Hereworth Alumni & Supporters Association

26/08/2026

Boxing used to be one of the key sports at Hereworth, as evidenced by these classic photos (look at those two smartly-dressed referees). While we don't have student bouts anymore, we'd love to know if anyone has a pair of boxing gloves they used whilst at Hereworth? If so, do let us know! They would be a brilliant item to display during the Centenary.

23/08/2026

A Guest Post by Old Boy Sam Howard – ‘Getting the boys back together.’

“A few weeks ago we set up a WhatsApp group for the Hereworth 1987 year group. It started with just a handful of names that some of us still had contact details for. Once the group was underway, people began adding others they were in touch with and it quickly started to grow. Having a copy of our leavers' photograph, complete with everyone's names, proved useful. It gave us a ready-made list, and the group simply started tracking down and adding as many former classmates as possible.

“One of the most enjoyable parts has been seeing names pop up that many of us have not thought about for nearly 40 years. A few stories and memories are already being shared, and there is a real sense of reconnecting with a part of our lives that has been sitting quietly in the background for decades. It's been fascinating to watch the group expand as each new member brings another connection.

“Looking ahead, the group should become a great way to coordinate plans for the Hereworth Centenary. If everyone can see who is attending, it makes it much easier to come along and reconnect with old schoolmates.

“The best part is that it's incredibly easy to do. Simply create a WhatsApp group, invite the first few people you know, and then let the network build itself. A recommendation is to make everyone an administrator. That way anyone can add new people as they are found, and the responsibility does not fall on the person who originally created the group. Once that happens, the growth tends to become self-sustaining.”

Epic job, Sam. Our Centenary is going to be a year-long celebration and we're doing all our can to contact our 'Lost Boys'. So if you can help us out, and want to gather your year group together, we'd love your help! Contact Rebecca on [email protected]

18/08/2026

We were saddened to hear of the passing of our 2nd oldest Old Boy, Hanson Averill, recently. Hanson spent 4 years at Hereworth from 1937 to 1940 and was a prefect in his time. Even in his later life, he enjoyed driving through the school at the weekend with his wife Anne, having an ice cream while peacefully surveying the grounds.

Anne managed to send us a copy of his first letter home in 1937. Written in a beautiful flowing script, the letter is a fascinating time capsule back to when boarders made up around 90% of the students. Looking at his opening line to his parents, it’s clear that making a cricket team was a top priority!

Many thanks to Anne for keeping us informed of Hanson’s activities in his final few years. His enjoyment of the school, even in his twilight, means a lot to us all.

16/08/2026

Two things in this life are certain - Coffee, and Hereworth vs Huntley being the must-see rugby match of the season! The latest instalment of our longest-standing rivalry is taking place on Thursday 20 August so bring your wet weather gear and join us on the sideline for another cracking game. P.S. can anyone recall this match?

09/08/2026

Last week’s HASA-sponsored event in Auckland was a cracking way to sign off our Northern Choir tour, and also invite some former students for a catchup. We had plenty of parents, friends and Old Boys turn up, including some ex-choristers in the mix. Drinks were had, stories shared, and it’s always wonderful to see what our former students have accomplished since leaving the school.

Great stuff. Christchurch, you’re next! Our 3rd of 3 regional visits will finish up with a catch-up on September 17, so check your in-box for your invite to register or click here to find out more – https://www.hereworth.school.nz/auckland-alumni-supporters-gathering

04/08/2026

Some of our more recent students would have trouble naming this tool. Others, from an earlier time, would be quite familiar with this heavy piece of machinery. If you have any early morning memories of using it, let us know!

03/08/2026

Our Choir is hitting the road and heading to Taupo & Auckland this week, and we’ve got two events we’d like to invite our HASA members along to.

The Taupo performance – Tuesday 4 August at 10.15am at St Andrews’ Church, Taupo.
Auckland drinks & catch up – Thursday 6 August, 5pm till 7.30pm at The Wynyard Pavilion on the waterfront.

With 55 choristers and plenty of parents on tour, this should be an excellent occasion to either see our incredible choir in action, or join us for a HASA-sponsored drink on the Auckland waterfront. No need to register, just turn up and enjoy seeing your former school on tour & catching up with old friends.

22/07/2026

Reunited after 43 years! We recently had George Williams (HW 1982 - 83) and Dan Russell ( HW 1981 - 83) join us to be reunited with a tapesty they made back in the early 80s. It's a huge piece of work that evidently took a long time, but as you can see, their hard work did get their photo in the Te Mata Times that year. Both Old Boys were stoked to be back at the school, and had a wander through the Boarding House to relive some old memories. We're not sure if their needlework flourished later in life, but it was great to have them back with us.

19/07/2026

Great to see former Hereworth student Munro Manaia organise this excellent military display in Napier last week, all at the age of 14! It took 3 months to organise and he was able to involve other young Old Boys as well, creating something truly memorable 👏

'I wanted to do something to involve the younger generation.'