When Peter Thomas joined Hillcrest High School in 1974, the school had just reached its first Fifth Form year. Nearly four decades later, in 2013, he retired, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of teaching, leadership, and passion for learning.
During his years at Hillcrest, Peter’s contribution extended well beyond the classroom. Alongside Jenny Brown, he introduced Classical Studies to the school, a subject that remains strong today. In fact, one of Hillcrest’s students, under the guidance of Katrina Stevenson, recently achieved the Top New Zealand Scholar Award in Classical Studies, a testament to the foundations Peter helped establish. His commitment to enriching learning took students far beyond the walls of Hillcrest, including trips to England, Italy, Greece, and Vietnam, where cultural immersion was as much a part of the learning as the lessons themselves.
Outdoor Education was another highlight of Peter’s teaching career. Inspired by the late Paul Keown, he joined Year 10 OE camps in the Kauaeranga Valley during the 1970s and 80s, when sleeping under canvas, hunting for kauri dam remnants, and “camping wild” were all part of the adventure. He fondly recalls the camaraderie of those times, sharing a cramped pup tent with colleagues while others enjoyed bivouacs built by senior students. For Peter, the richness of those experiences remains a powerful reminder of why Outdoor Education should never be lost from the curriculum.
Beyond the classroom and bush tracks, Peter threw himself into sport and co-curricular life. He coached girls’ cricket (famously beating Southwell), introduced sailing (with Hillcrest winning the Burgess Trophy), and coached rugby, where his “well-drilled” junior team played with flair and fast passing. His love for critical thinking also stood at the core of his teaching philosophy, guided by the words of Bertrand Russell: “It is not what opinions are held that are important but how they are held.”
Since retiring, Peter’s life has remained just as full. He has authored an account of his father’s role in the 25-year campaign to conserve Waipoua Forest, a website project designed by his daughter, also a Hillcrest alumna. With his wife Philippa, he recently downsized from their family home of 40 years, a challenge made lighter with help from their granddaughters.
Looking back, Peter remembers Hillcrest as a place of innovation, opportunity, and connection, with colleagues like Jenny Moon, Brett Chibnall, Susan Radford, and many others shaping his years there. His passion for teaching and dedication to the values of exploration, critical thought, and care for the environment have left an indelible mark on Hillcrest High School’s history.
