In Memory Of - New Plymouth Boys' High School

Derryn Hinch

Student: 1957 - 1959

Died: 10 July 2026

New Plymouth Boys' High School mourns the passing of distinguished Old Boy Derryn Hinch, who died in Melbourne on 10 July 2026, aged 82.

Born in New Plymouth, Derryn attended New Plymouth Boys' High School before embarking on an extraordinary career in Australia as a journalist, broadcaster, author and politician. Known as "The Human Headline", he became one of Australia's most recognisable media personalities through his fearless reporting, outspoken commentary and unwavering advocacy for victims' rights.

In 2016, Derryn was elected to the Australian Senate, where he continued his commitment to justice and public safety. His career spanned more than six decades and left a lasting mark on Australian media and politics.

The New Plymouth Boys' High School community extends its sincere condolences to Derryn's family, friends and colleagues. He will be remembered as one of the school's most well-known Old Boys, whose determination, courage and willingness to challenge convention made him a remarkable and influential figure.

Click for Obituary

Barry Boon

Student: 1945 - 1951 Head Boy

Ali Jordan

Student: 1963 - 1965

John Banas

Student: 1962 - 1966

Nigel Charters

Student: 1963 - 1967

Bill Wilson KC

Student: 1959 - 1963 Dux

Died: 12 September 2025

Former Court of Appeal and Supreme Court Judge Bill Wilson KC has recently died (12 September 2025), a sad event to those who knew him. Surprisingly, this has gone virtually unheralded (The Press being the only report). This note is intended to redress that omission.

Bill’s career as a practicing lawyer was a distinguished one. Following his graduation (LL.B and LL.M (Hons)) from Victoria University, he practised for many years at Bell Gully becoming a partner in 1971. While there, he served as a member of the Waitangi Tribunal for 9 years. In 1996 he left the firm to go to the Independent Bar and immediately took Silk. As such, he had an extensive and busy practice, including appearing in the Privy Council before the New Zealand Supreme Court was established in 2004. Two significant cases in which he appeared for parties on the same side and having the same interest as my clients were, first, a case brought by the Commerce Commission against Fletcher Challenge, Brierley Investments and other parties arising from the sale of Winstone. Secondly, he appeared in the Privy Council to support my client Raylee Harley who (successfully) appealed decisions of the New Zealand courts ordering her to pay costs for alleged incompetence in acting for a difficult client, a finding rejected by the Privy Council. Bill’s manner in Court can best be described as quietly persuasive, a feature respected by the Judges who he appeared before.

Working with him was much appreciated by younger lawyers who Bill encouraged and set an example to.

He was appointed to the Bench in 2007, directly to the Court of Appeal, skipping the normal route through the High Court. However, he voluntarily sat as a High Court Judge on a major criminal trial for the experience. In less than a year, he was promoted from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court when Sir Kenneth Keith retired.

His tenure on the Supreme Court was marked with controversy arising from a case (Saxmere and the NZ Wool Board) that he had sat on in the Court of Appeal. One of the counsel in that case was a QC with whom Bill jointly owned a property which was leased to a horse breeding business in which the QC was a partner (but Bill was not). Although he disclosed that fact to the opposing counsel, he did so by telephone rather than by formal disclosure by way of a Court Minute. Although Saxmere were advised of the connection between Bill and counsel for the Wool Board, when Judgment was given against it by the Court of Appeal, it applied to the Supreme Court for a rehearing, which was granted. An unsatisfactory feature of the Supreme Court’s decision was a finding that, because of a temporary imbalance in the land ownership accounts against Bill, he was “beholden” to his lawyer partner, a finding which did not square with the history of their dealings with each other.

Complaints were also made to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner who recommended that a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to investigate the allegations. Bill challenged that decision in the High Court by way of judicial review. The matter was heard by a Full Court which ruled against him. Bill then took the step of resigning, taking the honourable view that no matter what the outcome of a Judicial Conduct Panel, his position on the Supreme Court would become untenable and damaging to the Court.

Many, if not most, lawyers felt that the whole saga had been badly handled and that he should have been exonerated.

Returning to the Bar, Bill acted as an arbitrator and also participated in a litigation funder which assisted in the conduct of class actions. He also chaired an inquiry into domestic violence which proposed a Domestic Violence Court, a new agency to implement a long- term national family violence strategy and a centralized database to manage high risk cases.

Regrettably, his health deteriorated leading ultimately to his premature passing.

While the Saxmere case has coloured his career, his ability, the warmth of his personality and the help that he willingly extended to those in need will constitute the memories that those who knew him will retain.

Jim Farmer KC

23 October 2025

Michael 'Mac' McMenamin

Headmaster: 2009 - 2015

Sir Colin Giltrap

Student: 1953 - 1954

Roy Roper

Student: 1936 - 1941

Max Carroll

Staff: 1958 - 1989

John Sims

Staff: 1978 - 2017

Tom Ryder

Headmaster: 1979 - 1995

Died: 6 April 2018

Tributes have been paid to a former headmaster of New Plymouth Boys' High School who has died at the age of 83.

Tom Ryder led the school from 1979 to 1995 and his legacy will be in the "fantastic men" who have come through, said two of his former students.

