Zion Salakaia, Dilworth Head Prefect 2026
“I Never Looked Back”
Zion Salakia is Dilworth’s Head Prefect for 2026 and a truly inspirational one at that. We asked him about his time at Dilworth and what he will take away from it.
Back to the beginning
Academically strong, artistic, good at sport, and a great leader, Zion has so much to be proud of as he prepares to leave Dilworth - and he has big shoes to fill. But as he recalls, it didn’t always feel this way. Before arriving at Dilworth, Zion says he always worked hard at school, but he didn't fully understand what he was capable of.
A clear turning point for him came in Year 9, when he set out on a gruelling 14-kilometre run through the Karangahake Gorge, part of the Rural Campus programme - now the Mangatāwhiri Campus (there are lots of hills!). Before Dilworth, Zion hadn't considered himself a long-distance runner; he was just a kid, he says, “who played a bit of casual basketball, trying to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, who also went to Dilworth.”
But when Zion crossed the finish line in first place, something shifted inside him. Winning that 14k wasn't just a physical victory; it was a defining moment. It struck him with absolute clarity: “I am capable, I can do anything”. It locked the thought into his head, he says:
“No matter what happens, if I try, I now know I can do it”.
He never looked back, and it set the tone for the rest of his Dilworth journey.
The Middle Years
By Year 11, Zion had turned his quiet determination into action across many of the opportunities Dilworth offered him.
He took up the drums, having never played before, practising until he earned a place in the school Big Band. That same year, he took up organised football and secured a spot in the First XI. Both achievements, he says, reinforced his drive and his refusal to do anything by halves.
Meanwhile, in the classroom, expectations at Dilworth were demanding. In his earlier years, he recalls, teachers took a firm line, pushing students to meet a standard. He says it felt daunting at first. But over time, Zion says his relationship with his teachers shifted towards deep, mutual respect – teachers came to feel like invested mentors who genuinely wanted to see students flourish.
What has always struck him most is that Dilworth constantly reminds its students that, regardless of their background, they belong at the very top. He began to believe it.
“Mr Reddiex and all staff don’t downplay our ability just because we're not from where most private school students are from. My teachers are very supportive of me, and as long as I'm willing to do the work, they are there to help”.
Through this kind of mentorship, Zion discovered a side of himself he never knew existed. Always strong in mathematics and science, he had never considered himself creative. But that changed when he signed up for Design with Miss Song. Stepping into the studio, Zion learned to navigate digital tools, composition, and visual language, and he loved it. To his surprise, he finished at the top of his class in Design - a subject he hadn't even realised was a high school course a few years earlier.
Discovering this artistic side is just one of the ways Zion says he has learned to express himself at Dilworth, helping him come out of his shell. “In terms of expressing myself, I think so many areas of Dilworth have helped with that.”
One of the critical underlying aspects, he says, has been the deep friendships formed at Dilworth, which provided a genuine sense of comfort and a sense of ‘home’. “I think there's a comfort level you have with your year group after a while. And so, you really get to become yourself, living with everyone.”
Becoming Head Prefect
In Year 13, Zion was awarded Dilworth’s highest student accolade: Head Prefect.
When Headmaster Mr Reddiex called his name, he was momentarily moved to tears; he was stunned. Knowing there were so many outstanding candidates, hearing his name announced was an unforgettable moment - as was the sight of the korowai being placed around his shoulders in the new St Patrick’s Chapel for all who witnessed it.
Director of Student Services, Ms Claudine Nathan, had this to say about Zion:
“Zion was appointed Head Boy for his maturity, intelligence, leadership and dedication across all aspects of school life. It was clear he had the ability to connect effortlessly across all year levels, and he has led with confidence, respect, and integrity. Grounded, humble, and appreciative of those who have guided and supported him, Zion possesses the determination and character to succeed in whatever path he pursues”.
So, as the school year comes to an end, where next for Zion?
Zion clearly has many paths to choose from, and the future lies wide open before him. But he says his true ambition is in medicine. He is heading south to the University of Otago to study Health Sciences, intent on pursuing the rigorous path to becoming a cardiologist.
“I’ve always wanted to be a cardiologist, like a heart doctor. That's been my dream since before Dilworth. I have seen the health issues my family has been through, and I have wanted to do something since I was about 11 years old”.
Living alongside his brothers - his best mates, playing football, and learning to master new disciplines, becoming head prefect – all these things have stripped away any lingering self-doubt.
Dilworth hasn't just given Zion skills; it has given him his voice.
This great young man now knows he can do anything.
