Renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Richard Michael Hill KNZM, attended Whangarei Boys’ High School from 1949 to 1954.

The Right Honourable Winston Peters, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister, has an extraordinary five-decade history in New Zealand politics.

Sir Donald McKay was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, for public services, in the 1978 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Blyth Tait became one of New Zealand’s greatest sportsmen, winning world and Olympic titles, and excelling in all the other major three-day eventing competitions around the world.

From relatively humble beginnings in the Far North, Trevor developed a passion for Biology at WBHS that has led to notable scientific achievement.  Known as “Mr Moa”, Trevor is now one of the world’s leading authorities on NZ fauna fossils and in particular the Moa. 

John has had a distinguished academic, public service and business career. He was at WBHS in 1953 when the Intermediate School Forms 1 and 2 (years 7 & 8) were part of WBHS.

Stefan Witold Karwowski was born in London on June 4, 1945. He moved to New Zealand with his family in 1948. He was educated firstly at Kokopu and Maungatapere Schools before joining Whangarei Boys’ High School in 1959.

Alexander Colin McKay was born on 27 October 1955. He received his early education at Glenbervie School and joined Whangarei Boys’ High School on 7 February 1968 in Form 3A.

Robert Maynard Gurr was born on 21st October 1921 and entered Whangarei High School on 6th February 1933 in the Intermediate School as a member of Form IA. He entered Whangarei High School Senior School on 4th February 1935 as part of Form IIIA.

William James Taitoko was born on 17 January 1949 in Cambridge where he did his early schooling. He registered as a student of Whangarei Boys’ High School on 6 February 1962. When he left at the end of 1965, the School records indicated that it was to take up a printing apprenticeship in Auckland.

Robert Smith Cunis was born on 5th January 1941 in Maungakaramea and after completing primary schooling at Hora Hora joined the Intermediate Section of Whangarei Boys’ High School on 5th February 1952 in Form 1I. In 1953 he was in Form IIC.

Leo Charles Vining was born on 28th March 1925 and joined the Intermediate Dept of Whangarei High School on 3rd February 1924. He spent two years there in Forms 1 C and II A before joining the Senior school of Whangarei High School on 8th February 1938 in Form IIA.

John Ross Marshall was born in Wellington on 5 March 1912. He moved to Whangarei in 1919 when his father was transferred by the Public Trust Office to set up new premises north of Auckland.

David Gilbert Sirl was born on 9th November 1942 and entered Whangarei Boys’ High School on 5th February 1957. The signs were there right from the third form when he ran 3rd in the 880 yards.

Peter Henry Sloane entered Whangarei Boys’ High School in 1963 in Form 3Q and it is probably fair to say that he spent a somewhat unspectacular 3 years scholastically at the School. However he was to distinguish himself on the sporting field.