Rongotai College Old Boys Association

What a great evening at Rongotai College on Wednesday night for Good Sports: Conversations on Wellbeing in Sport!

The RCOBA was proud to collaborate with the Rongotai College 1st XI Hockey Team and the Rongotai BEST Academy and Foundation (RBA) to bring students, athletes, coaches, parents and members of our wider community together for an evening focused on wellbeing in sport.

Taylor Noble – New Zealand trained registered psychologist, specialising in sport and performance, opened the evening with an engaging discussion on wellbeing in sport, touching on some important conversations around the pressures, expectations and challenges faced by athletes, as well as practical ways to recognise, manage and deal with them.

This was followed by Old Boy Vijay Vallabh, who led a session on the importance of managing physical loads and stress, including an interactive session that gave those in attendance plenty to think about both on and off the field.

The evening was capped off with a fantastic fireside chat between Old Boy and current Rongotai College Sports Director Ross Bond, alongside Wellington sporting greats Jackson Garden-Bachop, James Blackwell and Peter Younghusband.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the evening possible and to everyone who came along and got involved in what was a great night of open and worthwhile conversation.

It was a privilege for the RCOBA to be part of an event that puts the wellbeing of our young people and athletes at the heart of the conversation.

Photo credit: Mark Tantrum, Rongotai College Parent

RC boys of '91-'92!! Your great mate Tofiga is being honoured next Friday, 28th August at the annual RCOBA Imperti Awards and Gala Dinner. We would love to see you there to acknowledge his achievement!! Tag your mates in these photos, follow the link and please make your table booking by Monday. https://fb.me/e/4AHw4PKOh

RONGOTAI COLLEGE OLD BOYS – ROUND UP YOUR MATES! 💙🖤💛

Thanks to the incredible support of our sponsors, we’ve slashed the ticket price for the RCOBA Gala Dinner 2026 to just $60 per person – including a welcome drink, dinner and entertainment.

🔥 EVEN BETTER – BOOK A TABLE OF 10 FOR JUST $550!
That’s only $55 per person when you get the crew together.

Come back to Rongotai College for a great night of memories and brotherhood as we hear from three distinguished Old Boys:

⭐ Bryan Johnson ONZM
⭐ Bruce Edgar
⭐ Tofiga Fepulea’i

Three very different journeys, three great stories – and one shared connection: Rongotai College.

📅 Friday, 28 August
🕖 7pm till late
📍 Renner Hall, Rongotai College
🎟️ $60 per person
🔥 SPECIAL: $550 for a table of 10
🥂 Welcome drink + dinner included

Whether you left the Coutts Street Academy last year or fifty years ago, this is your chance to come back, catch up with old mates, reconnect with the College and enjoy a great night together.

Our sponsors have helped us make the evening more affordable than ever, and now we’d love to see Old Boys get behind it and help us fill Renner Hall. A huge thank you to Fiso Group, Spy Valley Wine, Woolf Photography, Parrotdog, Puku Pies, Hotel Catalina, Strathmore Local, DAC Group, and Wellington Flower Co for helping us put together an incredible evening.

Tag your Rongotai mates, get a table together and make a night of it!

📧 Book now: [email protected]

Come back to Rongotai. Reconnect. Reminisce. Celebrate. 💙🖤💛

Please share this post and help us spread the word throughout the Rongotai College Old Boys community.

🏀 Good luck to the Wellington Saints in the Grand Final! 🏆

The Rongotai College Old Boys Association wishes Old Boy and current teacher Mr Chris "Toops" Tupu (1982–1986), along with the Mills Albert Wellington Saints, all the very best as they take on the Southland Sharks in the Grand Final of the Sal’s New Zealand National Basketball League.

Toops returned to the Saints last season as an assistant coach, bringing his extensive experience, knowledge, and passion for basketball to the team. It has been fantastic to see another strong Rongotai College connection represented at the highest level of New Zealand basketball.

The Rongotai connections within the Saints environment extend beyond the court, with Old Boy Nic Durkin (2017–2021) continuing to capture and share the Saints’ journey through his work in basketball media. Nic is now a Digital and Campaign Manager for Basketball New Zealand and continues to play an important role in showcasing the game across Aotearoa. We also acknowledge current Year 10 Rongotai College student Cooper Bennie, who has been involved with the Saints this season through media content creation, gaining valuable experience alongside the team.

Pictured here following the Saints’ final regular season match against the Southland Sharks are Cooper, Nic and Toops.

We’ll be cheering on the Saints as they look to bring home another championship. Best of luck, Toops and the team! 🏀💙🖤💛

August and September are shaping up to be two exciting months for the Rongotai College Old Boys Association!

