Triplets all named high school prefects

Identical triplets have fulfilled a dream they have shared since starting at Westlake Boys’ High School in Forrest Hill.

The Tu’inukafe siblings make up almost 7 per cent of their school’s 44-man leadership team and say it’s an honour to be included.

Cale says the triplets have always wanted to be prefects.

Jackson, who’s the youngest, says the trio found out they had been selected as prefects at the same time when the deputy headmaster called.

‘‘Cale picked up the phone but he wanted to speak to all three of us,’’ Jackson says.

‘‘It was a three-in-one phone call.

‘‘We want to focus on encouraging the younger students to get involved with the school,’’ he says.

Max says their focus, as members of the school’s leadership team will be on trying to make a positive contribution to the school.

‘‘It’s an honour to be chosen as prefects. It’s a service to the school,’’ Max says.

Cale, Max and Jackson have a lot in common. The brothers share the same sporting interests, from rugby with the second XV North Harbour team, to sevens to basketball.

The brothers, who are half Tongan, are also all involved in school programme Taro Patch, a programme for Pasifika students to meet to share breakfast, studies and to talk.

Jackson says it is an opportunity for some of the younger students to get to know older students and get advice from them in difficult situations as well as study.

The brothers also have the same friend group and enjoy hanging out with each other.

‘‘We all like going to the beach and we mainly hang out together. If we weren’t triplets, we’d still all be friends,’’ Cale says.

‘‘It’s just a bit annoying when we get mixed up, on the other hand the positives outweigh the negatives,’’ he says.

Jackson says they will always have friends in each other though they do have a friendly rivalry, particularly when it comes to choosing which rugby team to support.

The trio don’t share a lot of the same classes and have different academic interests.

Cale is hoping to pursue arts, while Jackson is interested in social studies, and Max is looking at business.

From left, Max, Jackson and Cale Tu’inukafe are triplets who are all prefects at Westlake Boys’ High School.