Whanganui High School

07/06/2026

Injury doesn't stop Reiley Thomas from winning Silver

It wasn’t a great start for Reiley Thomas from Whanganui High School as he lined up for the 100metres in the Under 18 category at the Oceania Athletic Championships held recently in Darwin Australia. “I was on the blocks close to starting, when I felt my hip go.” It had done that before, but he thought he was over it.
But that didn’t stop him. In fact he ran 11.49seconds, good enough to get 4th.
On the next day he was due to compete in the long jump. He was hoping for a high 6 metres through to 7, but he achieved 5.78. His father, Ryan Thomas, who accompanied him to Darwin, said, “It looked like Reiley was struggling to jump straight.”

However, the New Zealand team was in the 100metres final and Reiley helped them win silver. He says, “I ran the bend section which was easier for me with my hip.” The time was 42.56 seconds, very fast when you compare it to the Commonwealth Games standard of 39 seconds. At only 16, Reiley was the youngest member of the team.

He is already looking forward to competing at the 2028 games when he will be in his final year of school.

As for Darwin, the temperature was 34 degrees getting off the plane. When he did the long jump it was 36, and there were no gazebos to shelter in as they would have blocked the views of the cameras. “I had a zip lock bag full of ice on my neck for most of the day.” Ryan adds, “The wind was hot as well.”

In their time off they visited the nearby national park and the Under 18 New Zealand group checked out the city. Otherwise, they lived in the swimming pool, which was colder, just, than the air temperature.

Ryan describes Darwin as “a beautiful place with minimal traffic issues. The beaches are beautiful, but thanks to sea water crocodiles and jelly fish, unsafe to swim.

The New Zealand team covering juniors, seniors, para athletes and masters was one of the biggest athletics teams out of New Zealand with a 156 athletes.
Reiley is back to training, although there will be a break from competitions for about four months.

03/06/2026

Japan Trip Fundraiser. Tickets available now from the Main office. Be in quick!

02/06/2026

From Monday (15 June to 30 June) our Principal, Martin McAllen, will begin School Tours for Year 8 students and their whanau to have a look around our school. A Tour can be booked through this form - https://forms.gle/vSK4UFLnUpV8pVvN6 .

- Please assemble outside our Main Office reception 10 minutes before your session time - Park on the road (Purnell Street) - Please allow one hour for tour - Tours will run regardless of weather conditions, wear jackets and bring umbrellas if raining

28/05/2026

Huge congratulations to Luffy on this incredibly well-deserved award! 🙌🙌
Our WHS rowers are so fortunate to have someone with such passion, dedication, and knowledge guiding and inspiring them in the sport he loves so much.
💚💛💚💛

A huge congratulations to Luffy (Alan Luff), who was presented with the Whanganui Volunteer of the Year Award at the 2026 Rowing NZ Awards last Saturday in Wellington. Luffy is pure testament to the commitment, passion, ability and longevity that helps our sport and his Club achieve to a high standard. 🏆💙🖤💙

28/05/2026

25/05/2026

23/05/2026

WHS ROCKQUEST WINNERS 🥳🥳

Smokefreerockquest showcases local talent

The Royal Whanganui Opera House came alive on Saturday 16 May as the region's most promising young musicians took to the stage for the 2026.

Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats Whanganui Regional Final.
The event determined the Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats regional winners across both the Band and Solo/Duo categories, with all successful acts now advancing to the video submission stage – the next step toward securing a place in the 2026 Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats National Finals.

Ngahauewha from Whanganui High School delivered a standout performance and took out the honour of first place in the Band category of both Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats, crowning them Whanganui’s regional winners for both competitions.

Segundo Arne Leiva Benegas (Brass, Ukelele of Ngahauewha) shares;
“We’ve done this competition a few times now and I think that’s what makes us tight. This year is the first time we have switched instruments which got the crowd cheering for us. Overall, I’m really proud of our performance tonight.”

In each region, the top two acts from each category advance to video submissions for national finalist selection.
Whanganui full 2026 regional award list:

Smokefreerockquest Regional Winners – Solo/Duo
1st place: Sophie Toyne – Whanganui High School wins $250 Musical equipment from the Rockshop
2nd place: Bonnie-Daisy – Whanganui Girls' School wins $100 Musical equipment from the Rockshop

Smokefreerockquest Regional Winners – Band
1st place: Ngahauewha – Whanganui High School wins $600 Musical equipment from the Rockshop
2nd place: Dead Tie Society – Rangitīkei College wins $400 Musical equipment from the Rockshop
3rd place: CORTINA – Whanganui High School wins $250 Musical equipment from the Rockshop

Smokefree Tangata Beats Regional Winners – Solo/Duo
1st place: Tuwharetorian – Rangitīkei College wins $100 Musical equipment from the Rockshop
2nd place: McCaw – Rangitīkei College

Smokefree Tangata Beats Regional Winners – Band
1st place: Ngahauewha – Whanganui High School wins $200 Musical equipment from the Rockshop

Special Awards
● Musicianship Awards: Bassist from Reverie – Rangitīkei College & the horn section from Ngahauewha – Whanganui High School
● Smokefree Best Vocals Award: Sophie Toyne – Whanganui High School
● Wright Family Foundation Best Song Award: Will and Kerby etc – Whanganui High School
● APRA Lyric Award: Elizabeth Hodge – Ruapehu College
● Rockshop Electronic Assist Performance Award: Tuwharetorian – Rangitīkei College

Rockquest winners WHS.
Photo by Patrick Loughran