King's College, Auckland
King's College, often informally referred to simply as King's, is an independent secondary boarding and day school in New Zealand. It educates over 1000 pupils, aged 13 to 18 years. King's was originally a single sex boys school but has admitted girls in the Sixth and Seventh forms since 1980, and in the Fifth form since 2016. King's was founded in 1896 by Graham Bruce. King's was originally situated in Remuera, Auckland on the site now occupied by King's School, Remuera, in 1922 the school moved to its present site in the South Auckland suburb of Otahuhu.
The school has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of the school's Board Of Governors. The College is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' UK Conference, the G20 Schools Group and Round Square group. King's will celebrate its 125-year anniversary in 2021 while the 40 year anniversary of girls attending King's will be celebrated in 2020.
Headmasters
| Period | Headmaster |
| 1896–1901 | Graham Bruce |
| 1905–1926 | Colonel Charles T Major |
| 1926–1935 | Canon Henry K Archdall |
| 1936–1942 | Lieutenant Colonel Joseph N Peart |
| 1939–1946 | Harold B Lusk |
| 1947–1973 | Geoffrey N T Greenbank |
| 1973–1987 | Iain P Campbell |
| 1988–2002 | John S Taylor |
| 2003–2009 | Roy Kelley |
| 2009–2014 | Bradley Fenner |
| 2014–2016 | Michael Leach |
| 2016 – present | Simon Lamb |
Senior Leadership
| Role | Name |
| Head of King’s College | Simon Lamb |
| Deputy Headmaster | John Payne |
| Head Chaplain | Reverend Gareth Walters |
| Deputy Head, Pedagogy | Melissa Irving |
| Deputy Head, Academic | Geoff Smith |
| Deputy Head, Pastoral Care | Daniel Mitchell |
King’s is governed by the King’s College Board of Governors, which is made of 13 members and chaired by Chairman of the Board, Hon Simon Power.
Enrolment
As a New Zealand private school, King's receives around $2000 per student from the government and charges parents of students tuition fees to cover costs.At a February 2011 Education Review Office review, King's College had 975 students including 31 international students. The school's gender composition was 85% male and 15% female, or 72% male and 28% female in the final two years. At the same review King's students identified as 79% New Zealand European, 7% Chinese, 4% Māori, 3% Indian, 2% Korean, and 5% other.
Sports
King's College competes in the 1A Rugby Competition and has won 16 times, most recently in 2019. The annual King's College v Auckland Grammar School rugby game is one of the oldest rivalries in New Zealand schoolboy rugby. The King's 1st XI Cricket team won the Gillette Cup in consecutive years between 2009 and 2011, producing notable cricketers with the most recent being Tim Southee.Teaching and community activities
The school, like some others in New Zealand, offers students Cambridge A-Level, and IGCSE courses as well as those from New Zealand's national qualification, the National Certificate of Educational Achievement.The school co-ordinates a service programme which aids the South Auckland community.
Houses
All students are organised into Houses, which form separate communities within the College, and compete amongst themselves for numerous trophies and the much sought Merritt Shield. Boys' boarding Houses include Parnell, School, Selwyn, and St John's. Boys' day Houses are Greenbank, Major, Marsden, Averill and Peart. The Girl's Houses are Middlemore, Taylor and Marion Bruce.- Averill – Averill House was founded in 1961, and became the first weekly boarding House in 1977. Averill, now a day house since its transition from boarding to a day as of February 2013. Averill House is named after Archbishop Alfred Averill who was the second Anglican Archbishop of New Zealand, from 1925 to 1940. He was also the fifth Anglican Bishop of Auckland. Archbishop Averill also served as Chairman of the King's College Board Of Governors. The Averill House motto is "Non Sine Pulvere Plama" which means "The prize is not won without effort". Averill is represented by the colour brown.
- Greenbank – Greenbank House is the newest boy day house named after former Headmaster G N T Greenbank; opened in 1997 as an overflow House from the other three Day Houses with just 70 boys and has since grown to 108 in 2009. The Greenbank House motto, "Semper ad Optima" means "Always strive for the best". Greenbank is represented by the colour grey.
