Past and present students, staff, and community members of one of Ōtara’s cornerstone educational institutions are set to celebrate a major milestone, with a 60th-anniversary reunion planned for later this year. The event will commemorate the rich history of the school known today as Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, tracing its journey from its original opening in 1966 through its various transformations.
The reunion is scheduled to take place from Friday, 2 October to Sunday, 4 October 2026, at the school's campus on 2 Franklyne Avenue in Ōtara. It will be a weekend of connection and nostalgia for the thousands of people who have walked its halls over the last six decades.
A dedicated reunion committee has been working to organise the event, which aims to bring together alumni from all eras of the school's history. The celebration acknowledges the school under all three of its names: Otara College, Hillary College, and its current name, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate.
A rich history of name and identity
The school first opened its doors on 1 February 1966 as Otara College, serving the rapidly growing suburb. In September 1969, its name was changed to Hillary College, in honour of the famed New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, who had strong connections to the community.
This milestone celebration recognises six decades of shared history, connection, and achievement. We warmly invite all alumni of Otara College, Hillary College, and Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate to join us for this special occasion. We look forward to celebrating together and reconnecting with friends, whānau, and colleagues across generations.
The most recent evolution came in 2004, when it became Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, a campus that integrated the secondary school with Clydemore Primary School and Bairds Intermediate School. This created a comprehensive educational pathway for students from Year 1 to Year 13, reflecting a progressive approach to schooling in the South Auckland community.
This layered history is a central theme of the reunion, which seeks to honour the experiences of students and teachers from each distinct period. The alumni association, officially known as the OC, HC, SEHC Alumni, was formed to represent this entire legacy and preserve the institution's long-standing heritage.
The school continues to be a vital part of the local education landscape, which includes a number of well-regarded schools in Papatoetoe and Ōtara. In a recent move highlighting its ongoing commitment to its community, the collegiate revived its Māori and Sāmoan bilingual units, reconnecting a learning pathway that had been absent for more than two decades.
Community at the heart of the celebration
The reunion is more than just a school event; it is a celebration of the Ōtara community itself. For 60 years, the school has been an anchor for countless families, shaping the social and cultural fabric of the area. Such events align with the broader community goals for the Ōtara-Papatoetoe area, which prioritises the strengthening of cultural identity and community bonds. The Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board recently completed consultation on its 2026 plan, which sought public input on topics including "supporting our cultural identity and strong communities."
The preservation of local stories and heritage has become a growing focus across New Zealand, supported by national initiatives like the Aotearoa New Zealand histories curriculum in schools. Events like the SEHC reunion play a practical role in this effort, acting as living archives of community history where stories are shared and passed down through generations. This reflects a wider interest in celebrating the unique cultural heart of local communities, a theme also seen in places like Mandurah in Western Australia, which has been showcasing its own vibrant arts and history.
The organisation of the reunion is being led by a committee of dedicated alumni and staff representatives, including Io Aleke Fa’avae as Chair, Shauna Eldridge as Vice Chair and Treasurer, and Maara Mataroa as Secretary. They are supported by Alumni Representative Jazmin Mautairi-Greig and the school’s Principal Representative, Vasati Vaoiva.
How to get involved
The committee extends a warm invitation to all former students, teachers, and staff to join the celebration. It is a unique opportunity to reconnect with old friends, reminisce about school days, and see how the campus has evolved over the years, all while celebrating a shared legacy.
Tickets for the 60th-anniversary reunion are now on sale, with sales closing on 30 June 2026, to allow for final planning. The alumni association encourages interested parties to register and purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment.
For more information or to inquire about the event, the committee's Secretary, Maara Mataroa, can be contacted at 021 277 6828 or via email at ochcsehc.60years.reunion@gmail.com. Further details are also available on the OC, HC, SEHC Alumni website. The committee’s next online meeting is scheduled for 3 April 2026, as preparations continue for the landmark celebration.
