Head of Boarding

Boarding at Christ’s College is more than just where we sleep and study, it is where we grow, connect, and truly thrive. Spread across three unique Houses – Flower’s, Richards, and School – the boarding experience offers a rare blend of independence and belonging. Each House becomes a second home, offering both structure and support, while giving us the freedom to learn responsibility and develop resilience.

From Year 9 through to Year 13, boys from all over New Zealand and countries across the globe, including Germany, the United States, China, and Japan, come together to live and learn. This incredible cultural diversity adds a vibrant richness to our daily lives. We don’t just make friends; we build lifelong international connections, learning from each other’s stories, traditions, and perspectives.

Our boarding journey begins in large 12-man dormitories, gradually transitioning to rooms of six, then four, and, finally, two, until we earn our own private room in Year 13. This progression fosters strong connections early on, as everyone adjusts to the new environment together, and then allows for growing independence as we mature and become more confident with each busy, rewarding year.

One of the greatest strengths of the boarding system is the structure of the House itself. With five-year levels per House and only about 12 students per year group, we form incredibly close bonds, not just within our own year group, but across all 60 boys. Senior boys act as mentors and role models, guiding and supporting younger students through the pressures of academics, homesickness, and the numerous challenges of teenage life. Their encouragement helps us settle in, grow in confidence, and find our place in the College community.

Support doesn’t stop with the boys. Each House is led by a committed team that includes Housemasters, teaching mentors, tutors, and domestic staff, all of whom work tirelessly to create a safe, structured, and caring environment. Every boy is known, valued, and encouraged to strive for his personal best with this unwavering support and care.

To give dayboys a taste of boarding life, Christ’s College runs the Year 10 Immerse & Inspire programme. For three weeks, boarders and dayboys live together in Jacobs House – originally a boarding facility. It is a time for building friendships, learning independence, and stepping outside comfort zones. The programme concludes with a week-long outdoor education camp, where unforgettable memories are made and friendships are strengthened. Personally, this was one of my favourite experiences – spending a week in the bush with all my friends, learning valuable life skills, and pushing ourselves together as a team.

Although each boarding House has its own distinct character, staff, and facilities, they all follow the same overarching structure, ensuring consistency and fairness while maintaining their own unique flair. Interhouse competition is fierce but friendly, with events like rugby, tug-of-war, and Spring Carnival Week. These traditions spark camaraderie, deepen House pride, and bring the entire boarding community together. As boarders, we always have each other’s backs, and we take pride in showing the dayboys the strong backbone of the school.

However, the most special part I see at College is the brotherhood. Brotherhood isn’t just about having a few close friends to rely on during your five-year journey; it’s about having 60 brothers who know you, support you, challenge you, and stand by you – no matter what. The brotherhood at College is what truly sets us apart from every other school in the country. It creates a sense of home, belonging, and connection that is felt every day. The memories you make with everyone from your very first day never fade, and the years seem to pass in the blink of an eye.

At its core, boarding at Christ’s College is about so much more than just going to school. It is about growing up in a place where you are supported yet challenged, surrounded by people who genuinely want to see you succeed and become the best version of yourself. It gives you a place in a brotherhood that stays with you long after your final year ends.

Even now, I can honestly say that being a College boarder has been an incredible privilege and a journey that I would do all over again in a heartbeat.