Waihi School
611 Temuka-Orari Highway, Temuka · Canterbury
Composite score
Established
Below median
Rank #1,356 of scored NZ schools
In summary
Waihi School's March 2025 ERO special review identified two areas not meeting registration criteria: unsupervised Year 8 swimming at a local river and inadequate supervision during high-risk machinery operation. The school met all other registration criteria. Strengths included well-maintained hostel facilities and strong pastoral care practices. Composite score: 27.
Best suited for
Students aged 5-11 in Temuka looking for an independent setting with an established ERO profile.
Is Waihi School a good school?
Waihi School scores 66/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below median nationally. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
Strengths from the latest ERO report
- Hostel facilities are well-maintained with inclusive and welcoming environment
- Pastoral care prioritized to support student wellbeing in boarding context
- Clear, consistent expectations and procedures understood by hostel students and staff
Summary derived from ERO reports + audited financials + MoE records. Every claim links to its source — see data transparency at the bottom of this page.
Score breakdown
6 axes, each scored 0–100 on a national absolute scale. As at 2025.
no incidents reported · top 10% of band (n=26) · why? ▼ hide
+23.7% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · above band median (n=77) · why? ▼ hide
27/100 from ERO review 2025-03 · bottom 10% of band (n=96) · why? ▼ hide
Real ERO composite (from the latest review): 27/100.
Latest ERO review
2025-03-07 · Sharon Kelly, ERO
- School does not meet registration criteria regarding physical safety - Year 8 students swim unsupervised at local river with insufficient parental risk information
- High-risk machinery operation (push mower, ride-on mower, tractor) used by students with inadequate supervision raises safety concerns
- All other registration criteria are met: suitable premises, staffing, equipment, curriculum, tuition standards, and fit and proper managers
- Since onsite review, school has paused unsafe activities and is seeking external safety consultant advice
- Updated Mowing Squad policy now requires adult supervision at all times and signed declarations from parents and students
"Of concern, is the level of risk involved in allowing Year 8 students to swim unsupervised at a local river. Trips to the river usually occur at the weekends. Parents sign a consent form. ERO is not assured this practice meets the criteria for providing a safe physical environment and are concerned that parents receive insufficient information about the level of risk in this activity."
Composite score across reviews
2 ERO reviews on file, 2019–2025. Click a point to read that review.
Government funding
Crown funding only (school operations + teacher salaries + property). Excludes locally-raised funds, international fees and trading income — those are in the audited financial report above.
Total Crown funding · 2022
$0.10M
Per-student funding · 2022
$794
2018
$0.1M
2019
$0.1M
2020
$0.1M
2021
$0.1M
2022
$0.1M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 04 5
- Year 05 2
- Year 06 22
- Year 07 46
- Year 08 40
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- European/Pākehā 96.7%
- Māori 7.5%
- Asian 0.8%
Location
611 Temuka-Orari Highway, Temuka. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with Waihi School.
Winchester Rural School
Contributing · 1.9km · 130 roll
46
-20 vs this
Opihi College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · 7.5km · 263 roll
42
-24 vs this
St Joseph's School (Temuka)
Full Primary · 7.9km · 121 roll
70
+4 vs this
Temuka Primary School
Contributing · 8.2km · 226 roll
38
-28 vs this
Geraldine Primary School
Contributing · 9.2km · 280 roll
68
+2 vs this
Arowhenua Maori School
Full Primary · 9.2km · 34 roll
69
+3 vs this
Frequently asked
Is Waihi School a good school?
Waihi School scores 66/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below median nationally. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
What does the latest ERO review say?
ERO's 2025-03 review identified 5 key findings. School does not meet registration criteria regarding physical safety - Year 8 students swim unsupervised at local river with insufficient parental risk information
How do I enrol my child at Waihi School?
Contact the school directly on 03-6878014, email admin@waihi.school.nz, or visit www.waihi.school.nz. For state schools, check your home address against the school's enrolment zone — some schools are in-zone-only.
What are the fees?
Waihi School is a private school. Tuition fees are set by the school — contact them directly for current rates.
What is the roll size?
Waihi School has 120 students.
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed Waihi School in 2025-03, signed by Sharon Kelly. 2 ERO reports are on file in our archive.
Data transparency
Every fact on this page links to its source. We never publish a claim without provenance — read our methodology for the full rules.
Sourced from
- ero.govt.nz
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- crimestats.co.nz