We have a great line-up of events coming up, with plenty of opportunities to reconnect, celebrate Rongotai College, and get involved.

🏑 Good Sports: Conversations on Wellbeing in Sport
Wednesday 19 August | 7pm - 9pm | Renner Hall, Rongotai College
An evening exploring wellbeing in sport, featuring leading voices from the world of performance, psychology, and high-performance sport. Join us for keynote presentations, panel discussion, and audience Q&A.

🍻 Thirsty Thursday – RCOBA Social Catch-Up
Thursday 20 August | From 5:30pm | Strathmore Local Bar & Restaurant
Our monthly social catch-up continues! A relaxed opportunity for Old Boys and the wider Rongotai College community to reconnect, share stories, and enjoy a catch-up over a drink.

⛳ RCOBA Golf Day 2026
Thursday 27 August | 1:30pm Onwards | Miramar Golf Club
Grab your clubs and join us for a fun afternoon on the fairways. Open to golfers of all abilities, with individual and team entries available, followed by a post-golf prizegiving open to everyone.

🥂 RCOBA Gala Dinner 2026
Friday 28 August | 7pm - 10:30pm | Renner Hall, Rongotai College
Join us for a special evening celebrating Rongotai College and the Association, hearing from our 2026 Imperti Award recipients, and contributing to our future initiatives.

🇬🇧 London (UK) RCOBA Catch-Up
Wednesday 2 September | London, United Kingdom
Rongotai College Principal Mr Kevin Carter, RCOBA President Jimmy Fiso, and UK-based Committee Member Matt Bridge invite our UK-based Old Boys to reconnect and hear the latest from the Rongotai community.

Further venue details will be confirmed shortly. In the meantime, if you are interested in attending, please email [email protected] or send us a message via the RCOBA page so we can keep you updated and ensure you don't miss out on what's set to be a great evening.

Follow the Facebook Event Pages to find out more about each event or email [email protected] for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Rongotai College Old Boys' Association joins the wider College community in thanking Mr Dinesh Bhindi as he retires after almost 37 years of outstanding service to Rongotai College.

Mr Bhindi began his journey at Rongotai on 16 August 1989 as a Science and Chemistry teacher. Over the decades, he inspired and challenged generations of young men in the classroom, fostering curiosity, discipline, and a love of learning through his signature enthusiasm, humour, and unmistakable presence.

His contribution to the College, however, has extended well beyond teaching. Throughout his career, Mr Bhindi has taken on numerous leadership and administrative responsibilities, serving as Assistant Head of the Science Department, NZQA Liaison, Dean, the Principal's Nominee, and, for nearly two decades, as Chair of the Timetabling Committee. He has also been elected on numerous occasions by his colleagues to serve as the Staff Representative on the Board of Trustees, reflecting the confidence and respect he has earned from those he has worked alongside.

For many Old Boys, Mr Bhindi will be remembered not only for his lessons in the laboratory, but for his energy, his good-natured shouting, and Bhindi’s Butter Chicken at the Annual Food Fair. Across nearly four decades, he has been a constant presence in the life of the College, shaping the experiences of thousands of Rongotai students.

On behalf of Old Boys from every generation, we extend our sincere gratitude to Mr Bhindi for his remarkable service to Rongotai College. His legacy is not only in the roles he has held, but in the generations of students he has taught, challenged, and (very loudly, and very effectively) inspired.

We wish Mr Bhindi and his family every happiness in retirement, with good health, well-earned rest, and many rewarding adventures ahead.

Vinaka vakalevu, Mr Bhindi!

The RCOBA will also sit down with Mr Bhindi in September to capture a recorded reflection of his time at Rongotai, his memories of the College, and the experiences and moments that have shaped nearly four decades of service to our community.

For those who would like to share a message of thanks or a personal memory, a Google Form has been linked in the comments below. You are also welcome to leave your message directly in the comments.

On 1 July 2026, exactly 75 years to the day since the unveiling of the Rongotai College Roll of Honour Memorial Board, the Old Boys Association joined the College to mark a deeply significant anniversary with a day of remembrance, reflection, and connection.

The Roll of Honour, unveiled on 1 July 1951 by Governor-General Lord Freyberg and dedicated by Foundation Headmaster Mr Renner, commemorates the 92 Rongotai College Old Boys and staff who lost their lives during the Second World War. Described at its unveiling as "a simple tablet... a very humble tribute to their deeds and sacrifices", the ceremony also marked the final official duty of Headmaster Mr Heron before concluding his tenure at Rongotai College.

