A strong work ethic has been a trademark of the Faull family for more than a century. When Oliver Faull's '93 great-grandfather was just seven years old, he arrived by sailing ship in New Plymouth in 1841 and after serving in the militia during the Taranaki Land Wars, received 100 acres of land near Waitara in 1867. Breaking in the land took many years of hard work.

Today, the farm is still in family ownership with Oliver and his father Gavin managing the Trewithen Farm while also leading a global hotel chain, Swiss-Belhotel.

Swiss-Belhotel is very much a family run business, with Oliver working alongside his brothers Matthew '90 and Edward '97. Oliver is currently the Executive Director assisting with the overall strategic management of the hotel chain. Matthew's specialty is with IT so he manages all the technology and ecommerce distribution systems, while Edward, an engineer, handles all the hotel pre-opening works.

As well as working with his brothers, Oliver has worked closely with the Manson's, another family of Grammar Old Boys. Swiss-Belsuites Victoria Park has recently opened and sits above the original Victoria Street carpark. Construction work was completed by Mansons TCLM, an Auckland-based company led by Old Boy directors Culum '88, Luke '93 and Mac Manson '95.

"There's something about having a shared Grammar experience and set of values which helped us work together on this project," said Oliver. That and probably the knowledge that "you have to work hard to succeed, the more you put in, the more you get out." It is this piece of advice he wishes to pass on to current students - "nothing can substitute hard work."

Editor's note: Keeping with the family theme, Oliver's uncle Mr Allan Faull is a former Grammar teacher, who taught from 1975-2014.


Oliver Faull '93 with his brother Edward '97 (left), father Gavin and brother Matthew '90.