Building Leadership Skills at the ASBNZ Head Boys’ Conference

By Will Pyper | Posted: Wednesday May 6, 2026

From April 22–24, I had the privilege of attending the Association of Boys’ Schools in New Zealand (ASBNZ) Head Boys’ Conference, hosted by St Peter’s and Dilworth School in Auckland.

Forty head students from across the country came together for an action-packed and memorable few days.

On Wednesday evening, we attended a formal dinner with guest speakers Raechelle Taulu (Principal at Marist College for Girls in Auckland) and Jono Pryor (from Jono and Ben). Raechelle spoke about male leadership from a woman’s perspective, with a key takeaway being that the loudest person in the room is not always the best leader. Jono shared his journey into radio. While his talk was obviously entertaining and humorous, it also carried valuable advice about the importance of pursuing your passions.

Thursday started early as we travelled to Dilworth’s Rural Campus for a full day of activities. We took part in leadership and team-building challenges while also exploring what effective leadership looks like and how we can make the most of the roles we hold. A standout moment for me was the 2km mud run, completed three times, which saw us pushing through swamp water and mud up to our chests.

On Friday morning, we wrapped up the conference with activities such as rock climbing and abseiling before packing up, saying our goodbyes, and heading to Auckland Airport.

I felt truly honoured to represent Otago Boys’ at this conference. It was a valuable opportunity to connect with other head students, share experiences, and gain insights that I will carry forward throughout the rest of the year.