Te Aroha has over 18 years experience in Deputy Principal and Head of Physical Education and Sport roles in New Zealand.
Her coaching experience includes Assistant Coach of the Silver Ferns, Coach of the Cook Islands National Team at the 1999 Netball World Championships and she coached at two World Youth Championships with the New Zealand U21 Team, achieving a silver medal in 1996 and gold 2005.
Te Aroha coached the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship before heading to the UK to coach age group, British University and Super League teams.
As Director of Netball for St Peter’s, she helped lead the St Peter’s premier girl’s netball team to win the New Zealand Secondary Schools title for the first time in 2019.
As Deputy Principal at Mt Albert Grammar School in Auckland for 13 years Te Aroha developed the netball academies in the junior school, coached teams to sixteen UNISS titles and ten NZSS titles.
In 2015 Te Aroha was awarded New Zealand Coach of the Year.
Her vision for St Peter’s sport is outlined below:
“The St Peter’s Sports Department are a group of highly motivated individuals with a strong collaborative process in place. They are very athlete driven, and foster a holistic approach to talent development, attainable through sport. Such skills as adaptability, flexibility and resilience are transferable to life and learning. High Performance Sport is achieving well, creating a performance culture for all - where everyone is valued.
This has always been paramount for me as a teacher and coach.
Going forward there are a few areas I would like to look at;
• Gaining the competitive edge in sport.
• Realising cross-code potential of our talent pool.
• Growing the next generation of Leaders.
• Development of fundamental skills and long-term sustainable participation in sport for all students.”
Ange leads the operational sporting events in her role as Assistant Director of Sport. She is passionate about delivering quality sporting opportunities that are accessible for all St Peter’s students, and providing positive pathways from participation to high performance level.
Ange played netball at regional level for Waikato before taking up coaching. She has over 25 years coaching experience that includes Waikato age-group and senior representative teams. She is part of the coaching team that helped qualify St Peter’s to the first ever NZSS Netball Championships. Ange has High Performance Sport New Zealand’s Performance Coach Advanced qualification. She has coaching experience through the Pathway to Podium programme for emerging athletes in netball and athletics. Ange has coached Athletics and Cross-Country athletes to NZ titles and NZ representative level, recently coaching athletes preparing for the World School Cross Country Championships. She has been appointed to the coaching/management team for NZSS Athletics and Cross- Country teams and led two St Peter’s Track and Field Tours to the USA.
Tori is a current High-Performance Athlete, who represents New Zealand in the Javelin, and holds Open Womens New Zealand Records. Tori has had success at many International competitions and NZ selections for the 2015 and 2017 World University Games.
Tori’s experience within the High-Performance Sport environment means she has been exposed to the tools and elements that contribute to being an elite athlete. Tori understands the importance of athlete development in not only a sport specific, physical capacity, but also an emotional, psychological, and spiritual capacity. With these experiences and knowledge, Tori aims to expose our sporting talent to some of the elements needed for holistic athlete development, and ensure they have the tools needed to reach the next level within their sporting disciplines.
Tori has a Bachelor in Physical Education majoring in Exercise Science and Professional Studies from Otago University and has recently obtained a Diploma in Raynor Massage.
Her role is mentoring and managing athlete development through
• Help with long term development planning and goal setting after assessment interviews.
• Muscular/Skeletal screening to identify any areas needing further development.
• Research NZ Performance Sport Pathways and performance criteria.
• Strength and conditioning programming & support. (2 supervised Gym sessions per week)
• Performance Psychology & Nutrition group sessions and follow up.
• Introductions to Drug Free Sport NZ
• Athlete Support System.
• Social Media and public speaking
• Leadership Workshops
• Physiotherapy coordination
After 10 years working for the Waikato Rugby Union, Todd brings a wealth of experience as Head Coach to our Strength and Conditioning programme.
Passionate about helping our youth to learn and grow their capabilities, Todd has worked at St Peter’s since 2017 creating a robust sports programme that is high performing and supportive with the students’ wellbeing at the forefront of his programme.
Todd recently completed his Master’s Degree in Sports Science and was instrumental in the sporting partnership between St Peter’s and Wintec, mentoring Wintec undergraduate and Masters students working alongside our young athletes.
Todd is an avid sportsman himself. He played high school rugby, was a former competitive badminton player and spends his spare time catching waves.
Leanne was captain for the New Zealand Women’s basketball team at the Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004) Olympic Games and has represented New Zealand in Touch Rugby. Leanne was Māori Sportswoman of the Year in 2003 and again in 2004, when she also received awards from Basketball NZ and Touch NZ. Leanne’s work in these two sports has been recognised with the Senior Māori Sportswoman award, presented to her at the Trillian Trust Māori Sports Awards for her outstanding contribution to Māori Sport.
