Wiremu Apaapa Kuku, Dilworth Prefect 2026
Becoming a Leader
Wiremu Apaapa Kuku is the latest Year 13 student featured in Dilworth’s Great Young Men series. Fluent in te reo Māori, a Kapa Haka leader, a prefect, and a member of the 1st XV Rugby Team, Wiremu is every inch an inspiring leader as he prepares to graduate.
It was Dilworth’s Rural Campus, now known as the Mangatāwhiri Campus and the appeal of the outdoors – one of his passions - that first drew Wiremu to Dilworth.
“Before going to the Rural Campus, I knew about the outdoors at Dilworth, and that’s what really hooked me in,” Wiremu recalls.
Starting high school can be a big deal for many students, and for Wiremu, it was no different. He admits he was really nervous at the thought of starting at Dilworth. “When I started at Dilworth in Year 9, I was quite nervous because I knew a lot of the boys already knew each other from Years 7 and 8.”
To overcome how he felt, Wiremu threw himself into school life and became a true 'joiner', something he recommends to any new students starting Dilworth.
“I started by joining the rugby team, and then I was part of the Boarding Committee, which was pretty cool. From there, I kept discovering my passions through the outdoors.”
It didn’t take long for him to feel completely at home, fully involved in the Dilworth way of life alongside his peers, and to develop a sense of connection and ‘brotherhood’, as he terms it, something he deeply values today.
“When we're here, everyone knows each other’s names because we're a close-knit community. Everything we do, through assemblies and chapels—always centres on connection, mutual respect, and brotherhood.”
Developing as a Leader
Talking to Wiremu makes it clear that how he felt starting a new school in Year 9 has shaped him into the intuitive, understanding leader he is today – he knows how to walk in other students’ shoes, something that will stand him in good stead as he goes out into further study and the workplace – the world beyond Dilworth.
You can see this by the way he explains his approach to leading Kapa Haka and supporting younger students.
“We have new boys coming in, so we need to make sure they know what they're doing. As a leader, it's my job to help the boys feel comfortable and confident—especially those who have never done Kapa Haka or stood on a stage before.”
When Wiremu started at Dilworth, he brought a significant taonga with him - his fluency in te reo Māori. In this space, Wiremu has served as a poutokomanawa (pillar) for Dilworth this year, leading major school celebrations and welcoming new staff at Pōwhiri. His growth and confidence in this role have left a lasting impression on our school community, and his contribution to tikanga at Dilworth has been enormous. His te reo teacher, Whea Maureen Soi, had this to say.
“Wiremu is a student who carries a lot of mana and grace on his shoulders. His fluency in Te Reo Maori is his gift to share amongst his brothers, and it is also his superpower, a tohu (gift), that has been seen around the school and by his Kaiako Maori.”
He has such a courageous spirit in being a leader, but also in being a learner. A born leader, who leads with his heart and the mana of a warrior.
Kia tu te ora, kia tu te rangatira a Wiremu.
Tihei mauri ora”.
Wiremu’s talents extend onto the rugby field as well, where he has excelled at Dilworth.
As he reflects, one of his standout memories is the 2024 International Rugby Tour, when the First XV travelled overseas to experience new cultures and play against competitive northern-hemisphere rugby teams, including a match at the Royal School of Dungannon in Ireland.
“It was a defining moment for me,” Wiremu reflects. “We didn't get all the results we wanted on the field on the tour, but that's actually what made it so impactful.”
The tour taught Wiremu and the team valuable lessons in resilience, prompting them to further unite as a team. One way they did so, Wiremu says, was by integrating Tikanga Māori cultural elements and pre-game prayers into their routine – something that meant a great deal to him.
Their hard work and mahi as a team paid off over time, building depth in the (then) young team, culminating in a successful season for the 1st XV this year.
Wiremu hopes to continue his rugby journey after graduation, whether at club level with Ponsonby or even overseas. “I’ve seen the pathway for Old Boys who have gone on to play in Japan, which is definitely inspiring.”
The Dilworth Difference
“Dilworth has really made me look at the world through a different lens and opened up a lot of pathways for me.”
Beyond academics and sports, life at Dilworth has taught Wiremu self-management and practical life skills—down to managing his own laundry in his Year 13 house!
“Living away from home has given me the skills to manage myself and balance sports, academics, and social life. You even learn how to cook and do your own laundry in the Year 13 house.”
Academically, Wiremu has thrived while taking some tough subjects this year - physics, calculus, electronics, te reo Māori, and English. He credits his progress to his teachers' supportive approach and the positive peer pressure among his classmates.
“Learning here is enjoyable because the teachers make it interactive. You can easily approach them with questions, and they actively encourage us to ask, which really helps. Being amongst a cohort of high achievers pushes us, too. Sometimes it’s just banter—like, ‘Come on, bro, we can’t just get Achieved again!’—we constantly motivate each other to aim higher.”
Wiremu loves electronics and sees Megatronics as a pathway he plans to explore further next year.
Dilworth has profoundly reshaped Wiremu’s worldview. He credits his whānau and school with shaping how he thinks about his life’s journey, both academically and personally, across his many strengths in leadership, sport, academics and te ao Māori.
An inspiring young man.
