Scott Mayhew loves his job.

The Waitaki Boys’ High School director of boarding said he is passionate about helping children become the best they can be.

“So whatever they’re going to do . . . it’s my job at Waitaki to make sure when they do that, they are ready to take on the world.”

Scott was recently asked to join the New Zealand Boarding Schools Association executive committee, a small group of boarding hostel directors from around the country who offer support to school hostels.

“To make sure they are operating at their best, I guess, pass on our thoughts and opinions and experiences, give them advice, things like that,” he said. 

He had just been to the boarding schools conference the week before King’s Birthday Weekend, which is when his selection to the executive was announced.

“We sat at the front of about 50 or 60 people, and they just fired questions at us the whole time about hostel life, or anything really. So that was pretty cool.”

Co-ordinator of the committee rung me up and offered me a spot, and I said yes. I did try to get on it a few years back and missed out. And I just let it go, and didn’t think about it anymore, and then I was offered this spot.

Scott has managed boarding hostels for close to 18 years. His eldest daughter Lily, 17, was born on a Tuesday, and with wife Kylie, they moved into their first hostel on a Sunday, he said.

He had been at Rotorua Boys’ High School, before moving to Ōamaru and Waitaki Boys' in May 2021.

Over the 18 years, the biggest change and challenge has been the arrival of social media, he said.

“That’s the huge difference that we didn’t have 18 years ago . . . the kids are so exposed to so many different things now, it’s difficult to try and maintain that balance for them.”

The main way he approaches the issue is through education.

“We talk to the boys daily, about how to be better, make sure they’re safe on the internet, things like that. For my junior boys they register their devices with us 8.45pm each night - the year 9s and 10s - so it teaches them good sleep habits, good discipline, good structure and good routines.

“Year 11s, 12s, 13s, they’re allowed to keep theirs, but if we see anything that is making them unsafe or not be at their best during the school day, then we treat them the same as the juniors. 

“The main thing is education, talk to the kids, have a good conversation with them about keeping safe, and how to be safe.” 

Scott’s role on the New Zealand Boarding Schools committee is an ongoing one, and he is happy to share what he has learned over the years. 

“From policies and procedures to how to deal with the students, to building a good hostel, ‘cos a lot of new directors come in and, so they should, have hopes and dreams for what they want their hostel to look like.”

The Mayhew family, now joined by Bella, 13, and Noah, 11, continue to live onsite. 

“It’s all they’ve known,” Scott said.

Kylie was not involved officially in the day to day running, but is “100% into the hostel life", he said.

"She loves it."

Outside of hostel work, Scott also taught physical education at the school for 10 hours a week, which he loved.

He had “retired” from boxing and bodybuilding, but had made a return to rugby this year for Valley, he said.

He is excited and feeling positive about the direction the Waitaki Boys' hostel is heading.

“I’ve really got my feet under the desk, and it feels really good at the moment . . . It’s a really good place, we’ve got good stuff going on, we’ve got new roofs, new bathrooms, a new bark area, we’re heading in the right direction.”

Waitaki Boys’ rector Darryl Paterson said in the two years Scott and his family had been back in Oamaru, he had done “a fantastic job” at the hostel. 

“He has a huge personal work ethic and incredibly high standards which he holds the boys accountable to. 

“He leads a staff team in Don House that I believe is unmatched in the boarding schools that I know of,” Darryl said.

“Our boys are so fortunate to have Scott as their role model and mentor. In my opinion his election to the executive . . . is fully deserved.”