Rangitoto College has once again secured its position amongst the elite of New Zealand education, achieving a record-breaking 348 Scholarship passes. This historic result marks the sixth time the college has led the nation, surpassing its own 2024 record of 324 Scholarship exam passes and marks a new NZQA Scholarship record for the total number of Scholarships gained in a single year.
Elite Individual Achievements
The 2025 cohort earned an impressive 42 Outstanding Scholarships, headlined by two Premier Awards, six Outstanding Scholars Award winners and three students who placed top in New Zealand for their respective subjects:
National Premier and Outstanding Scholars
Special recognition goes to Joshua Wang, one of our current head students, who, as a Year 12 student, achieved 10 scholarships, three at outstanding level, alongside Yunxuan Sun, who achieved eight scholarships, with three at outstanding. Both of these students have been named Premier Award winners - a distinction reserved for the top 13 students in the country. They are joined by six Outstanding Scholar award recipients: Michael Yang, James Reynolds, Xingyo Luo, Angus Rose, Diqiu Gu, and Leo Wang. A number of other students gained multiple passes, including Phoenix McClean in Year 12, who gained seven scholarships.
Top in Subject
The following students gained the highest marks across all students in the country:
Christopher Rui-Han Ong (Year 12): Health and Physical Education
Leen Murad (Year 13): Photography
Xinyue (Aria) Hua (Year 13): Chinese
We’d like to congratulate all students who gained scholarship passes.
From our Year 9 Calculus prodigies to our incredible senior scholars, we celebrate the dedication of every student who contributed to this monumental success.
Alumi Dr Steven Niederer Shares Global Expertise with Senior Students
Dr Steven Niederer’s journey from Rangitoto College student to international authority in biomedical engineering is a testament to the power of a New Zealand education. Currently balancing dual roles as Chair of Biomedical Engineering at University College London and Health Director at the Alan Turing Institute, Dr Niederer returned to campus last week to inspire the next generation. His presentation to senior science students provided more than just technical expertise; it offered a roadmap for navigating the complexities of global academia.
Rangitoto College continues to seek alumni voices to inspire our students. Alumni interested in sharing their journey are encouraged to reach out to communityrelations@rangitoto.school.nz
Podium Glory for the Rangi Athletics Squad at 2026 NZSS Championships
The athletics squad descended upon Hawke’s Bay for the 2026 NZSS Athletics Championships. In a display of grit and unwavering commitment, our athletes proved exactly why they belong on the national stage.
The track belonged to our Senior Girls 4x100m relay team - Amy Hurly, Kenzie Bowden, Lace Patuki and Emma Young - who secured a stunning silver medal. Not to be outdone in the field, Rangitoto athlete Zhan Bowden delivered a dominant performance in the Senior Boys Triple Jump. Zhan not only claimed the top spot on the podium but also earned a well-deserved selection for the prestigious tournament team.
