Malakai Eade is encouraging Cambridge High School’s fresh bunch of 2025 year nine students to grab every opportunity they get.
Malakai Eade
“I found with me, finding kapa haka, that’s shaped me into the person I am today, so I feel if some year 9 coming in found something that they are passionate about, that would shape them into who they would be,” he said.
Malakai, who has Ngāi Tūhoe heritage, was announced as the school’s 2025 head boy last Wednesday.
The 16-year-old has lived in Cambridge all his life with his mother Christine Beckett and father Clayton Eade and attended Cambridge East School and Cambridge Middle School. He has a 21-year-old sister, Sirtori.
Involved with kapa haka since year 3, he said getting up in front of audiences to perform had helped his confidence and personal growth.
“You feel yourself breaking past the nervous wall,” he said. “And I feel like that’s shaped me into a leader. It’s given me more courage to not be scared in front of people.”
His other interests include spending time outdoors, surfing and recreational mountain biking.
He also enjoys family trips to Kihikihi Speedway.
“We all love sprint cars, they’re mean,” he said. “They’re fast, loud and the races are action-packed.”
The year 12 student is currently attending Wintec’s Waikato Trades Academy one day a week while studying mathematics, English, physical education, outdoor education and Te Ao Haka.
He hopes to become an apprentice automotive mechanic after leaving school.
Malakai served on Cambridge High’s junior executive in year 10 and was captain of Horotiu house this year.
“I’ve always been interested in a leadership role – I just didn’t know how far it could take me,” he said.
Deputy principal Carol Webb described him as an enthusiastic person willing to give anything a go.
“He has put himself out there in a way that means he risks not achieving on the first go, and that’s a wonderful example,” she said.
Cambridge High School’s head girl for 2025 is Millie Balsom.
Principal Greg Thornton said Malakai and Millie recognised the positive impact they had on others and were “prepared to use that in a really constructive way to strengthen the school”.
“They’re incredibly well-liked by their peers, but actually looked up to by a lot of other students as well, and the staff hold them in really high regard,” he said.
“They’re wonderful people, so I’m very happy to have them heading up the team.”
Millie Balsom
Millie, 17, has lived in Cambridge all her life with her parents, Christina and David. She has two older siblings, Jaques and Gabby.
The Year 12 student joined Cambridge High School as a year 9 student in 2021, after eight years at St Peter’s Catholic School.
She said she is looking forward to working with head boy Malakai Eade, deputy head boy Ethan Bailey and deputy head girl Danielle D’Ath.
“We’ve got a range of different interests and we all bring different strengths to the team,” she said.
“I’ve always looked up to the head students and known that’s something I wanted to do,” she said.
“They’re role models everyone can look to for advice and they’ve always been so encouraging and supportive. That’s something I would really like to continue.”
One of her first goals is to “make an impact on the new year nines”.
“I know how scary and intimidating it can be coming into a big school like ours,” she said. “I want them to feel welcomed by the senior school and to feel proud to be here.”
Millie served as a student leader on the junior executive in year 10, and captained Te Koo Utu house this year.
A keen sportsperson, she has represented Cambridge High in both rowing and netball since year 9.
Next year she is studying sports science, drama, English, mathematics with statistics and general science.
“I definitely want to go to uni, but I haven’t decided exactly what I want to do,” she said.
“I’ve loved English this year, so perhaps something to do with that – maybe communications or journalism.”
Deputy principal Carol Webb described Millie as “a very composed young woman who has led in ways that build other people”.
“She’s not in things for herself…she puts others at the centre of what she does,” she said.
Millie Balsom and Malakai Eade.