Ryder died peacefully on April 5 at Taranaki Base Hospital.

His achievements included being named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and the community in the 2005 New Year's Honours. He was also a JP in the justice system and involved in numerous community organisations.

Daughter Kathryn Ryder described her father as a man with great energy, vitality and integrity.

"He was very proud of the teaching staff at New Plymouth Boys' High School," she said. "He was a driven man; he had a big-picture vision for the school.

"He and his team set examples of leadership to the boys and what it meant to be a good man."

Tom Ryder met his wife and Kathryn's mum, Joan, when they were both 16 and he took her to the Southland Boys' High School ball.

"He absolutely loved and cherished my mum his whole life," she said. "For me amongst his enduring qualities was his absolute commitment to Mum and his family, and his absolute commitment to the school and the boys, and the fine examples that he showed us."

While he was impatient, he was both compassionate and egalitarian, having come from a working-class background, she said.

"I think everyone knew what drove him and how important it was.

"He knew what it was like to work hard for everything you've got in life. That gave him a great insight into the boys.

"Behind every good man is a good woman...He was a great man and we will miss him."

His son, Paul, also taught at New Plymouth Boys' High School.

Tom's wife Joan said her husband was tenderhearted.

"Not many people saw that outside of the family."

New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom attended NPBHS during Ryder's tenure and said he will always remember the "big flowing black cape" he wore for assemblies.

"He had very very good personal values and I think he instilled those in the boys," he said.

"The big thing for me is Tom Ryder's legacy is all around us in these fantastic men who have come through the New Plymouth Boys' High School and the things they've gone on to do."

NPBHS headmaster Paul Veric was head boy while Ryder was headmaster, and said he was a big influence in his decision to go to teachers' college with the aim of ultimately being headmaster himself.

"His driver for everything was actually making the high school the best school he could and about making the students the best young men he could," he said.

While Veric found Ryder aloof and stern at times, he said his respect for him grew as he worked with him as head boy.

"I said to the staff, even if you didn't know Tom...you have all benefited from his vision and his commitment to the school."

The funeral service will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church on Tuesday.

Kathryn Ryder said that a couple of weeks before he died her father said he had no regrets.

"He had had a fulfilled and happy life and had spent it with a wonderful woman, my mum Joan, whom he loved."

-Stuff

Daniel Thompson

Student: 2002 - 2004

Bert Sam Wipiti, DFM

Student: 1936 - 1938

Vincent John Baird Hall

Staff: 1913 - 1914

Died: 2 June 1915

In a special assembly (11 April 2025), New Plymouth Boys' High School (NPBHS) was proudly presented with the British War Medal 1914-1918, awarded posthumously to Corporal Vincent John Baird Hall, a beloved teacher and Gallipoli soldier.

The medal, which had been missing for over a century, was recently discovered by chance on an online auction by Simon Strombom of the NZ Remembrance Army. It has now found a permanent home at the school where Hall once taught.

The assembly, attended by students, staff, Old Boys, and special guests, was a moving tribute to the legacy of Corporal Hall, who served in the Wellington Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF), during World War I.

We were honoured to have Margaret Bullen (niece of Corporal Hall), Therese Manning, Vanessa Frost and Tony Waite from AMP (sponsors of the Remembrance Army), along with Major Simon Strombom DSD (Retired), Old Boy and Chief Executive of the Remembrance Army, and Luke Andrews, Old Boy and Taranaki Chair of the Remembrance Army, join us for this commemorative event.

“Before joining the war, Hall was a significant figure at the school, known for his dedication to education and his role as a coach of the shooting team. He taught classes until the day he left for Trentham army training camp, with the students all going to the train station to see him off.

“He went on to take part in the landing at Gallipoli in April 1915, but in the following month was severely wounded in the thigh. Other soldiers said that even after being wounded he cracked jokes and tried not to make a fuss - he even insisted that there were worse cases of wounded soldiers that should be taken care of first,” says Simon.

Sadly, he later died of his wounds on the 2nd of June 1915 and was buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

"This medal represents more than his military service; it symbolises the profound influence he had on his students and the values he instilled in them – those of courage, commitment, and community that remain at the core of our school ethos," Headmaster, Sam Moore said.

The medal was discovered late last year on TradeMe by Simon.

"Securing this medal felt like reclaiming a piece of the school's soul. It's a tangible connection to our past and a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who walked these corridors." says Simon, who is also an alumnus of NPBHS.

The newly mounted medal display compliments a portrait of Corporal Hall, detailed narratives of his life, his contributions to the school, and his service in the war, presented last year by the Remembrance Army.

Positioned prominently in the school, the exhibit serves as an educational tool and a focal point for reflection. The Headmaster emphasized the contemporary relevance of the display.

“In today's world, it's crucial for our students to have grounding elements that connect them to the past. Corporal Hall's story and his medal teach them about resilience and the impact one individual can have on a community.”

“I hope for future generations of young men, the story of Corporal Hall and the returned medal will be a source of inspiration and a cornerstone of the school’s rich heritage,” said Simon.

New Plymouth Boys' High School pays tribute to the following Old Boys and former staff members who have passed away.