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• The education system in New Zealand
• How to enroll in a school
• Early childhood education (ECE)
• Primary & secondary schools
• International schools
• Higher education in New Zealand
• Language schools

The education system in New Zealand

New Zealand offers a high-quality and well-structured education system. However, it may look different from what you are used to, especially in how schools group certain year levels. If you’re moving to New Zealand with children, it is important to understand how the system works and which levels a school covers before you enroll.

Some facts about education in New Zealand

• New Zealand is among the top 20 OECD countries for quality of education.
• New Zealand has eight universities and all of them are among the top 500 in the world.
• Public schools educate over 80% of children and are fully government-funded.
• Every state school has a zone. Families often move to a desired school zone to secure enrolment.

How the education system works

In New Zealand, the school system is divided into three levels:

Early childhood education: From birth to age 5, not compulsory. Many children attend kindergarten or childcare from around age 2–4. The government provides subsidies, making this a popular option before school starts.

Primary and secondary education: Formal schooling is compulsory from age 6 to 16. It usually begins at age 5 and runs until Year 13 (around age 18–19).

• Primary school: Years 1–6 (ages 5–10/11)
• Intermediate school (optional): Years 7–8 (ages 11–12), sometimes included in primary or secondary schools
• Secondary school: Years 9–13 (ages 13–18). Students work toward NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement), the main school qualification

Tertiary education: After secondary school, students may continue to universities, institutes of technology, or wānanga (Māori tertiary institutions). Entry to university usually requires NCEA Level 3, but alternative pathways exist for older students.

School levels and ages

School zones in New Zealand: What is it and how does it work?

State schools in New Zealand are organized into areas. Children from each area are placed in their corresponding local school. This ensures all children have a spot at the school near their residence, and avoids overcrowding. Once all the children in the area have registered with their school, children from other areas may apply if there are spots available. You can visit the   to see which school applies to your area.

When there are more applicants than available spots, the schools must hold a ballot to fill the available places. The results are then published, and families are notified.

Not all schools have zones. Private and state-integrated schools (e.g. Catholic schools) use their own enrolment criteria instead.

Schools hours and terms

School hours are typically between 9:00 and 15:00.

School terms in New Zealand may be different from what you’re used to, especially if you come from the northern hemisphere.

School starts in January, and there are four school terms in a year:

What is the grading system in New Zealand?

From Year 11 onward, students work toward NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement). Every assessment is marked as:

• Excellence (E), a grade of 9.0–10.00
• Merit (M), a grade of 7.0–8.99
• Achieved (A), a grade of 5.0–6.99
• Not Achieved (N), a grade of 0.0–4.99

In universities, there is a letter grade and percentage system, similar to many other countries. For example:

• A+ = 90–100%
• A = 85–89%
• B = 65–84%
• C = 50–64%
• D/E = fail

Types of schools in New Zealand

State schools (the equivalent of “public schools”): The most popular schooling option. They are free for citizens and permanent residents. These are owned and funded entirely by the state and follow the national curriculum.

State integrated schools: These schools are semi-public schools, and most are Catholic. They’re also funded by the state and teach the national curriculum, but their education usually has a special character. It reflects a specific religion or philosophy and may set different objectives.

Private schools: They’re funded through school fees, though some can have government funding as well. Private schools are free to design their own programs and may or may not follow the national curriculum.

Māori-medium schools (Kura Kaupapa Māori): Teaching is mainly in the Māori language and lessons reflect Māori culture and values.

Charter schools: They run independently but with government funding. Over the years, most have been converted into state or integrated schools, so they are now a very limited option.

How to enroll in a school

Once you’ve chosen a school, start by visiting its website. Many schools list enrollment information online, and some even allow you to complete the enrollment form digitally.

You can also contact them directly to discuss their enrollment process. It’s important to confirm the following details:

• Enrollment dates and deadlines
• Required forms and documents
• Enrollment process: whether the school uses cohort entry (where new students start in groups during the year) or allows students to start individually.

What documents are required to enroll in school in New Zealand?

To enroll in school in New Zealand, you’ll generally need:

• Proof of the child’s age and citizenship (birth certificate, passport, ID or residency document)
• Certificate of immunizations
• Information about medical conditions, allergies, medication, etc.
• Emergency contacts
• The name of the child’s doctor and contact information

Early childhood education (ECE)

Daycare, preschool, and kindergarten in New Zealand are all referred to as Early Childhood Education, or ECE. ECE is the education and care provided to children who’ve not yet reached school age. Although preschool or kindergarten is not mandatory, most children in New Zealand attend ECE.

