Mikaela McRae
A top scholar and an internationally recognised dancer, Mikaela McRae has shown a relentless pursuit in excellence throughout her time at St Peter’s.
She is as comfortable weaving through a dance routine as she is in her academic work, with the credentials to prove it.
She has a multitude of Asia Pacific Dance Association practical exam results and international awards in contemporary and jazz dancing.
Since she began the examinations in 2018, Mikaela has had remarkably high marks in contemporary, receiving honours with distinction four times.
A score of 99.5/100 in 2022 won her a APDA International Award of Recognition Top Tier Award.
The next year, however, she outdid herself with a perfect 100/100 score. She was awarded the APDA International Award of Recognition Top Mark Award for being the best dancer tested in the year.
Mikaela said she was very happy to have received the mark, as the dance studio where she performed had only began to receive such high scores in previous years.
No one-trick pony, her jazz dancing with APDA was also deemed top tier, and she received honours with distinction twice out of the four times she tested.
The St Peter’s top scholar for year 10 and 11 dominated NCEA, with level 1 and 2 excellence endorsements.
It is a sense of accomplishment driving Mikaela, who says she is self-motivated and always up for a challenge, but finds the company she keeps a driving factor.
"I like succeeding in what I do.
"I think the people around me also play a huge part in motivation.
"They always encouraged me in everything I do, they’re always there to help me out."
Mikaela will be heading away, with hopes of either pursuing medical imaging, or nursing, which she said was a way she could give back.
"It’s something about wanting to help people out during their hardest times, that resonates quite well [with me]."
Achievements
House leader (2025); dance teacher (2024, 2025); netball senior A team (2025); netball Eastern Southland U18 reserve (2025); Netball South Zone Tournament — Eastern Southland U18 (2025); Eastern Southland senior A netball (2024); Barbara Bell tournament senior A netball (2024); NCEA level 2 excellence endorsed (2024); St Peter’s servant leadership council (2024); Eisteddfod competition (2019-24); Asia Pacific Dance Association practical exams (2018-24).
Hopes for the future
To study medical imaging at the University of Auckland or nursing at Otago Polytech, specialising in paediatrics.
Addi McHaffie
For Addi McHaffie, netball is the way she expresses her philosophy in life of leadership, co-ordination and a powerful drive to succeed and learn.
Addi, the starting centre for the St Peter’s College A team, has been a recurring name on rep teams around the region — most recently the U18 Eastern netball team, where she played in a national tournament in Auckland earlier this year.
She has been a regular at the Steel Steps Academy, a development camp held in Invercargill, with all her hard work and success noticed by the powers that be.
Addi was shoulder-tapped to attend the New Zealand Nationals Development Camp in January, one of 90 attendees, four of which were from Southland, and said it was a challenge she loved.
"It was fun and great to learn off ... very high skilled coaches.
"I met a lot of girls, it was quite scary and full-on, but really good."
Her attitude sets her apart with a healthy competitive spirit.
She tries to foster positive vibes, which are especially important in a team.
This mindset has been a winner for her.
"If I’m trying to put myself forward to be selected for something, I try to have the best attitude and also the skills.
"Obviously I try show off physically, but I think having the right attitude towards learning new things, and difficult things, it’s something people look for."
Addi says she cannot see herself ever playing an individual sport.
She enjoys and thrives in a team environment, including helping others.
"I really like the teamwork, having people around me and learning off others, teaching younger girls in my team — that’s what I love."
Addi is hoping to continue her path of sporting excellence at Lincoln University in Christchurch to study sports and recreational management, and is eyeing up a few teams to keep playing the sport she thrives in.
Achievements
U18 Eastern netball team (2024-25); captain of senior A netball team (2023-25); New Zealand nationals development camp (2025); Steel Steps Academy (2024); Hinds rugby development squad (2024); U18 Southland rugby team (2024); Southland rugby development squad (2022-24); rugby coaching (2024); NCEA level 2 merit endorsement (2024); U16 Southland rugby team (2022); U16 Eastern Southland netball team (2022-23); U14 Eastern Southland netball team (2021).
Hopes for the future
To study sport and recreational management at Lincoln University.
