Schools in Lower Moutere
Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast · New Zealand
There are 2 schools in and around Lower Moutere (Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast) — 2 primary. Lower Moutere 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.
2 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Schools in Lower Moutere 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 →
80
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory47ERO review83 - View profile →
72
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing85Trajectory47ERO review75
What the record says about Lower Moutere schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Lower Moutere School
Lower Moutere School's most recent ERO review (December 2024) found that most learners make sustained progress and achieve at or above curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics. The review identified strong leadership, positive relationships, and improved formative assessment practices as key strengths, with accelerated progress evident for target groups of learners. The school has a composite score of 83.
Full source-linked profile →Motueka Steiner School
Motueka Steiner School's board attested to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements across all six domains in its March 2024 board assurance review. Board administration and curriculum requirements were confirmed. The school is currently operating under limited statutory manager intervention from the Ministry of Education.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Lower Moutere schools
What schools are in Lower Moutere?
Lower Moutere has 2 schools on our records (2 primary): Motueka Steiner School, Lower Moutere School. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Lower Moutere?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Lower Moutere School ranks highest among Lower Moutere schools (80/100). "Best" depends on what you value — compare profiles to weigh academic results, ERO trajectory, retention and wellbeing.
What is the school zone for Lower Moutere?
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 Lower Moutere 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 Lower Moutere address.
Decile or EQI — how are Lower Moutere 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).