Schools in Kawakawa
Northland · New Zealand
There are 5 schools in and around Kawakawa (Northland) — 3 primary, 2 secondary. Maromaku School is the highest-scoring on the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite, which compares every school against its EQI peer group. Each profile is source-linked to Education Counts, ERO and the Ministry of Education.
5 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Browse Kawakawa schools by suburb
1 Kawakawa suburb has their own schools page.
Schools in Kawakawa ranked by value-added score
The SchoolsNearMe composite scores every level against its EQI peer group, so it surfaces schools that get the most out of their students — not just the most advantaged intake. How it's calculated.
- View profile →
94
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory100ERO review84 - View profile →
78
/ 100 composite
Academic—Outcomes—Retention—Wellbeing100Trajectory58ERO review57 - View profile →
58
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory24ERO review43 - View profile →
51
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory100ERO review66 - 5Bay of Islands College
Kawakawa · Secondary (Year 9-15) · 472 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →45
/ 100 composite
Academic60Outcomes16Retention58Wellbeing0Trajectory92ERO review77
What the record says about Kawakawa schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Karetu School
Karetu School is a full primary in Kawakawa, Tai Tokerau, with a roll of 81 students. An August 2024 ERO board assurance review identified five areas of non-compliance: Child Protection policies, Education Outside the Classroom policies, staff vetting procedures, disciplinary procedures, and emergency management policies. The Board has not yet addressed these non-compliance areas, though it has attested to meeting regulatory requirements across other major governance areas.
Full source-linked profile →Kawakawa Primary School
Kawakawa Primary School's 2023 ERO review found that the school culture promotes a sense of belonging and that staff are committed to collaborative teaching and learning both within the school and wider networks. The school's bilingual classes, kapa haka, and tikanga practices enable students to demonstrate their strengths.
Full source-linked profile →Bay of Islands College
Bay of Islands College's ERO review (December 2024) found that most students progress well to achieve expected curriculum levels in reading and mathematics, with consistent NCEA Level 2 and 3 achievement across student groups. Strategic leadership and culturally responsive teaching support these outcomes. However, attendance is below 50% and is a strategic priority. The school is currently under a limited statutory manager intervention from the Ministry of Education.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Kawakawa schools
What schools are in Kawakawa?
Kawakawa has 5 schools on our records (3 primary, 2 secondary): Bay of Islands College, Karetu School, Kawakawa Primary School, Te Kura o Waikare, Maromaku School. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Kawakawa?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Maromaku School ranks highest among Kawakawa schools (94/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, Bay of Islands College leads the local secondary schools. "Best" depends on what you value — compare profiles to weigh academic results, ERO trajectory, retention and wellbeing.
What is the school zone for Kawakawa?
Many New Zealand state schools operate an enrolment zone (home zone), so your home address — not just the suburb — determines which in-zone state schools you can enrol at. Living in Kawakawa does not guarantee a place at any particular school. Check each school's current zone with the school directly or use our by-address tool to see which schools cover a specific Kawakawa address.
Decile or EQI — how are Kawakawa schools rated for socio-economic need?
New Zealand replaced the decile system with the Equity Index (EQI) in 2023. A lower EQI means a more socio-economically advantaged community; a higher EQI means greater need. EQI is a funding tool, not a quality measure — a high-EQI school can outperform a low-EQI one. The SchoolsNearMe composite controls for EQI so a school serving a more disadvantaged community isn't unfairly penalised.
Source data: Education Counts (NCEA, retention, destinations, discipline, funding) · Ministry of Education (roll, EQI, identity) · Education Review Office (reviews).