- Major – Built in 1959 to relieve the two existing day Houses. Major is named after Charles Major, who "saved the school" back in its founding years. He was Headmaster after Graham Bruce. Major's House Colour is Black, the House motto is "Virtute ad Victoriam", meaning "with virtues comes victory", and is part of the day House complex, alongside Marsden and Peart. Major is represented by the colour black.
- Marion Bruce - Marion Bruce House is the newest House to Colleges long-standing history and it will serve as a day girls house. The launch of Marion Bruce for the 2020 academic year under Headmaster Simon Lamb, marks King's ambition to forever provide the ‘best all round education’ for the girls on the role. The name ‘Marion Bruce’ is incorporated from the sister in law of founding Headmaster Graham Bruce. Marion Bruce gave the College unconditional service for 27 years, between 1896-1906 and a return in 1910–1927. Serving as a matron, her impact will be forever remembered as she paved the path to shape the future of King's. Even today, over 90 years later. Marion Bruce was launched in 2020, when King's celebrated its 40-year anniversary of girls attending the College. The house motto is ‘Fortitudo et Curiositas’, courage and curiosity. The house colour is teal.
- Marsden – Originally Marsden was known as Town House, until Town House was split into Marsden and Peart in 1947. It is named after the first Anglican missionary to arrive in New Zealand in 1814, Samuel Marsden. The motto is "Semper Ardentes", meaning "Always Determined". Marsden is represented by the colour white.
- Middlemore – The Girls' Boarding House, established in 1984, caters for up to 50 boarders. The Middlemore House motto, "Nulli Secundus" means "Second to none". Middlemore is represented by the colour maroon.
- Parnell – Established under the name Middlemore in 1924, was renamed in 1928 to mark the affiliation with the former Church of England Grammar School in Ayr Street, Parnell and has 64 boarders this year. Their motto, "Disciplina Fides Perservantia" means Discipline, Faith, Perseverance. Parnell is represented by the colour yellow.
- Peart – Founded in 1947, named after the Headmaster killed in action in World War II. The motto, "Veritas Praevalet", means 'Let Truth Prevail'. Peart is represented by the colour sky blue.
- School – The House was founded in 1922, when the College moved to Middlemore. School House is represented by the colour red and shares the same motto as the College, "Virtus Pollet".
- Selwyn – Selwyn was founded in 1945 and resided 'at the top of the drive' until the new House was opened on 1 July 2004. This building is located inside the Golf Road gates, immediately on the right hand side as one drives into the College. It has a maximum capacity of 82 boys from Year 9 – 13. There are no dormitories as all students are in rooms, which are shared at Years 9, 10, 11 with individual rooms for Years 12 and 13. Rooms at Year 11, 12 and 13 have ensuites. The house colour is green and the motto is "Per Fidem Fortis" meaning "Strength Through Faith".
- St John's – Named 'St John's' to recognise the direct link with St John's Collegiate School, which merged with King's in 1913. St John's is located adjacent to the main tennis courts. The St John's House motto, "Religio Doctrina Diligentia" translates to "True religion, sound learning, useful industry." St John's is represented by the colour blue.
- Taylor – Taylor House was established in 2006 and it is home to the Day Girls of King's College. Originally part of Middlemore House, the differing needs of day and boarding girls meant that a new facility was required. Taylor House is located next to Marsden, in the building that was formerly the Headmaster's residence. The statue in the garden was a present at the opening from former Headmaster, John, and his wife, Sarah Taylor who is the eponym of the house. The Taylor House motto "Potens Pollensque” means "capable and strong." Taylor is represented by the colour purple.
