Tony Membery is in his 19th year as Te Awamutu College principal.
Te Awamutu College is back in full swing for 2026 with more than $215,000 of assets, furniture and fittings upgrades.
New unisex toilets have been installed at N block. Photo: Jesse Wood
The six-figure upgrades have been spread across the departments and are ongoing in term one.
Principal Tony Membery said the upgrades are to support teaching, learning and the running of the school.
“I’m immensely proud of this school. When people come here for a tour or come to attend events, people are staggered by the size of the school – in terms of roll – but also the grounds, the scope, the space and how well resourced we are,” Membery said.
“This school is really well resourced for teaching, learning, sports, culture and the district should be proud of it. I want the students to feel proud about it too.”
The new changing rooms and toilets by the turf will be a welcome addition for PE classes and Saturday sports. Photo: Jesse Wood
The upgrades include heat pumps (A4, A5 and B2); carpet replacement (B4 and uniform shop); microscopes, 60 lab coats (science); kayak helmets (outdoor education); cameras and tripod kit (photography); library chairs; treadmill (training room); drum sander, vinyl cutter, bench lathe (hard materials technology); blinds (Oak Café); keyboard (music); display screen (Millar Gym); student chairs (M4 and N2); performance blocks (drama) and server upgrade.
On top of that, the school have board and Ministry of Education funded additions – unisex toilets for N block, resealing of the pavilion carpark, changing rooms and toilets by the turf, concreted turf entrance and seating, and a concrete path through the centre of the school.
“Students talk about the uniform being nice or we’ve got a double gym or our covered turf or swimming pool,” Membery said. “It’s not skiting, we’ve worked hard. The board has been very sensible and proactive. We’re indebted to the Rogers Charitable Trust.
“Once again, thanks to the trust, we’re able to offer a $50 uniform credit to every student. We’re very grateful.”
There are 1360 pupils at Te Awamutu College this year. Photo: Jesse Wood
There are 1360 current pupils including 270 Year 9s and 40 new students across other year levels.
Five new international students have joined the college – two from Japan and one each from Australia, Finland and Sweden – alongside 11 fresh staff members.
“Some are teachers and some learning support assistants. We’re fully staffed,” Membery said. “That required work from August and I was back early January finding the last teacher. We got there, but it was a lot of work.”
But it hasn’t all been sunshine and roses. There have been tough times in the school community.
“We’ve had a family with the loss of a young child. We’ve been aware and supportive of that,” Membery said.
“Then the flooding in Ngutunui, Pirongia, Te Pahu and Ōtorohanga. Trying to alter bus runs, accepting that some students can’t be here, maybe they’re cleaning up or stuck at home. What do they need from us?
“We also sent a vanload of goods, donated by staff, to Te Araroa in the Gisborne region. They had a really rough time with floods and slash.
“We do look for ways we can support other schools and individual families. At the very least we send our condolences.
“We’ve got strong connections. We recently had a meeting of the Te Awamutu area principals, all 20 of us. How can we support each other?”
Membery is looking forward to seeing good NCEA results in 2026 as well as a busy social calendar and watching college teams do well on the sporting front.
“We want to be humble winners and good losers. There’s Battle of the Waipā Schools again, against Cambridge and St. Peter’s,” Membery said.
“It’s also a school production year, Hairspray, auditions and casting are underway. There’s the ball, the house events – we want students to be happy here and have success academically. We’ve got to get along with each other and have some fun, but also do the mahi.”
In his 19th year as principal, he doesn’t take his role for granted.
“I see it as a big privilege to lead this school,” Membery said.
“It’s an amazing team. We need the backing of our parents, caregivers and community, but we’re certainly striving to be the best secondary school we can be to serve the district.”
Tony Membery is in his 19th year as Te Awamutu College principal. Photo: Jesse Wood
