Westlake Boys’ High School

George Yang - Prime Minister's Award winner. NZ 2020 Top Academic Scholars.

New Zealand’s Top Scholar Award to Westlake Boys student

Westlake Boys is very proud to extend its congratulations to George Yang who is the recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence for 2020 and has been presented with a trophy from the Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Jacinda Adern.

The Top Scholar Awards ceremony, held in the Grand Hall of Parliament Buildings in Wellington, acknowledges and celebrates the academic achievements of the highest achieving secondary school students in the New Zealand Scholarship examinations. George’s results included a total of seven scholarships with five at an Outstanding level, and one of these placing him top in New Zealand. In addition to this impressive achievement, he was also awarded a New Zealand Premier Award as well as winning the school’s Year 13 Gold Award, and announced Westlake Boys Dux for 2020. All these results were achieved alongside the Excellence endorsements he received for all six of his Level 3 subjects. George’s achievement is inspiring, and despite a year disrupted with lockdowns and having to rely on online classes to progress, his academic achievement is nothing short of remarkable and worthy of the highest accolades.

Joining George in Wellington were fellow students Brian Kim (Proxime Accessit 2020), Yuxin Li, and Raymond Luo who were also recipients of the New Zealand Premier Award, and Eric Zhou who received the award for Top Subject Scholar for Chinese. The students were accompanied by their parents, Headmaster David Ferguson, and Scholarship Coordinator Dr. Catherine Salmons, to celebrate their achievements at the ceremony alongside award recipients from other secondary schools. This is the second time that the Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence has been awarded to a Westlake Boys student. In 2015 Joshua Hansen won the prestigious award for his exceptional results in the 2014 Scholarship examinations and was presented with the trophy at Parliament by the then Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Sir John Key.

Westlake Boys is a school that actively encourages every student to be the very best that they can be, in all aspects of their lives, and this is something that George has aspired to. George’s achievements recognise his commitment and personal resolve to perform at the highest level he was capable of, and to do this we also acknowledge the expertise and dedication provided by a team of teachers who were there to support him with his academic endeavours. George is studying Biomedical Science in his first year at the University of Auckland with plans to enter the field of medicine. We wish him continued success in a career path that provides challenge and fulfilment.

Kapa Haka Group at Polyfest 2021.

Polyfest Performance Success

Westlake Boys celebrated a successful a ringa Te Mita o Te Reo, fourth in Mōteatea return at Polyfest 2021 after the Te Mita o Te Reo, fourth place overall in Te disappointment of having the event Mita o Te Reo, and fifth place overall in the cancelled in 2020. They were thrilled to competition. Te Manutaki Māori leader, be back on stage, in front of an equally Khalan Clyde, also placed third in the Male excited audience, competing against Leadership section. Kapa Haka groups from the greater The students expressed their Auckland region. appreciation and thanks to teachers

Westlake Boys performed with Kapa Haka Group at Polyfest 2021. Ngātau Leaf, Whaea Clare Nasey, Whaea conviction, style and strength and were led Arahia Pomare, Matua Jordan Tua, Matua by Te Manutaki Māori Khalan Clyde, Robin Herbert and Levon Pure, Anaru, and parents, for their unwavering support in the lead-up to who were outstanding in their roles. The hours of weekly practice to the competition. The Kapa Haka group is now focused on preparing hone each performance piece was rewarded with first in haka, first in for the next big event, Te Ahurea Tino Rangatira 2021, which we are Māori Weaponry, first in Mau Rākau Te Mita o Te Reo, third in Waiata proud to be hosting at Westlake Boys High School in October.

Westlake Boys 2021 Sailing Team.

Westlake Red during their last race. Harken Champions.

Harken Keelboat Championships

The Premier sailing team has brought the curtain down on the 2021 school sailing season in the best way possible – by winning a national title.

This feat was made more remarkable by the fact that Westlake not only won the Championship, but to do so, they had to fend off our other crew who finished in second place on countback. This is the first time in the competition’s history that a school has finished in both first and second place (out of 18 entries) which is a fantastic feat and a testament to the quality of our sailing cohort. Sailed in an Elliott class boat on the beautiful Waitematā Harbour, the two five-man crews skippered by Brayden Hamilton (Westlake Green) and Josh Hyde (Westlake Red) were equally matched throughout the final day, and victory rested on the outcome of the last race of the regatta (and their season). After a tense few legs Westlake Green eventually sailed away to win it and join Westlake Red at the top of the leader board on equal points – before they prevailed in a countback, precipitating a wild celebration.

It was a proud day for Westlake Boys students, parents and supporters alike, and while it may have been a bittersweet day for some, it was an exceptional day that will be remembered in the history of Westlake Boys sailing.