We were excited to welcome Tony Falkenstein, the founder and CEO of Just Water, who spoke with our Waitākere College Business students about his journey, insights, and practical business advice.

Tony’s kōrero offered a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the highs and lows of a life in enterprise. It was particularly special for our inaugural School of Business class to hear from the very person who helped get Business Studies onto the national curriculum in the first place. For Tony, this was a full-circle moment; for our students, it was a glimpse into what’s possible when you lead with purpose.

Beyond his accolades—like his induction into the NZ Business Hall of Fame and his ONZM—Tony kept it practical. His message was simple: business thrives on trust, fair play, and (as his book famously says) "never hiring a person who walks slowly!"

This kōrero was the first of many guest speaker sessions for our Business Studies students. Every Wednesday afternoon, our Year 13s will step out of their textbooks and into the boardrooms, meeting entrepreneurs who have built New Zealand’s economy from the ground up.