job!

08/09/2026

We’ve had a changing of the guard with the election of new Student Representative Finlay Lawes who secured victory over three other candidates with a convincing lead of 17 votes.

Finlay takes over from Isaac Milner in the role which provides a valuable bridge between the student body and the Nelson College Board.

He hopes to amplify the student voice and simultaneously support The Board in communicating their ideas to students. Finlay is keen to support new students just finding their way in Nelson College. ‘I’m particularly interested in helping with the transition from intermediate for our younger students’, he said.

He plans to visit arahi classes, introduce himself and invite students to come to him with their concerns, ideas or just for a chat. Even though he doesn’t have an office he has a fully open door policy! ‘Anyone can just approach me if they see me on campus – easy as!’

Congratulations Finlay, we’re excited to have you on board, and we know you’ll do a great job!

07/09/2026

Shoutout Mr. Munn style to birthday boy Gerry from . The importance of delivering coffee and morale to teachers can't be underestimated and we appreciate this all-important service more than you know! So happy birthday Gerry-we hope you get spoiled today!

On a more serious note, Gerry's family has been hit hard with the news that his beloved wife and business partner Helen has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Helen and Gerry's whānau and friends have come together to run a couple of fundraising events to ease the financial burden on the family as they concentrate on Helen. If you can, please get along to The Tahuna Sprig and Fern Quiz Night on 10th and 17th Sep or the Bingo Night at The Honest Lawyer, 30th Sep and have a great night while showing your support for a great family!

06/09/2026

04/09/2026

03/09/2026

We know that this can be a difficult time for students. Exam season is here and those feelings of anxiety and overwhelm can creep up. It's natural to feel this way–it shows we care. But if it's getting a bit too much, maybe it's time to reach out for some help. We know that boys aren't always the best at this so we're just reminding you that our school counsellors Nicki Lawes and Heledd Davies are here. If you want to book a session just send them an email. Heledd: [email protected] or Nicki: [email protected].

Remember there are things you can do to give yourself the best chance at success: Get plenty of rest, keep the screentime to a minimum, stay hydrated, get some exercise and stay connected to your mates.