Leanne is part of the NZ Olympic Women in Sports Leadership Programme and has Coached
Basketball at National level including: Assistant Coach NZ U18 women (2nd in Oceania, 5th in Asia cup), Head Coach of NZ senior women’s 3x3 – Gold at Asia cup in 2018 and Assistant Coach of NZ U18 3x3 world champs in 2017 (finishing 5th).
Leanne’s passion for sport has made a significant contribution to St Peter’s and the wider community. During her long career Leanne has mentored many young players. She has coached basketball and touch rugby teams at St Peter’s and at regional and national levels.
Owen has 30 years of professional cricket coaching experience at all levels and holds the prestigious New Zealand Cricket Level 3 coaching qualification.
He has held a number of coaching positions at regional and national level from assistant coach of the New Zealand White Ferns team to coaching the Northern Districts team at U19, U17 and U15 levels.
Throughout his career, Owen has coached many former and current Black Caps and White Ferns and is currently the Lead Trainer and Coach Developer for the Northern Districts Cricket Association.
Owen oversees all of cricket at St Peter's and he teaches the Year 9 and 10 academy programme.
Rushlee is a 3x Olympian in Cycling, a Commonwealth Games Medallist and a St Peter’s Alumna.
Rushlee is passionate about supporting the next generation through sporting and holistic growth.
A professional athlete for 15+ years and currently working towards her Master’s in Sport Management Rushlee has extensive knowledge about cycling and all aspects of sport.
Leanne has coached at St Peter’s since 2011 and has extensive experience in coaching children from Pony Club level up to Advanced level dressage. Leanne has ridden horses from the age of two, and throughout her career has won many Championships in Showing Classes and Round the Ring Jumping before finding her passion for Dressage. Leanne has competed with great success to Level 7 Dressage (Prix St. George and Inter I) on her home-bred and self-produced warmblood ‘Glamour Star’. As well as ‘Glamour Star’, Leanne has bred numerous top quality dressage horses in her career and has previously been awarded the New Zealand Hanoverian Society Award for Exceptional Performance in Breeding. One of Leanne’s most memorable achievements was winning the ‘Young Sporthorse of the Year’ title at Horse of the Year.
She has previously coached for Paerenga Pony Club for five years when it was based at St Peter’s, as well as for Leamington Adult Riders for several years.
Leanne has a passion for developing riders’ skills through the Dressage Principles of Training as well as building their confidence and enjoyment for the sport.
Former international youth footballer and professional coach, Shane Knowles is the Director of Football at St Peter’s.
Amongst Shane’s notable achievements, he was twice awarded Auckland Football Coach of the Year, named Sport Waitakere Coach of the Year, has led teams to the finals in the Chatham Cup (the most prestigious New Zealand-wide club competition), and has helped produce youth international players through his development programmes.
Shane has been coaching men and women’s football for over 21 years. Prior to coming to St Peter’s, he was the Director of Football at Bay Olympic Football Club in Auckland.
At St Peter’s, Shane presides over the football programme as well the Junior Football Academy. He is also the coach of the 1st XI Boys’ team.
Simon has been a AAA class member of the New Zealand PGA for over 30 years. In his professional playing days Simon enjoyed a successful stint on the NZ ProAm circuit, including two consecutive NZ PGA National Club Professional titles. He spent two years as a full-time caddy on the European and Australasian tours and then 13 years as head professional at the prestigious Otago Golf Club in Dunedin.
Simon is a renowned technical and tactical coach. He was New Zealand assistant national coach from 2001 to 2004 and head coach of Southland Golf between 2002 and 2006. Simon has also coached NZ age-group teams in international competitions.
Simon coached the St Peter’s team that won the National Secondary School Championships in 2011 and 2015. He was involved in coaching two of our most successful golfers — Mahal Pearce who won the New Zealand Open Championship in 2003, and Matthew Perry who won the New Zealand Amateur Championship in 2011. Simon has been the head coach at our Golf Academy since it began in 2006. He brings vast experience and knowledge to our programme. His energy and passion for both the game and working with emerging golfers is an integral part of the continued success of our Golf Academy.
PGA — Professional Golfers’ Association
ProAm — a golf competition involving professional and amateur players
Mark's passion for golf ignited at 10 years of age after joining the Hamilton Golf Club. He has represented New Zealand at both junior and senior levels and has competed professionally on the Asian and Australian Tours, along with the NZ Charles Tour.
Mark has embarked on a colourful golfing career, winning the Charles Tour multiple times and achieving a number of top 5 and top 10 finishes on the Asian and Australian tours. He is also qualified with the New Zealand Professional Golfers Association, as a golf coaching professional, and holds a Business Degree from Massey University.
Chris is Head of Physical Education and Health, Boys 1st XI Hockey coach and runs the Junior Hockey Academy.
