Shelley Macrae - XŌtaki College Alumni Trust Hall of Fame 2026 (Friends & Supporters)
Distinguished guests, staff, students, and whānau, it is an absolute honour this afternoon to introduce one of our very first inductees into the prestigious 'Friends of the College' award—Shelley Macrae.
While Shelley herself didn’t attend Ōtaki College—having completed her education just down the road at Kāpiti College in the late 1960s, her roots in our town run deep. Shelley’s connection to Ōtaki dates back to at least 1845, the year her great-great-grandfather was born right here in our town. Her family’s deep ties to the area, to her great-grandfather Rawiri Tahiwi, and our wider Ōtaki Ngāti Raukawa whānau were proudly passed down to her.
After a brief time away in the United States, Shelley returned home in 1983 and took what she thought was a temporary factory job at Sander Apparel, a family business owned by her brother-in-law, Peter Zander. As Shelley puts it, 'Suddenly it was 43 years later,' and she is still there! Over those decades, she rose from the factory floor to General Manager, and eventually, in 2004, she and her partner bought the company.
Through economic shifts, changing fashions, and intense global competition, Shelley’s grit and vision saved a historic New Zealand institution. Today, Sander Apparel is the number one tie supplier in New Zealand, commanding roughly 70% of the domestic market and manufacturing the iconic, world-famous All Blacks ties.
But we are not just here today to celebrate an extraordinary businesswoman. We are here to celebrate a woman with a massive heart for our youth, our community, and our school. Please welcome to the stage, a true champion of Ōtaki College, Shelley Macrae."
Citation
Since this college was opened back in 1960 there have been Otaki Scholars from Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen, Scotland visiting us. Since 1937, the Head Boy of Robert Gordon’s College has travelled to New Zealand in a tradition honouring Captain Archibald Bisset Smith VC earnt in an epic battle between the SS Otaki and the SMS Moewe on March 10th 1917 and the historical bond that now exists between our two countries.
But for a long time, that bridge only went one way.
In 2013, Shelley saw an opportunity to change that. She wanted to create a reciprocal nod to those Scottish scholars - a way to reward a high-achieving student from Ōtaki College and give them the life-altering opportunity to travel, broaden their mind, and see the world.
With that vision, the Sander Scholarship was born.
Without Shelley Macrae, this award would quite literally never have gotten off the ground. Because of her generosity, a member of our Nga Ringa Whero team have been given the chance to travel to Scotland, hosted generously by Robert Gordon’s College. It has rightfully become one of the top five most prestigious awards in our entire college.
To understand the impact of what Shelley created, you only have to look at her favourite highlight from this journey. She once met the mother of a Sander Scholar who had just returned home from Scotland. The mother looked at Shelley and simply said: 'He went away a boy and came back a man.' That is the ultimate testament to Shelley’s vision. She truly lives by the words of Nelson Mandela: 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'
Shelley’s initial spark has ignited a massive, enduring legacy. What started as the Sander Scholarship has now evolved into the permanent Carlisle Everiss Scholarship. When we realised we needed to lock this opportunity in for future generations, Shelley didn't step back—she stepped up. She committed her company’s backing and became a founding trustee alongside former British High Commissioner George Fergusson, Sir Graeme Catto, and Chris Parkin.
Even as the scholarship transitions for long-term longevity, Shelley remains fiercely hands-on. She has continued to fund student airfares, she provides custom ties for our scholars to hand out as gifts in Scotland, and she personally hosts the Scottish Ōtaki Scholars when they arrive here in town ensuring every single one of them leaves with an All Blacks tie to take back home.
Because of the foundation Shelley built, the relationship between our respective colleges has flourished into something truly extraordinary. Robert Gordon's College has recently brought senior students to visit our town. Later this year, I will have the immense privilege of traveling back to Scotland again to attend the RGC Founders Day, join the Ōtaki Scholar's dinner, and work alongside government officials to expand and strengthen these international scholarship connections even further.
Shelley, you wanted to do your small part in changing the world. I want to assure you today that to the students, the whānau, and the history of Ōtaki College, your part has been anything but small. You have offered an opportunity that can change a student's world. Thank you for your unwavering generosity, your constant presence at our prizegivings, and your endless belief in our students.
It is our absolute privilege to see you inducted as an official “Friend of the College."
(Inducted by Andy Fraser)