By the time the doors opened at The Pā at the University of Waikato on Saturday night, the St Paul’s community was already out in force - parents, donors, friends, and Collegians, all coming together for a very special evening.

Guests were welcomed by the St Paul’s jazz ensemble, and it didn’t take long for the room to come alive, with some even taking the opportunity for a wee jive before they had made it through the doors!

MC Brett Maber (Hall 1990–1994) got proceedings underway with an on-stage introduction that included a rather impressive list of career achievements - Broadway performer, cardiologist, All Black, Black Caps player, and international businessman. Of course, those achievements actually belonged to a collection of different St Paul’s Collegians. Brett did a great job simply being himself, keeping 300 guests entertained and the evening moving with plenty of humour and humility.

Headmaster Ben Skeen spoke about the values at the heart of a St Paul’s education and the importance of experiences that give young people the opportunity to put those values into practice.

For almost five decades, Tihoi Venture School has been one of those experiences. The Tihoi video introduced Tihoi Directors Pete and Nic Evans, alongside students sharing their own experiences, giving guests a glimpse into just what Tihoi means to the young people who experience it.

Another highlight of the evening came when Kapa Haka and the chamber choir joined together for a magical performance of Te Iwi E.

Auctioneer Brad Devlin, parent to four outstanding Harington Boarding girls, was right at home, getting bidding arms in the air while also acknowledging the generous donors who had made the auction possible.

Together, the evening raised $140,000, with profits from the Gala Dinner going towards further enhancing Tihoi as it enters an exciting new chapter - welcoming St Paul’s girls for the first time in 2027.While the fundraising result was significant, the evening was about much more than the dollars raised. It was about our community coming together to celebrate St Paul’s and support an experience that has shaped generations of young people.

A sincere thank you to everyone who made Saturday night possible – our Headmaster, Foundation Directors, donors, students, and all those who contributed behind the scenes. Most importantly, thank you to the guests who joined us and continued to give so generously throughout the evening, whether buying raffle tickets, bidding in the auction, or simply getting behind the cause.

What a night. What a result. See you again in 2028.

• See the Gala Dinner photos here.
• View the Gala Highlights video here.
• Watch the Tihoi video here.