When I first found out that I had been selected to attend the KPMG Junior Account Assessment Evening, I was excited, but also extremely nervous. I had no idea what to expect. Would there be difficult accounting questions? Would we have individual interviews? Would I be asked about my future career plans and put on the spot? I spent a lot of time wondering what I had actually signed up for.

The application process began with an online form on the KPMG website, where I provided personal information and uploaded documents such as my Record of Achievement. After submitting the form, I had to complete a couple of online tests, which assessed skills such as problem-solving, reasoning and accounting. From there, applicants could be invited to an interview, asked for additional information or documents, or selected to attend the assessment evening. Fortunately, I was selected without needing an interview.

When I arrived, there was some time to relax and meet the other students. The group consisted of Year 13 students and first-year university students, so it was interesting to hear about the different pathways people were taking. Once everyone had arrived, we were introduced to the KPMG staff and started with two icebreakers.

The first was simple: we introduced ourselves, talked about what we were currently studying or what we hoped to study at university, and shared some of our hobbies. The second was a bingo activity in which we had to find people who matched different statements on a bingo sheet. It was a great way to break the ice and made the atmosphere much more relaxed.

We were split into pre-assigned groups and taken to different rooms for the main assessment activity. Each group was given a case study involving 12 people stranded on a deserted island. We had to decide which six people we would rescue based on the information provided about their skills, abilities and experience and how they could contribute to the group’s survival.

Our choices included a farmer, an eight-year-old primary school student, a 30-year-old personal trainer, the Mayor of Hamilton, a KPMG chief executive, a comedian, a mother of six, a retired builder, a university student, a school teacher, a psychologist, and a doctor. We were given additional information about the situation throughout the activity, which meant that we had to reconsider our decisions and work together under pressure.

Once we had chosen our six people, we had to complete a SWOT analysis for each of them before presenting our final decisions to everyone. There were also two major curveballs. We found out that the eight-year-old primary school student wouldn’t leave without the school teacher, who had previous experience handling emergencies. We were also told that a dangerous storm was approaching, adding another layer of urgency to our decision-making.

Although the activity initially sounded intimidating, I quickly realised that the assessment wasn’t about testing how much accounting knowledge we had memorised. Instead, KPMG was interested in seeing how we communicated, worked as a team, made decisions and justified our ideas. This was a huge relief for me as I had been expecting something much more intense.

The part I enjoyed most was working alongside such welcoming and knowledgeable people. After the assessment and presentations, we had a networking session over pizza and drinks, where we could talk to KPMG employees and ask them questions about their experiences. I particularly enjoyed hearing from people who had worked at KPMG for more than 20 years. Some had moved between different KPMG branches but had stayed with the organisation throughout their careers.

I also learned more about what junior accountants actually do. Junior accountants will often assist with auditing, but what stood out to me was how strongly the employees talked about the people and culture at KPMG. Many had stayed for years because of relationships they had built, the people they worked with and the opportunities they had been given.

Looking back, the biggest thing I took away from the evening was that opportunities like this are about much more than simply proving your academic ability. Being given the chance to meet professionals, ask questions and experience a real assessment environment was incredibly valuable.

I am still waiting to hear the outcome of the assessment, but regardless of the result, I am grateful for the opportunity to attend. What started as an evening I was worried would be intimidating, turned into an experience that was genuinely enjoyable and rewarding, and gave me a much clearer idea of what a career in accounting could look like.

~ Sukhjot Kaur 13S4

A group of talented Commerce Club students recently visited Botany Downs Primary School to deliver engaging business and entrepreneurship workshops to Year 6 students. Through interactive presentations and collaborative activities, our students shared their knowledge of business, helped younger learners develop innovative ideas for a Dragons’ Den challenge, and guided them through the process of creating business plans.

The visit received outstanding feedback from the primary school, with staff praising our students for their confidence, professionalism, enthusiasm, and passion for commerce. The experience also provided a wonderful example of tuakana-teina, as senior students mentored and inspired younger learners while building positive connections within our local community.

��DzԲ������ٳܱ����پ��DzԲ����ٴ� Sukhjot Kaur 13S4, Ekam Minhas 13B7, Judy Hong 13E2, Terence Le 12K12, Angela Choi 12B1, Tom Vian 13K12, and Emily Lin 13B7 for representing Ģ����Ƶ College with excellence. We are proud of the positive impact they have made as ambassadors for our school and future leaders in business.

