Student Leaders
Prefects
Our 2025 Prefect Team are:
Head Prefects: Olivia Cook and Nicholas Merry.
Deputy Head Prefects: Oscar Boyd; Rachael Jackson; Tiana Thompson-Ratahi; Addison van Engelen.
Deputy Head Whanaungatanga Prefect: Paige Pullman.
Whānau Prefects:
Blake – Taha McLean-Saad. Hillary – Indigo Tomlinson. Ngāpua – Mikayla Vette. Sheppard – Isabella Wickman.
School Prefects: Oliver Buckle, Lola Childs, Jesse MacLeod, Katie McGregor and Lola Mercer.
As members of the Prefect Team at Huanui College, they are a special group. Our Prefects take on important positions of responsibility in the school.
From our Head Prefects
Olivia Cook | Head Prefect
This year, I am looking forward to creating bonds with our students and finding out more about who they are. I am hoping to enhance the celebration of diversity in our kura by strengthening the awareness of individual culture and identity, making sure everyone feels seen and heard, and that they have the ability to express themselves.
Looking back on my years at Huanui, the advice I would give younger students is that you don’t always have to have the answer and you don’t have to be the best at everything. Embrace your uncertainty and allow yourself to make mistakes so that you can grow and find what works for you.
Most importantly, enjoy the journey.
Nicholas Merry | Head Prefect
One of my focuses this year is going to be on giving students opportunities for leadership, and to show the school who they are. As a musician for many years, I think it’s super important that students are given ways to express themselves to others, and I aim to help people achieve that. This could be through performances, cultural celebrations, or just being sure that the people of Huanui have a voice in decisions that are being made. I believe that everyone working together can make the school even better than it already is.
To leave some advice to anyone new who is attending, do everything. I have had so much fun interacting with the community here at Huanui and made loads of friends whom I wouldn’t have made if I had stayed in my shell.
So sign up for Shakespeare, or a sport that you haven’t played before, learn an instrument – you can only know if you like something or not after you’ve given it a go!
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Oscar Boyd | Deputy Head Prefect
This year my aim is to support the students of the school as much as I can. One of the ways I intend to do this is through the new Student Council body introduced this year. This is a representative body made up of all year groups with the aim to ensure that any problems encountered by a year group can be raised by the year group representatives and brought to the attention of the student and staff leadership. I encourage all students to make sure you know who your Student Council representative is, and talk to them about any issues you are having; or, feel free to come directly to any of the student leadership team.
To the students, I urge you to make the most of your opportunities here at Huanui. Our education at Huanui is broader than just the academic curriculum – we also learn how to learn, how to contribute back to our community, to have courage to try new things, and to chase new opportunities. These are powerful skills and qualities that set us up for a life in the big wide world. The greatest tool Huanui equips us with is the ability to learn how to learn.
Rachael Jackson | Deputy Head Prefect
One of my main goals is to promote performances and showcases of student talent. For many of us, it is hard to perform in front of our peers, and as a school, we have so much talent! By implementing a badge system that involves academic and cultural colours in addition to the original sports colours, we can wear our hearts on our sleeves and carry reminders of our fondest memories as a testament of how truly awesome we all are.
As part of my role as Deputy Head Girl, I am liaison for the new foundation group and will aim to provide more academic support for every student; including AS and A level students. This includes help with subject selection and offering tutoring for all year levels in multiple subjects.
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Paige Pullman |
Whanaungatanga Deputy Head Prefect
As the Whanaungatanga Deputy Head Prefect, I have the honor of fulfilling two key responsibilities. First, as part of the leadership team, I will collaborate with an inspiring group of Prefects to support all student year groups.
Secondly, being Whanaungatanga Prefect will give me the opportunity to connect our current senior students with Huanui’s alumni to access the guidance they need. I’m passionate about enhancing academic support for our senior students. This includes continuing initiatives such as mentorship programmes and career events, which provide valuable insights and opportunities.
The advice that I would give to any student at the College is very simple yet important: be yourself! Remember to push your boundaries and try new things. School goes so fast and there’s no point wasting it by being apathetic. Have fun and remember to take in the good moments and know that the tough times will eventually pass. I’m excited to grow closer with all of our new students and continue building meaningful connections across all year groups!
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Addison van-Engelen | Deputy Head Prefect
As a leader I aim to create deeper and more effective communication between the senior students and the juniors. I believe that strengthening these connections will allow us to prioritise student needs and support all year levels. I also aim to further develop a culture here at Huanui that celebrates student achievement and growth in all areas of life: academic, sporting, cultural, personal – and so much more. One way I intend to do this is by introducing an award system that acknowledges student development in our core values.
Being yourself is the bravest thing a person can do. This year I hope to lead by example and ensure that my fellow students are able to thrive as individuals and are confident enough to take every opportunity available to them. Every experience, big or small, is an opportunity to discover new passions, meet new people and learn who you are as a person. I hope that this year students will join me in finding the courage to try something new.
Tiana Thompson-Ratahi | Deputy Head Prefect
Huanui has given me so much over the past six years. The College has supported me through my Netball journey. My team has enabled me to grow and thrive with unconditional, and never-ending help. It has shaped me into the person I am today, with so many strong values and aspirations that I know I wouldn’t have gained anywhere else.
For 2025, I want to promote and create a supportive environment for student voice. I want to provide a space for younger students to develop their leadership skills by taking on small stepping-stone roles; helping them build the confidence they will need in the future to go for larger roles.
If I could give the younger students one piece of advice, it would be this: anything is possible if you truly put your mind and heart to it. Setting goals is a great way to turn your ambitions into reality. Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve gives you something to strive for and keeps you motivated and dedicated. The College has taught me that goals act as a guiding beacon, helping you to stay focused as you know there is light at the end of the tunnel.