Taieri College

Caleb Walker

Caleb Walker is an all-rounder on and off the pitch.

The right-hand batsman and off-spin bowler is also a high achiever in the classroom and a leader at his school.

Caleb got the call to play in his school’s first XI in year 9 and he has lost count of the number of caps he has earned at this stage.

He says it was daunting for him joining the team in year 9, but when he scored 133 not-out against Wakatipu High School in year 10, he knew he had a place in the team.

The Wakatipu 100 and scoring a tonne in India in year 11 go down as his biggest achievements.

"The mental battle I had [in India] was massive," he says.

Spending an entire day batting in the scorching Delhi heat, facing the Indian spinners on a pitch that was turning corners, was a grind.

It took a lot of mental resilience to face about 260 balls in those conditions.

"It was a challenge but it was good fun."

Being the head boy at Taieri has been a huge honour for Caleb.

He did not expect to have so much fun in the role this year.

"Just everyone coming up to say ‘Hi’ has been great."

In his role, he led organising fundraising events for the school, including a 24-hour walk around Wingatui Race Course for a mural symbolising the 2025 year for the school.

Next year, he is planning on studying a bachelor of commerce and playing cricket at the highest level possible.

He dreams of becoming a Blackcap one day.

Achievements

Head boy (2025); 1st XI cricket (2021-25); 1st XV rugby (2023-25); 1st XV vice-captain (2025); 1st XI captain (2025); 1st XI batter of the year (2025); Southern Districts U17 indoor cricket team (2025); 1st XI bowler of the year (2024); overall cricketer of the year (2024); 1st XV most valuable back (2024); NCEA level 2 endorsed with merit (2024); academic blue (2024); merit in geography, economics (2024); selected for both Dunedin and Otago U17 cricket (2023-24); 1st XV most improved player (2023); batter of the year for year 11-12 Dunedin cricket team (2023); Taieri College cricket touring team to India (2023); NCEA level 1 endorsed with excellence (2023); academic blue (2023); merit in geography, PE (2023).

Role model

His mother and father and Taieri College assistant principal and 1st XI coach Jarrad Waldron.

Hopes for the future

Be successful on and off the pitch and see how far cricket can take him.

Holly Pool

Holly Pool wants to use her influence to make a difference for lesser-heard communities.

She feels people’s human rights are being challenged around the world and wants to do something about it.

She plans on getting a ministry job with the government, where she hopes to give minority communities a voice.

As Taieri College deputy head girl and arts prefect, she has immersed herself in her school’s arts scene this year.

Holly has made an active effort to promote different types of arts, including theatre and textiles at her school.

Promoting the arts is important to her because performing on stage herself has helped her build her confidence.

"It’s really fun to be able to step out of your own shoes and express yourself in a way that you’re not scared of what people think of you."

Rhythmic gymnastics has also been a big part of Holly’s life for the past 11 years, and she placed third at a group event at the New Zealand Gymnastics Championships last year. She recently competed in her last rhythmic gymnastics competition and felt emotional leaving the sport.

The sport meant a lot to her because she met a lot of life-long friends and learnt a lot about perseverance doing it.

She is also an award-winning dress-maker. One of her dresses featured in Dunedin’s iD Fashion Week this year after it was spotted at the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.

"It was a major accomplishment for me and it was really exciting seeing it in the show."

Next year, Holly plans to study sociology and criminology at university.

Achievements

Deputy head girl (2025); arts prefect (2025); year 12 textiles project selected for and showed in Hokonui section in ID Fashion (2025); NCEA level 2 endorsed with excellence (2024); academic blue (2024); class prize in drama, merits in English enrichment and personal excellence (2024); Brenda Brooks Award for textiles material technology (2024); arts ambassador (2024); arts blue for textiles (2024); 1st place prepared speech finalist (2024); NCEA level 1 endorsed with excellence (2023); academic blue (2023); sports blue for rhythmic gymnastics (2023); New Zealand Gymnastics Nationals in group (2021-23); New Zealand Gymnastics Nationals 3rd place in one showing (2023); class prize with merits in social studies, PE & health, theatre history & performance, drama (2023); school production (2021, 2024, 2025); theatresports leader.