Education and Schools in New Zealand
In most circumstances, your children will attend the school they are zoned for. If you choose to live outside the zone of your preferred school, your children will probably not get places. Any spare places at popular schools (those with good reputations) are allocated by ballot. School rules are set by the Board of Governers. The Board is elected by parents.
School rules usually mean that school-uniform is compulsory at secondary school. In addition to wearing the uniform, pupils/students must not wear make-up, jewellery, unusual hair colourings, nose-piercings, etc, etc. Exceptions to zoning may include attendance at a school with a special character – such as a religious school. In addition to the state sector, there is also a flourishing private education sector.
Children who attend state schools in New Zealand generally receive a very good education. Most children start Year 1 on their fifth birthday.
>> Primary schools teach Year 1 to Year 6 children.
>> Intermediate schools teach Years 7 and 8.
>> “Full Primaries” teach Year 1 to Year 8 children.
>> Secondary schools teach Year 9 to Year 13.
Education / School Costs in New Zealand
State education in New Zealand is free of charge. You will, however need to pay for your childrens’ school uniforms, pencils, pens, glue-sticks, stationary etc. Text-books are provided free of charge, unless their use involves writing on them and they will not be returned to the school.
Most state schools charge a fee of somewhere around $100 – $300 per year per child, although some charge considerably more than this. Some state high schools charge an annual fee of between $400 and $900. If more than one child attends the same school then it is usual to get a reduction in fees. Although payment of the fee is voluntary, called a donation, most parents pay. The donation pays for extra resources for your children’s school, photocopying, etc. and it is tax-deductible.
High School Donation Amounts
| Auckland Grammar School | $900 |
| Westlake Boys School | $475 |
| Christchurch Boys School | $575 |
| Epsom Girls Grammar | $595 |
School Starting and Finishing Times and Holidays
School days are Monday to Friday. Primary schools usually start at 9 am, or a little earlier, and finish at 3pm. Secondary schools usually start at 8.30am and finish at 3pm or 3.15pm.
The school year runs from February to December and has four terms. Each term is roughly ten weeks long. Summer holidays last about five and a half weeks at primary schools and about a week longer at secondary schools. The autumn, winter and spring holidays each last two weeks.
Primary and Intermediate School Holidays 2012
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Term 1
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7 February* – 5 April
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Term 2
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23 April – 29 June
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Term 3
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16 July – 28 September
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Term 4
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15 October – 20 December*
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High School Holidays 2012
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Term 1
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7 February* – 5 April
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Term 2
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23 April – 29 June
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Term 3
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16 July – 28 September
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Term 4
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15 October – 14 December
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Primary and Intermediate School Holidays 2013
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Term 1
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7 February* – 19 April
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Term 2
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6 May – 12 July
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Term 3
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29 July – 27 September
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Term 4
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14 October – 20 December*
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High School Holidays 2013
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Term 1
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7 February* – 19 April
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Term 2
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6 May – 12 July
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Term 3
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29 July – 27 September
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Term 4
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14 October – 18 December
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* Latest date allowed. Schools may start term 1 from 30 January in the 2012 school year or from 28 January in the 2013 school year.