Deputy Head Student – Ethan Te Raki

Ethan Te Raki, our Deputy Head Student, didn’t always call Palmerston home. In fact, he spent the first 12 years of his life in Australia before making the move to New Zealand. He eventually joined us six months into Year 7, arriving from Fairfield School in Dunedin, but the transition was still a bit of a culture shock.

Back in his previous schooling life, Ethan was used to the “one teacher, one room, all day” lifestyle. Arriving at EOHS and being met with a timetable and bells for every single lesson was a revelation. Luckily, he was placed with Mr. Cummings. This was a relief for Ethan, who admits he found Ms. McLachlan a little bit scary at the time! Despite some light-hearted teasing about his Australian accent, he quickly found his feet.

In Year 8, Ethan faced a crossroad. His core friend group, Flynn and Ashley, headed off to Dunedin to pursue higher sporting options. Ethan, a keen volleyball player, was tempted to follow them to Otago Boys’ High School. However, a moment of self-awareness saved him. Knowing that he already treats “getting to school on time” as a daily extreme sport, Ethan realised that catching a 7:00 AM bus to Dunedin every morning was a recipe for disaster.

Ultimately, EOHS won out. Ethan values the fact that he knows everyone here, and everyone knows him. While big city schools offer competitive sports, Ethan points out a bit of wisdom: most people only play socially once school ends anyway. Besides, he still had plenty of opportunities to play here, including playing Touch for Mr. H, which was the first time he’d been part of a team where skills and strategy were taken seriously.

Ethan’s time at EOHS has been defined by more than just bells. From the Year 8 Oamaru trip to tramping in the Silverpeaks and Sam Paton’s leadership camp, Ethan has made the most of every EOHS opportunity. He’s also been a staple of our school culture through Kapa Haka and stage performances. While most people prefer the school musical, Ethan is a firm believer that Extravaganza is where the real fun is. His leadership during the 2024 School House performance proved he’s got the stage presence to back it up!

If you see Ethan with a pen in his hand, it’s because he knows his limits. He admits he isn’t great at remembering deadlines unless they are written down. His personal mantra? “Better just get this done.”

Ethan isn’t just planning to cook; he’s planning to lead. He’s aiming for a Bachelor of Culinary Arts combined with finance and business qualifications to eventually run his own business.

As he prepares for his next chapter, he has one piece of advice for his fellow students: “Enjoy the moment, it goes quicker than you think.” Spoken like a true leader, and someone who knows exactly how fast that next bell is going to ring.