Traditions
School song
The school song of King's College is the Carmen Regale, the melody of which was composed by Dutchman Eduard Kremser and the lyrics were authored by I G G Strachan. The school song is shared, among some other things, with King's School in Remuera.Alumni
King's alumni or former pupils are traditionally named Old Boys or Collegians.Academic
- George Cawkwell – ancient historian
Arts
- Jack Body – composer
- Marton Csokas – actor
- David de Lautour – actor
- Laura Hill – actor
- Elizabeth Marvelly – singer
- Jamie McDell – singer
- James Wallace – Art Collector, James Wallace Art Trust
- KJ Apa – actor
Business
- Sam Chisholm – former chief executive Nine Network and British Sky Broadcasting
- Rob Fenwick – Sustainable Advisory Panel
- Hugh Fletcher – chief executive of Fletcher Challenge
- Douglas Myers – brewer, philanthropist
- David Richwhite – merchant banker
Public service
- John Manchester Allen, MP for the National Party
- Douglas Rivers Bagnall, DSO DFC, RAF Wing Commander, notable WWII Wellington bomber pilot and commander
- John Percy Bayly, Member of the Legislative Council of Fiji
- Peter Blanchard, KNZM, PC – Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, Member of the British Privy Council
- Roy Calvert, DFC, WWII pilot
- Brian Carbury, DFC, leading flying ace of the Battle of Britain
- Paul East, CNZM, QC – former Cabinet Minister and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
- Leon Götz, KCVO,, MP for the National Party
- John Henry, KNZM, QC – Justice of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand, Privy Councillor
- Colin Kay, CBE – former Mayor of Auckland and New Zealand triple jump champion
- John Lewis – former Headmaster, Eton College and Geelong Grammar School
- Jim McLay, KNZM, QSO – former Deputy Prime Minister, former leader of the National Party, former Permanent Representative to the United Nations for New Zealand, and current Representative of New Zealand to the Palestinian Authority
- Simon Moore, QC – Justice of the High Court
- Keith Park, GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC, RAF – New Zealand soldier, World War I flying ace and World War II senior Royal Air Force commander, the key military figure in the Battle of Britain
- Geoffrey Sim, QSO,, Member of Parliament representing the National Party
- George Tupou V,, King of Tonga
- T. M. Wilkes, CBE, MC, Controller of Civil Aviation, New Zealand, developer and regulator of civil aviation policy
Science
- Charles Fleming – scientist and environmentalist
- Allan Wilson – evolutionary biologist
Sport
- Pita Alatini – All Blacks rugby player
- Teariki Ben-Nicholas – Rugby player for the Highlanders
- James Bevin – First-class cricketer
- Daniel Braid – 2002–03 All Blacks, 2002– Auckland NPC and Blues Super 14 rugby teams
- Mark Chapman — Black Caps cricketer
- Marcus Child – New Zealand hockey player
- Simon Child – New Zealand hockey player
- Mark Craig – Black Caps cricketer
- Peter Dignan – Olympic bronze medallist: rowing
- Alistair Dryden – Commonwealth Games silver medallist: rowing
- Ryan Fox – Professional Golfer
- Peter Hillary – Son of Sir Edmund Hillary, mountaineer and motivational speaker
- Bill Hunt – Olympic skier
- Mitchell Karpik – Maori All Blacks and Chiefs rugby player
- Ian Kirkpatrick – All Blacks rugby player and captain
- Stefan Marinovic – Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand football goalkeeper
- Hamish Marshall – New Zealand Test/ODI cricketer
- James Marshall – New Zealand Test/ODI cricketer
- Peter Masfen – Olympic rower
- Anthony Mosse – Olympic bronze medalist, Commonwealth Games double gold medalist, silver medalist and bronze medalist.
- Jared Panchia – New Zealand hockey player
- James Parsons – All Blacks and North Harbour NPC and Blues Super 14 Rugby teams
- Jamie Smith – New Zealand hockey player and captain
- Kim Smith – Olympic long distance runner
- Tim Southee – Black Caps cricketer
- Rob Waddell – Olympic gold medalist: rowing; crew Member
- Ali Williams – All Blacks and Auckland NPC and Blues Super 14 Rugby teams