Potatau

Nil satis nisi optimum – Only the Best will Do

House Director

‌ Mr Greg Wright

House Leader

Tejas Medan

Colour

Dark Blue

Shield

The Great Eagle of the Highlands

History

• Named after Hēmi Pōtatau
• Born 1904 at Tāne-nui-a-Rangi Marae, Nūhaka
• The first student of Māori decent to attend Scots College 1920-1922
• Gifted the original Scots College Haka, 1920
• 1st XV Rugby team, 1920-1922
• Enrolled Theological Hall, Knox College Dunedin to study for the Presbyterian ministry 1925
• Completed studies at Knox 1931
• First ordained Māori Presbyterian minister to graduate from Knox College, 1933
• Military service, Middle East 1941-1944 with 28th NZ Māori Battalion
• Appointed first Māori Moderator of a Presbyterian Māori Missions committee 1945-1947
• Completed his BA at age 70
• His autobiography ‘He hokinga mahara’ was a finalist in the first Pegasus Prize for Maori Literature 1984. First autobiography to be published in Te Reo Māori 1991.
• Died Wairoa 1994, buried beside his wife Ira Rangiatu (Ngāti Tuwharetoa).