Alumni - About Us - Papanui High School

Alumni

Notable Alumni

At Papanui High School, we take immense pride in the achievements of our former students who have gone on to make significant contributions in a wide range of fields. Our alumni community reflects the values we instil in our students—excellence, belonging, and responsibility—and serves as an inspiration for the generations that follow.

From trailblazers in business, arts, and science to leaders in sports, education, and public service, Papanui High School alumni are making their mark locally, nationally, and internationally. Their stories showcase the strength of the foundation built during their time at Papanui, as well as their continued connection to our school and its values.

Shane Bond

A former student of Papanui High School from 1989 to 1993, Shane is celebrated as one of New Zealand's finest fast bowlers and among the greatest of his era. Often described as "New Zealand's best fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee," Shane had an illustrious cricketing career before transitioning into coaching.
He represented New Zealand at the highest level in Test, ODI, and Twenty20 International cricket, earning a reputation for his exceptional pace and precision. His fastest recorded delivery, clocked at 156.4 km/h against India during the 2003 World Cup, remains iconic in cricket history. Shane also played domestically for Canterbury in New Zealand and Warwickshire in England.
After retiring from playing, Shane has continued to make an impact in cricket as a coach. He is currently the bowling coach for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.

Taylor Britt

Taylor Britt, a Papanui High School alumnus from 2010 to 2014, has become a standout athlete in New Zealand basketball, achieving national and international success.
Taylor earned his highest representative honour in 2020, debuting for the Tall Blacks. Since then, he has played 27 games for New Zealand, including representing the nation at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the Asia Cup Qualifiers in February 2024.
Taylor has been a cornerstone of the Canterbury Rams basketball team, entering his 7th season with the club in 2024. He has made 93 appearances, including a career-high 31 points against the Airs in 2020. In 2023, Taylor was instrumental in the Rams’ NBL Championship victory, averaging 9.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. He, alongside Aidan Tonge and Kaia Isaac, also helped the Rams claim the 3×3 Cup title, completing a remarkable double for the team that year.

Lewis Brown

Affectionately known as "Sharky," Lewis attended Papanui High School from 2000 to 2004 before going on to enjoy a distinguished career as a professional rugby league player.
A versatile athlete, Lewis primarily played as a second-row forward but was equally adept at stepping into the roles of centre or hooker. Before his NRL career, he showcased his talent early on, playing junior representative football for Canterbury and earning selection as a New Zealand Under-16 representative. In 2005, Lewis debuted for the Canterbury Bulls in the Bartercard Cup, further solidifying his rugby league credentials.
He later represented three prominent teams in the National Rugby League (NRL): the New Zealand Warriors, Penrith Panthers, and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Andy Caddick

Born in Christchurch to English parents, Andy Caddick attended Papanui High School from 1981 to 1985. He went on to become a renowned international cricketer, representing England as a fast bowler in both Test and ODI formats.

Standing at an imposing 6 ft 5 in, Andy was a key figure in England’s bowling attack for a decade. His career highlights include taking 13 five-wicket hauls in Test matches, a testament to his skill and consistency. In 2001, he was honoured as the ICC World Cricketer of the Year.

Andy spent his entire English domestic first-class cricket career with Somerset County Cricket Club, where he cemented his legacy. In 2009, he made a brief return to the game, playing a Minor Counties match for Wiltshire.

Jared Hudson

International Rally co-driver Jared Hudson graduated from Papanui High School in 2020.

Along with co-driver Hayden Paddon, the pair were crowned 2024 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Champions. Driving a Hyundai i20N Rally2 car, they set the fastest times on all 18 special stages of the event.

2024 saw Hudson and Paddon win Rally South Canterbury, Southern Lights Rally, Daybreaker Rally, and Rally Bay of Plenty. Since then they went on to an event in Sardinia, which they also won.

International opportunities have kept coming Jared, with a run alongside Allen Dobasu in the American Rally Association National championship where they finished third on Southern Ohio Forest Rally, and on his first trip to Australia he was victorious alongside Richie Dalton in their Craig Breen tribute-liveried Toyota Yaris AP4.

Michael Hurst ONZM

A Papanui High School alumnus from 1971 to 1975, Michael is a celebrated New Zealand actor, director, and writer with an impressive international career. Born in the United Kingdom and raised in New Zealand, Michael is best known for his role as Iolaus in the globally popular television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its companion series Xena: Warrior Princess.
Michael has earned acclaim as a director, most notably for his work on the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Ash vs Evil Dead.
His contributions to New Zealand entertainment have been widely recognised. In 2003, he was honoured with an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award. Two years later, in the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for his services to film and theatre.

Charntay Poko

Charntay Poko, a Papanui High School alumna from 2009 to 2013, is a talented New Zealand rugby league and union footballer, known for her versatility as a halfback or lock.
Charntay's impressive career includes representing New Zealand at the international level and playing for the New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women’s Premiership.
In 2016, Charntay was named in the New Zealand wider squad, a significant milestone in her career. She made her debut for the Warriors in Round 1 of the 2019 NRL Women’s season, scoring a try in a 16–12 victory over the Sydney Roosters. That same year, she was part of New Zealand’s 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s-winning squad.
In 2023, Charntay signed with Matatū for the Super Rugby Aupiki competition, further expanding her sporting repertoire.

Melody Robinson

Melody Robinson, a former student of Papanui High School from 1989 to 1991, is a renowned New Zealand sports journalist, presenter, and former international rugby union player.
A key figure in women's rugby, Melody played 18 tests for the New Zealand Black Ferns between 1996 and 2002, winning two World Cups. She was known for her dynamic role as a blindside or openside flanker and also represented New Zealand in sevens rugby at the prestigious Hong Kong and Japan Sevens tournaments.
Since retiring from playing, Melody has enjoyed a successful career in sports media. She joined Sky Sports in 2002, where she has provided commentary and presentation for events like the Super 12 and NPC, as well as regular coverage of Super Rugby and ITM Cup build-ups.
She was appointed TVNZ's new general manager, sport and events in 2019.

Brynley Stent

Brynley Stent, a Papanui High School alumna from 2003 to 2007, is a New Zealand actor, comedian, and scriptwriter whose work spans television, theatre, and online content.
Brynley gained recognition for her appearance on the first season of the New Zealand adaptation of Taskmaster (2020), where she finished third overall. She is also known for her role as Kelly-Anne Johnson on the long-running soap opera Shortland Street. In 2021, Brynley won the prestigious Billy T Award for Best Breakthrough Comedian for her show Soft Carnage.
After studying drama at Toi Whakaari in Wellington, Brynley graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Acting. Since then, she has had a successful career in television, featuring in Jono and Ben as Providence Gratitude, Funny Girls alongside Rose Matafeo and Laura Daniel, and the 2020 sitcom Golden Boy. She is also a regular performer on stage with the Auckland Theatre Company.

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