~ Mr Sharma, HOD Commerce

Recently, our team entered the UAIC Equity Research Competition, and we’re really proud to share that we made it through to the finals, consisting of the top five teams in New Zealand! Throughout the competition, we had the opportunity to analyse The Warehouse Group, develop an investment thesis, build a valuation, and ultimately present our SELL recommendation to a panel of judges.

A huge thank you to the University of Auckland Investment Club for giving us this opportunity and creating such a valuable experience for students to apply what we’ve learned in a real-world setting.

A massive thank you to my teammates, Cody Nguyen 12E2 and Bardia Malek 12E2, for all the hard work, late nights, and preparation throughout the competition. I’m really proud of what we were able to accomplish together.

A huge thank you to Annabelle Larsen for all your guidance, feedback, and support throughout the competition. It made a huge difference to our preparation. And a special thank you to Stefan Knight for taking the time to speak with us, answer our questions, and share his insights. Hearing directly from management was incredibly valuable and helped strengthen our understanding of the company.

Making the finals was a great achievement, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped us along the way.

~ Tarek Ghiyath 12D9

Smart Money Talks

Money Week took place from Monday 3 to Friday 7 August, giving students the opportunity to learn more about financial literacy, money management, and making smart financial decisions for the future. This year’s theme, “Smart Money Talks”, focused on encouraging students to have conversations about money and develop practical skills that they can use in everyday life.

The week was organised by the Commerce Club, with a range of activities and guest speakers planned throughout the week.

On Monday, we kicked off Money Week with Andrew De Boyett and Bhagjot Singh from the University of Auckland Business Navigators Programme. Students had the opportunity to hear about business, university pathways, and the importance of developing skills for their future.

On Tuesday, students were introduced to the theme of Money Week through a video and PowerPoint presentation during Whānau Assembly, which provided practical information and ideas on making smarter financial decisions.

Wednesday was all about getting students involved, with Kahoot and money-themed games held during lunchtime. This gave students a fun, interactive way to test their financial knowledge while learning new things along the way.

On Thursday, we announced the winners of our Shark Tank-inspired competition. Students had spent time developing their own business ideas and preparing presentations to pitch their concepts. Congratulations to our winners, and a huge thank you to everyone who took part!

We finished the week on Friday with Andre and Alexis Khoo from the University of Auckland’s SavY Charitable Trust. They spoke to students about financial literacy and encouraged them to think about developing positive money habits for the future.

Overall, Money Week was a great opportunity for students to learn, participate, and have conversations about money in a fun and practical way. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the week, especially our guest speakers, staff, Commerce Club members, and students who got involved.

Let’s make smart money talk!

~ Sukhjot Kaur 13S4, Commerce Club Leader

Botany Bouncers

On Monday 10 August, our Botany Bouncers Basketball Team played a fast-paced, exciting game against Mt Richmond School. The skills and sportsmanship shown by the team was outstanding and we were very proud of each one of them.  A huge thank you to our supporters who cheered us on!

Matthew Chen 10E2, Jayden Esterhuizen 10B7, Kauthar Khalfey 13E2, Sedali Mahone 9K12, Macrae Ngan 10E2, Luandre Schoeler 9S4, Rudolph Schoeler 10E2, Izac Williams 9K12. 

~ Mrs D White & Mrs R Saunders, Learning Assistants

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I joined the Botany Bouncers this year and our team is very good! We have training every Thursday during lunchtime. I get to spend time with my teammates and have fun. I enjoy playing, especially when we play against other schools.

~ Matthew Chen 10E2

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I had fun playing basketball today and I hope Mt Richmond will visit our school again soon for another game.

~ Rudolph Schoeler 10E2

On 22 August, students from BDSC were recognised at the Youth Project NZ Volunteering Awards Night, which celebrates young people making a difference through volunteering and service in their communities.

Rainie Tang 13B1 received the Inspirational Award, a new award created by the judges after they were particularly moved by her nomination. Rainie was originally nominated for the Intergenerational Award by a 10-year-old student she met while leading BDSC students in an outreach programme back in May at the student’s primary school. During the leadership workshop, Rainie made a lasting impression on her. The student was particularly enthusiastic about the nomination, emailing more than five times afterwards to add further details and memories about her interaction with Rainie. The nomination described the impact Rainie had made and how she had inspired the student to become a better leader. The judges felt the nomination demonstrated an impact beyond the existing award categories and created the Inspirational Award to recognise this. See the attached nomination for the student’s own words.

