When Duncan and Nadine first considered St Paul’s for their son, it came through recommendations from family and friends. “Seeing the changes in a friend’s son, he was not only taller but also more mature and independent.  I figured St Paul’s and Tihoi had a part to play in that,” recalls Duncan.

That decision ultimately led to a major leap of faith. “We actually changed our career path based on sending Drew to St Paul’s,” Nadine says. At the time, Nadine and Duncan were owner-operators of Hillcrest Four Square. The next progression with Foodstuffs would have meant a move away from Hamilton. “For me personally, I didn’t want my children boarding,” Nadine explains. So, with input from Nadine’s sister, the couple made the bold decision to leave Foodstuffs and purchase Hamilton-based joinery sales and manufacturing business, Waikato Wardrobes.

For Duncan, the change tapped into family roots. “I sort of came full circle,” he says. “My grandfather was a cabinet maker, and my after-school job as a kid was helping make kitchens for my older cousin in the family workshop.  We just felt we could do it.”

Today, Waikato Wardrobes designs and manufactures custom wardrobes and storage solutions for private clients and building companies alike. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Having purchased the company at the end of 2019, the Watersons faced the uncertainty of Covid-19 just months later. “You have highs and lows in business,” Nadine says. “But you work through it.” Rather than pulling back during the pandemic, the Watersons invested heavily in the company, upgrading machinery, design systems and technology to position the business for future growth.

That same growth mindset has shaped their involvement at St Paul’s, particularly within the basketball programme. As proud Gold-level sponsors, the Watersons have supported the sport’s rapid growth under Director of Basketball, Jaxson Fisher. “When you’ve got someone like Jaxson, who genuinely wants to build something special, you support him however you can,” Duncan says.

Beyond the basketball court, Nadine says the sport has also created strong connections within the wider school community. In a busy secondary school environment, where families can easily pass one another by, the sideline can become a social hub. “I’ve met so many parents being involved with basketball,” Nadine says. “That sense of belonging and working together to build a basketball community is incredibly powerful.”

That same sense of connection inspired the family to support The Hive project by purchasing a Hive Family Brick. “It’s about being in partnership with your child’s education,” Nadine explains. “If you value something, you contribute to it however you can. I think the biggest thing St Paul’s gives its students and parents is community, and that connection stays with them long after they leave.”

Looking back on their journey, both Duncan and Nadine say they would encourage their younger selves, and the current generation of students, to take risks early in life. “You’ve got nothing to lose when you’re young,” Duncan says. “If something doesn’t work out, you re-evaluate and just go again.” Alongside backing yourself, Duncan believes young people should develop financial literacy early, learning the value of steady investing and understanding how money can work for them in the future.

“We are very pleased with the decision to send Drew to St Paul's and have seen many positive benefits from both the people who surround him and the opportunities the school provides. The strong sense of community and the relationships he is building will be invaluable and will remain with him for life,” says Nadine.

Looking for trusted businesses within the St Paul’s community? Visit the St Paul’s Business Directory to support businesses like Waikato Wardrobes. Own a business? Add your listing and connect with our community.