When Angus and Morag McKenzie were looking at high schools for their eldest child, their decision came down to a simple family litmus test, what they jokingly call the "Good Ba*ta*d Test." They'd ask themselves one question: How many genuinely good people come out of this place? Coming from public school backgrounds, they were simply looking for the right fit for their three children, Fred, George, and Elsie. 

Angus and Morag attended a St Paul’s Collegiate School Open Day with their eldest son, Fred. Fred was immediately impressed with the structure, opportunities, and the seriously good food on offer, and immediately asked, "Can I come here?" For Angus and Morag, it wasn't grand facilities or tradition that stood out; it was something much simpler. "The school felt incredibly humble," says Morag. "The people are genuine, the school is welcoming, and there's a real sense of community."

Once Fred was enrolled, simply dropping him off at school wasn’t in their plan. Angus put his hand up and volunteered to coach basketball. He now coaches the senior second basketball team, "The boys are competing with schools we've never been able to get close to before. It's been hugely rewarding," Angus says. He adds, “Teacher Carl Neethling is the Manager, he does the inspirational talks, and I work on the skills; it's a good mix.” Alongside basketball, Angus coaches cricket, while Morag is the ever-reliable parent manager, keeping parents informed of basketball draws and results throughout the season.

"When you get involved, you really see what the school's about," says Angus. "You see the students, the teachers, the culture, and it's genuinely impressive." Morag agrees: "If you don't know how to get involved, just ask. The school is always looking for people who are willing to help."

Outside the school gates, Angus and Morag have built their own environmental consultancy, Place Group. Angus laughs, “We started it from Fred's bedroom 11 years ago, I don't think Fred was very impressed we took over his bedroom!” Today, the business employs a team of seven, delivering environmental planning, project management, biosecurity, and biodiversity work across New Zealand.

Angus says, “In New Zealand, we have a reputation as being a clean, green, and great place to come. If you're not looking after your infrastructure, including your green infrastructure, things as we saw a couple of months ago with raw sewage spilling into Wellington Harbour can happen. That's at risk of happening in a lot more places if we don't look after aging infrastructure. Constraints on local funding, such as rates caps, do not help. We need to be innovative in the way we resource and fund key public infrastructure for all New Zealanders. There are a few challenges out there at the moment, but it’s possible, and the potential in this space is exciting,” says Angus.

Currently, Morag is working on strategic environmental programmes, one of which is to eradicate wallabies from New Zealand. “I am working on the Tipu Mātoro North Island programme to contain wallabies to the area around Rotorua. Wallabies affect commercial forestry and agricultural productivity, not to mention the biodiversity impacts of lower-canopy browsing, says Morag. They are quite the pest and still relatively unknown” 

Running their own business has also given them the flexibility to be actively involved in school life. “We just like being involved with people across the school,” says Angus.  

Through their business, the McKenzies donated a clever Kiwi invention, Kindling Crackers, to Tīhoi, providing students with a safer way to split firewood. "Our own kids had used them at home," Angus explains. "It wasn't about making things easier in Tihoi; the students still have to do the work. It's simply a safer tool to support their experience."

With three children at St Paul's, Fred (Year 13), George (Year 11), and Elsie (Year 9), the McKenzies have watched each child thrive in unique ways.

George in Year 11 is working his way through the St Paul’s diploma and enjoys the basketball opportunities that the school now provides through its growing programme, including a tour to the USA planned for 2027. "Director of Basketball, Jaxson Fisher, is doing a great job in this space," says Angus. Elsie is among the first intake of Year 9 girls. "She's absolutely loving it, and comes home humming," Morag says. Angus adds, "She's organised, loves being busy, and throws herself into everything. St Paul's gives her endless opportunities to do that."

The McKenzie family is equally excited as girls become part of the Tīhoi experience in 2027. "It's fantastic that our whole family gets to share those experiences now. That fairness (between our children) really matters to us. We will be doing our third Tihoi parent tramp next year. It's great and gives parents insight into the day-to-day workings of the Tihoi system," says Morag. 

Angus and Fred at the St Paul's Father-Son Event

Know a St Paul's Good Sort?

We're celebrating St Paul’s parents, grandparents, collegians, and friends who quietly make a difference in our community. If you know someone whose generosity or support deserves recognition, we'd love to hear from you.