Prior to moving to St Peter's, he coached the St Kentigern College 1st XI team to multiple winning titles.
As a player, Chris represented Auckland and Central in the National Hockey League and a squad member of the NZ Under 21 World Cup team.
Transferring his passion through to coaching, his ethos and purpose for each team member is to grow as individuals whilst making effective and valuable contributions to growing a successful team culture.
Megan won Maadi medals during her time as a student here at St Peter’s.
Her coaching career commenced whilst studying for a Bachelor of Media Arts after finishing school, with the St Peter’s U15 and U16 boys’ teams. Megan then travelled to the UK for 7 years coaching athletes onto National teams and winning National medals before returning to St Peter’s in 2018 to lead the boys’ row programme.
Outside of St Peter’s rowing, Megan aspires to National level coaching and is always looking to continue her learning. She is involved in the ‘Career Coach Programme’ a Rowing New Zealand initiative aimed at developing leadership, confidence and capability in female coaches and was invited onto High Performance Sport New Zealand’s ‘Core Knowledge’ initiative.
In 2019, Megan coached the North Island U18 boys sculling team and in 2021 coached the New Zealand University Trans-Tasman Men’s Eight.
In Norm’s 29-year coaching career he has led 22 crews to Premier Titles at the New Zealand National Championships, and over 30 crews to New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Titles.
Norm is enthusiastic about helping young people reach their potential. Norm has coached for New Zealand, and his international results include a bronze with NZ Junior Worlds Men’s Single in 1994, silver with the NZ Women’s Four at the 1995 & 1996 Nations Cup (now U23 World Championships), and a bronze with NZ Men’s Single in 1997. Norm coached the Adaptive Men’s Single to place 7th in the world at the London 2012 Paralympics. In 2017 Norm won Coach of the Year at the Waipa District Sports Awards and in 2018 he won the Bill Eaddy Cup for Best Coach of Junior crews at Maadi.
Carl joined St Peter’s in 2020 as Director of Rugby.
He teaches in our PE and Health Department and is Head coach of the St Peter's 1st XV.
Carl’s personal sporting background has seen him play 101 premier grade games for Suburbs Rugby Football Club in Auckland, 60 as captain.
A career highlight was captaining his side to win the Gallaher Shield (Auckland Championship) in 2016. He was a member of the wider Auckland Mitre 10 team and Bay of Plenty Steamers squad.
Before departing to play professional rugby in Italy, Carl was Director of Rugby at Mount Albert Grammar School for two years and Assistant Coach of the 1st XV.
He has coached across all levels of secondary school rugby and completed the World Rugby Level 1 coaching qualification.
Carl’s expertise and passion for rugby is inspiring for the development of St Peter’s players and to help provide pathways for our students post school.
Ben is responsible for everything aquatics at St Peter’s.
Ben has over 15 years’ experience within the sports and recreation industry, leading organisations of all levels from leisure to high performance, in New Zealand and overseas.
Ben is the founder of the award-winning St Cuthbert’s Swim School, where he spent six successful years, winning New Zealand’s Most Outstanding Swim School in 2017 and 2018.
Prior to that Ben was a board member of the Israel Swimming and Water Polo Association and the Director of a top Swimming and Water Polo club in Israel.
His experience in New Zealand includes the management of aquatic facilities and swim schools in Wellington.
Ben is passionate about staff and business development, about creating high performing teams and delivering a world class facility and services.
Ben is excited to lead St Peter’s Aquatics into the new decade with a world class swim club, a world class swim school and world class aquatic facilities and programmes.
Brandon has been involved in swimming for as long as he can remember. Once his own swimming career finished he wanted to give back to the sport that had given him so much … fast forward ten years and he is still as passionate as ever about swim coaching, particularly with the junior grassroot level.
Originally from Australia, Brandon worked alongside world class coaches at St Peter’s Western Swimming Club in Brisbane for 4 ½ years before moving to New Zealand in 2020 and working for Capital Swim Club in Wellington.
Brandon brings a diverse range of experience to St Peter’s having been involved with athletes in Olympic, World Championship preparations and also National campaigns.
Ally represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games — Atlanta in 1996 and Athens in 2004. Ally also won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006.
Over her 13 year international career she competed for New Zealand at five FINA World Championships.
Ally was ten-time national 100m freestyle open champion and held the New Zealand record for that event and various others over 50m, 100m and 200m distances for long periods during her career.
In 2008 Ally was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to swimming.
Before joining St Peter’s, Ally spent four years managing the testing programme for Drug Free Sport New Zealand which oversees many of New Zealand’s top teams and sportspeople, ensuring New Zealand has positive advocates and role models on the global stage.
FINA — Fédération Internationale de Natation or International Swimming Federation