It’s rare for former Te Aute College head prefects to make headlines—rarer still for two to do so in the same week. Yet, Tuijo Thompson and Joe Royal, head boys in 2002 and 2003 respectively, did just that recently when both were recognised for major career milestones.
Thompson, now a Commander in the Royal New Zealand Navy, became the first Māori to command HMNZS Te Mana, one of the country’s most valuable military assets. Royal marked his 150th game for Ponsonby Rugby Club in the Gallagher Shield final—his eighth championship win with the storied Auckland side.
Both men credit Te Aute College as the foundation for their success. Despite other options, each chose Te Aute for its unique wairua and cultural grounding.
Tuijo Thompson
“Te Aute, to me, had the wairua and because it was, I think, was my parents’ preference, I saw Te Aute as being the best option. Because Te Aute was a boarding school about eight hours drive from where my whānau was in Auckland, whenever there were challenges, I always reflected on the fact that it was my choice to be there,” Thompson says.
Royal’s path was more unexpected. He had planned to follow his father to Wesley College or a cousin to Hamilton Boys’, but a visit to Te Aute with his aunt changed everything.
“My Aunty Kim enrolled me without even saying anything, but we just sort of said, we’ll try Te Aute for the first year. And then I ended up there staying the whole time.”
Boarding school life was demanding, but it prepared both men for the future. Thompson joined the Navy in 2003 and quickly realised how Te Aute’s discipline gave him an edge.
“Some of the early experiences do compare very closely to Te Aute. We do parade in the Navy, and so very early on, I found it quite easy, one of the key differences being the terms. The need to keep your boots polished, the need to maintain an appearance that you know represents your kura, or in this sense, the Navy, was all very familiar to me.”
Now commanding HMNZS Te Mana, Thompson will lead a crew of 180 in missions ranging from diplomacy to maritime security. His career has spanned three navies—New Zealand, Australian, and Royal (UK)—and included a posting in Singapore as Assistant Defence Advisor.
Karakia, instilled by his mother and fostered at Te Aute, remains a grounding force. As does his whakapapa, which includes Ngāti Hauā, the iwi of Tarapīpipi Wiremu Tamihana.
“I do include both Te Tumuakitanga and Te Kiingitanga as key examples for me about what it means to lead from a genuine Māori perspective.
“That is an ongoing area of reflection for me, and some of the challenges that are standing before me as the Commanding Officer of Te Mana. It will afford me an opportunity, to test how someone can stand as authentically Māori, and lead in a world that is bicultural or multicultural in nature. But also recognise the mana that comes with the position of commanding officer within the Navy.”
Royal’s transition to Te Aute was equally formative. The initial six weeks with no outside contact forced him to adapt quickly and build strong relationships.
“You had to adapt fast and learn quickly that your group of friends were the only ones that were going to look after you.”
Joe Royal
Leadership came naturally. He became house captain and deputy head boy, inspired by former prefects like Shannon Burrell and Piri Weepu. Rugby was central—he made the 1st XV early and represented Hawke’s Bay. The discipline and early morning trainings laid the groundwork for his professional career.
Unlike many peers, Royal didn’t turn pro straight out of school. He spent years in Auckland’s club scene before moving to Bay of Plenty, reconnecting with his Te Arawa roots and finally earning a contract.
“My career has been built on perseverance and not giving up. I didn’t make professional rugby until I was 27 but I still had the aspirations.
“It didn’t get me down, I never said that’s it, I’m going to give up. I had that drive in me that I wanted to be a professional player.”
Royal went on to play for the Māori All Blacks, Counties Manukau, and Moana Pasifika—making his Super Rugby debut just before his 37th birthday. He also spent four years with Ngāti Porou East Coast in the Heartland Championship. Through it all, he drew strength from his time at Te Aute.
“There are times in games, or in mahi that they do get tough, so you draw back onto those times back at school, or there might be something that as a leader, you’re going have to try and figure out, like conflicts or relationships, and you draw back onto those things that you did at school or just in life in general.”
For both Thompson and Royal, Te Aute wasn’t just a stepping stone—it was the forge that shaped their futures.