Mayin Lal 12J5 received the Environmental Award. Since 2021, Mayin has been an active volunteer throughout Howick Ward with his lucid journey beginning with running water testing for four local streams as part of Science Fair. This experience with water testing soon became what he specialises in and throughout the following five years, he has run countless testing days for members of the community, school and to collect data for Auckland Council. Beyond stream analysis, he also leads volunteer days with local organisations since 2023.

These have included nature walks, tree plantings and rubbish pickups throughout Howick, Otara and recently Mangere. Mayin also runs a rat trap line in his local reserve while running water testing for Kilkenny Stream for Auckland Council. This, alongside dozens of other events, allowed him to be nominated for and win the Environmental Award by a member of the community he volunteers with and a friend. Whilst volunteering with te taiao is as important to him as his education, anyone from Howick can easily begin volunteering as well and find their own patch of NZ flora and fauna which they also treasure.

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When I first read about the opportunity to volunteer in Fiji through Projects Abroad, I was excited, but also incredibly nervous. It was my first time travelling internationally without my family, and I had no idea what to expect. Looking back now, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and an experience that has changed me in ways I never expected.

During my week in Natalau Village, Sabeto, Nadi.  I volunteered at the local kindergarten, where I helped teach the children the alphabet and different colours. I also assisted with maintenance work at the village church, allowing me to contribute to the community in different ways. Outside of volunteering, I had the opportunity to visit the mud pools and hot springs, as well as the beautiful Garden of the Sleeping Giant, which gave me a chance to experience Fiji’s incredible natural beauty.

One of the most memorable parts of the trip was staying with my host family. Every evening we would sit together on the floor and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals while sharing stories about our cultures. Although we sometimes had cold showers and even experienced periods without running water, those moments taught me to appreciate a different way of life and became some of my favourite memories. The kindness and hospitality shown by everyone in the village made me feel at home from the moment I arrived, and I still keep in touch with my host family today.

Another unexpected highlight was meeting another volunteer from the United Kingdom. We became such close friends during the week that we’re still in contact, and she even planned to visit New Zealand before returning home. She stayed with us for four days before continuing on to tour around the rest of New Zealand. It’s amazing to think that one opportunity created friendships with people from across the world.

This experience taught me so much about independence, confidence, and embracing new cultures. It pushed me well outside my comfort zone and gave me memories that I know I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.

~ Saanvi Bharany 13E2

I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Shadow a Leader programme at Microsoft New Zealand, where I spent the day with Dom Pringle (AI Workforce Leader) learning about leadership, innovation, and workplace culture.

Throughout the day, I gained valuable insight into how Microsoft supports organisations through technology and collaboration. One of the highlights was learning about Microsoft’s growth mindset and seeing how strong leadership encourages teamwork, adaptability, and continuous learning. I also had the chance to ask questions and gain advice about future pathways and the skills needed in today’s workplace.

The experience broadened my understanding of the many opportunities available in the business world and gave me a greater appreciation for the importance of leadership and innovation. I am incredibly grateful to Microsoft, Dom Pringle, and everyone involved in the Shadow a Leader programme for making the day so welcoming and inspiring also to Mr Sharma (HOD Commerce) for giving this valuable opportunity to students.

~ Saanvi Bharany 13E2

From Monday 13 to Wednesday 16 July, I had the privilege of participating in the ‘Girls Who Own’ programme initiated by Foodstuffs North Island, as one of 30 girls selected from across New Zealand.

This amazing opportunity provided invaluable insight into supermarket ownership, supply chain operations, and the many career pathways within the retail industry. Through store tours, distribution centre visits, hands-on supermarket designing workshops, and one-on-one mentoring with owner-operators and industry leaders, the programme deepened my understanding of the different facets of the Foodstuffs cooperative, while challenging me to strengthen my interpersonal skills and reflect on my long-term goals. Motivational sessions from guest speakers, including Sacha Coburn (COO of Coffee Culture NZ), encouraged us to think confidently about our future aspirations, leadership potential, and personal growth.

A particular highlight of the programme was touring New World Te Atatū before its opening to the public. Gaining firsthand exposure to the behind-the-scenes planning, merchandising, and even contributing to the preparations in progress revealed the practical realities of bringing a retail business to life.

Every conversation, workshop, and site visit offered a different perspective on what it takes to build and lead a successful business I’m incredibly grateful for the knowledge, encouragement, and connections I gained throughout the programme, and I look forward to applying these lessons as I continue working towards my own goals.

~ Ekam Minhas 13B7