Visit from Robert Gordon's College

Ten students and three staff members from Robert Gordon's College were hosted by  Ōtaki College students and staff in the first week of term four.  Our Scottish visitors arrived late on Saturday 7 October, having travelled to Ōtaki from Auckland, where they were attending the GAIL (Global Alliance for Innovative Learning) Conference.  While in Ōtaki they saw many of the sites that are included on the itinerary for the annual tour of the Otaki Scholar, starting with a pōwhiri at Raukawa Marae, attended by local officials.  Later in the trip they were hosted by Kāpiti Coast Mayor, Janet Holborow, and then had a day in Wellington, seeing the sites and attending a Wētā Workshop tour.  A particular highlight for the visitors was their night spent kiwi spotting on Kāpiti Island.  Our thanks to Kāpiti Island Nature Tours for making this such a special time for both students and staff.  

The following article was published by Ian Carson in Ōtaki Today

Aberdeen Scots welcomed at marae

Ten students and three staff members of Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen, Scotland, were welcomed to Ōtaki with a ceremony at Raukawa Marae on Monday (October 9).

Among them was Robert Gordon’s head of school, Robin Macpherson, and the 2012 Ōtaki Scholar, Sean Press.

They were welcomed onto the marae by Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki, who were joined by Ōtaki College principal Andy Fraser, Ōtaki MP Terisa Ngobi, mayor Janet Holborow, Greater Wellington councillor Penny Gaylor, Ōtaki Community Board members Cam Butler and Simon Black, and others.

At the marae welcome were, from left, 2012 Ōtaki Scholar Sean Press, the head of Robert Gordon’s College, Robin Macpherson, and Ōtaki College principal Andy Fraser.

Robert Gordon’s has special significance to Ōtaki as it has sent an Ōtaki Scholar to New Zealand every year – barring war and Covid – since 1937. The scholar is the head boy who at the end of his final year gets a seven-week trip to to New Zealand, with Ōtaki the first port of call.

The scholarship recognises an epic First World War sea battle when Captain Archibald Bisset Smith commanded RMS Otaki in a battle with German’s SMS Moewe.

Bissett Smith was a former pupil of Robert Gordon’s College.

 A reciprocal award – the Sander Scholarship – was established at Ōtaki College in 2013. This was awarded to an outstanding Ōtaki College student allowing them to travel to Scotland for two weeks in January.  The Everiss Scholarship was established in 2021 to ensure that the tradition could be continued for the forseeable future.