De La Salle College is a state-integrated Catholic boys’ secondary school located in Māngere East, South Auckland. Founded in 1953 by the De La Salle Brothers, the college serves students from Year 7 to Year 13 and remains one of the most prominent Lasallian schools in New Zealand. Its motto, Bonum Certamen Certa (“Fight the Good Fight of Faith”), reflects the school’s emphasis on faith, character and service.
The college was established to provide Catholic education to the growing Pacific and Māori communities of South Auckland and has remained closely aligned with the mission and pastoral vision of the De La Salle order. While still rooted in its Lasallian identity, the school has undergone key developments, including a major upgrade with the opening of a new gymnasium in 2008 and ongoing investment in technology and specialist learning spaces. In 2012, the appointment of Myles Hogarty as principal marked the first time the college was led by a layperson.
De La Salle operates a four-house system—Benildus, Solomon, Miguel and Mutien—named after notable De La Salle Brothers. The structure underpins inter-house sport, cultural participation and community activity.
Sport is a major part of college life and the school has produced an extensive list of professional athletes, especially in rugby league and rugby union. De La Salle’s 1st XV achieved national prominence by winning the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rugby Championship in 2008, while many former students have gone on to play for the All Blacks, Manu Samoa, the Kiwis, NRL clubs, and Super Rugby sides. The school also competes strongly in football, basketball, volleyball, kilikiti, softball and waka ama.
The college serves a predominantly Pacific community, with Samoan and Tongan students making up the majority of the roll. This cultural foundation is reflected in the school’s values, community engagement and strong reputation for pastoral care. The college’s demographic profile and academic outcomes have been noted in national media, particularly for outperforming expectations in a low-decile context.
De La Salle alumni are represented across education, public service, sport, broadcasting and the arts, including former Auckland mayor Len Brown, broadcaster Ric Salizzo, All Blacks such as John Kirwan and Isaia Toeava, and numerous Pacific Island international athletes.
The college remains closely connected to the wider Lasallian network alongside Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth and John Paul College in Rotorua, and continues its mission of providing Catholic education shaped by faith, discipline and community.