Mr Lonergan recognised for 40 years of service at Macleans College
Posted on May 26, 2026
Macleans College recently recognised long-serving educator Mr Lonergan for 40 years of dedicated service to the school community. The milestone was acknowledged at a full staff morning tea - also attended by family members and former colleagues.
Mr Lonergan joined Macleans College in 1983 as a science teacher, when the school was still in its early years. At the time, the school had around 800 students, four whānau houses and a staff of 50. Over the past four decades, he has remained a constant and dedicated presence through significant growth and change across all areas of school life.
He quickly became involved in Macleans College extra-curricular life, coaching numerous sporting codes, including rugby - his lifelong passion. Mr Lonergan has spent more than 30 years involved with the Macleans College 1st XV as a coach and manager. He organised 13 overseas tours for the 1st XV, including trips to Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. He also played an important role in secondary school rugby nationally, serving on the New Zealand Schools’ Rugby Council for nearly 20 years and the Auckland Schools Rugby Executive for 40 years. He has been recognised with awards from both the Auckland and New Zealand Rugby Union.
In 1985 Mr Lonergan was appointed Head of Chemistry, followed by being appointed Rutherford House Leader in 1988. He speaks warmly about the importance of the whānau house system and the strong pastoral care it provides for students. He describes the system as one of the school’s defining strengths and a key part of developing well-rounded young people.
Mr Lonergan joined the Senior Leadership Team in 1994 and went on to oversee a range of portfolios, including Teaching and Learning, staffing, student leadership, IT, extra-curricular activities and liaison with NZQA and the Ministry of Education. He also played a key role in restructuring the school timetable in the mid-1990s.
Throughout his career, Mr Lonergan has remained committed to lifelong learning and professional development. His work in Chemistry earned him a Woolf Fisher Fellowship to Australia in 1992 and in 2009 to Europe and the UK to share developments in IT. He also completed a Business Master’s degree and attended international education conferences in Thailand, Singapore and the United States.
From 2016 to 2020, Mr Lonergan served as CEO of College Sport Auckland before returning to Macleans College in 2020 to teach part-time.
During his address to staff and guests, Mr Lonergan reflected on the many changes across education and at Macleans College over the past four decades. He acknowledged the leadership of founding Principal Mr Colin Prentice, describing the school culture as ‘firm, fair and friendly’ from its earliest days. He credited succeeding Principals Mr Allen McDonald, Mr Byron Bentley and Mr Steven Hargreaves with continuing to enhance the school values and student results.
He also spoke about the importance of personal connections within the school community. Known for his regular lunchtime walks around the campus, Mr Lonergan said he valued the opportunity to speak with students and staff each day and believed strong relationships were central to effective teaching.
Mr Lonergan said the school’s guiding principles of academics, extra-curricular involvement and the whānau house system aligned closely with his own educational philosophy. He reflected on the importance of supporting students both inside and outside the classroom, encouraging them to become balanced and successful members of society.
Well-known throughout the Macleans College community, Mr Lonergan’s contribution across teaching, leadership, sport and pastoral care has left a profound and lasting impact on generations of students and staff. His unwavering commitment to the school over 40 years reflects not only exceptional service, but also a deep personal investment in the people, values and culture of Macleans College.
Macleans College extends its sincere appreciation to Mr Lonergan for his outstanding service, leadership and commitment to the school community.