To mark the anniversary, remembrance was woven into the life of the College. A Field of Remembrance was laid with 92 crosses bearing the names of those on the Roll of Honour. The College flag was flown at half-mast. The Memorial Bell was rung 92 times. And the entire school observed a 92-second moment of silence during Form Time, ensuring that remembrance was not confined to a single moment, but carried through the rhythm of the day.

Members of the Old Boys’ Association Committee and Prefects also travelled throughout Wellington to lay tributes and pay respects at St Patrick's College Silverstream, Scots College, and Wellington College acknowledging that the 92 Rongotai men we remember are part of a much wider story of service and sacrifice across schools, communities, and the nation.

The day concluded with a Commemoration Service held in the Renner Hall that brought together veterans, current service personnel, Old Boys, students, staff, parents, and distinguished guests.

A wreath was laid by Ms Ange Coyle, Vice President of the Wellington Returned and Services' Association. The Official Address was delivered by Mr Simon Strombom MNZM DSD, Founder of the New Zealand Remembrance Army. Musical support was provided by Corporals Mike Taylor (Bugle) and Leo Coghini (Piano) of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band, alongside Old Boy Mr Junwei Chen on piano. The Memorial Board was also rededicated by Principal, Mr Kevin Carter.

It was a profoundly meaningful day for the Rongotai College community, marking not only a moment in time, but a continuing commitment to remembrance, reflection, and responsibility.

Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou - Lest we forget.

Earlier this week, the Rongotai College Old Boys Association was proud to unveil five new National Football Title banners as part of The RCOBA Banner Project.

The new banners recognise Rongotai College's championship-winning football teams of 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, and 1989, ensuring that their achievements are permanently celebrated within the Gymnasium and remain visible to future generations of students.

It was particularly special to welcome Old Boys and families representing all five title-winning teams back to the College for the occasion. Their presence reminded us that these achievements are more than results on an honours board — they are stories of teamwork, dedication, resilience, and Brotherhood that continue to connect generations of Rongotai men.

The Banner Project continues our long-term vision of recognising all of Rongotai College's national sporting titles and ensuring that today's students are reminded of the remarkable legacy they inherit every time they walk into the Gymnasium. In doing so, we hope these displays encourage future generations to take pride in their school and continue striving for excellence in the classroom, on the sporting field, and within the community.

As we begin work on future phases of the project, we are keen to identify any other Rongotai College national titles that may not yet have been recognised. If you are aware of a national championship team that deserves recognition, please comment below with the sporting code and year.

The Association would like to acknowledge and thank the Rongotai BEST Academy, our generous private contributors, and Air Rescue Services Ltd for their support in helping make this project possible.

We also extend our thanks to DAC Group for the production and installation of the banners, and to the Lyall Bay Bowling Club for hosting our after-match function and providing a wonderful venue for Old Boys and supporters to reconnect following the unveiling.

If you would like to join us at another upcoming RCOBA event, registrations are now open for the RCOBA Quiz Night on Thursday 25 June. Follow the Facebook Event page for more information.

We are delighted to announce the launch of the new Rongotai BEST Academy (RBA) website. Established and supported by old boys, the Rongotai BEST Academy Charitable Trust became an incorporated board of trustees and a registered charity in 2025 and provides free coaching, camps and development opportunities that help young people grow as athletes and as people. Our first focus is delivering free football coaching across Rongotai and Eastern Suburbs primary schools. To find out more, please visit:

Rongotai Best Academy | Join the Movement Today Join Rongotai Best Academy for free, inclusive sports coaching focused on youth development in football and other activities. Support our mission to empower young people in Wellington.

The Rongotai College Old Boys’ Association was proud to recently present the Bruce Cockburn Service Award during a special full school assembly at Rongotai College, recognising five individuals whose service has made a lasting contribution to the life of the College and its wider community.

This year’s recipients were Mr Andrew Collins, Mr Malcolm Bridge, Mrs Paddianne Neely, Mrs Shirley McLaughlin, and Mr Trevor Rigby.

Each recipient has, in their own way, given distinguished service to Rongotai College and the Old Boys’ community. Their leadership, dedication, and care have helped sustain the traditions, relationships, and sense of connection that define Rongotai across generations. Whether through strengthening the Old Boys’ Association, preserving the history of the College, supporting its students and families, or serving the wider community, their contributions reflect the very best of Rongotai character.

The Bruce Cockburn Service Award recognises individuals who embody the ideals of Verum Educationem - True Education, a phrase inspired by the writings of our Foundation Headmaster, F. M. Renner, who described true education as learning our duty to our neighbour and our duty to ourselves.

Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing individual spotlights on each of our recipients and the remarkable stories of service that led to their recognition.

We warmly congratulate all five recipients and thank them for the legacy they have helped build for Rongotai College and its community.