There are two types of preschools in New Zealand: those whose services are led by teachers, and those led by parents. The age your child starts kindergarten will depend on the type of schooling you choose.

Teacher-led ECE services

Teacher-led services are those managed by professionals who are qualified to teach ECE. These include:

Kindergartens: These centers accept children between two and five years of age, and may offer either morning sessions, afternoon sessions, or both.

Education and care services: These accept children from birth to school age. These centers offer all-day sessions or programs with flexible hours.

Home-based services: Either at the educator’s home or the child’s home, these services are reserved for small groups of children.

Te Kura (the correspondence school) : New Zealand’s state-distance education service. For early childhood (ages 2–6), Te Kura supports families whose children can’t attend a local ECE service or kōhanga reo, often because of distance or health reasons. Parents and �ɳ���Բ��� work with qualified teachers, and Te Kura provides books, puzzles, games, and learning materials to use at home.

Immersion and bilingual centers: These are early childhood centers where children learn in a language other than English, such as Te Reo Māori or Pacific languages. In an immersion setting, almost all teaching is in that language, while bilingual centers use a mix of English and the heritage language. They support both language learning and cultural identity.

Parent-led ECE services

Parent-led services, on the other hand, are childcare services organized by parents, families, and other community members. These include:

Playcenters: These are cooperatively run by parents and managed by Playcentre Aotearoa. Regional play centers cater to children from birth to school age.

Playgrounds: These are also community-based groups of parents that offer sessions of up to four hours. At least half of the children present need to have a parent with them. Certified playgrounds can receive government funding.

Other culture-specific groups: These could be playgrounds, such as Kōhanga Reo which encourages Māori culture, Tikanga, or foreign cultures.

How much does childcare cost in New Zealand?

Daycare costs can be expensive in New Zealand.

Each childcare service charges its own prices, but in general, kindergarten usually charge 3–15 NZD (1.50–7.50 USD) an hour and home-based services between 8 and 15 NZD (4–7.50 USD) an hour. Note that these prices could be higher for larger cities and lower for more rural areas.

Once your child is three years old, they can start receiving subsidized early education. Your child is entitled to 20 hours a week of ECE education at a recognized facility.

Families on lower incomes may also qualify for the WINZ Childcare Subsidy, which reduces fees depending on income and hours of care. In addition, the government offers Family Boost, a quarterly payment that refunds up to 40% of childcare costs (capped at NZD 120 per week) for households earning under a set income threshold.

Primary & secondary schools

Primary and secondary schooling in New Zealand may be confusing, as some types of school years overlap depending on the school.

The most common option is to attend primary school from Year 1 to 8, and secondary school starting in Year 9 until Year 13. Alternatively, your child may attend an Area or Composite School — these are schools that combine several levels of education and may teach from Year 1 all the way to Year 13.

Other types of schools exist, such as intermediate schools, which usually cover Years 7 and 8 and act as a bridge between primary and secondary education. These schools follow the national curriculum but may place a stronger focus on preparing students for secondary school. You can read more about all types of primary and secondary schools on 

Primary school in New Zealand

Primary (elementary) school in New Zealand usually begins at age 5, though it only becomes compulsory at age 6.

Primary schooling covers Years 1–6 (ages 5–10/11), or up to Year 8 (ages 5–12) in full primary schools. After primary school, children either attend an intermediate school for Years 7–8 or move directly into secondary education. Aside from state schools, families can also choose state-integrated schools, private schools, homeschooling, or Māori-medium education.

How much does primary school cost?

State schools are managed and funded by the government — tuition is free at state schools for NZ citizens and permanent residents. Children of expats on temporary visas usually need a student visa and may be charged international tuition fees, unless their visa conditions allow them to be treated as domestic students.

State-integrated schools charge a compulsory fee called “Attendance dues”. This fee is for costs of the property, which usually is not owned by the state, but rather by a private proprietor. These tend to cost around 1,500 NZD (870 USD) a year.

Private schools can set their own prices that are changed for each school year. The price of private primary schooling in New Zealand can range from 10,000 to 30,000 NZD (5,800 to 17,400 USD)

Secondary school in New Zealand

Secondary schooling (high school) is typically from Year 9 to Year 13 and corresponds to the ages of 13 and 17 or 18. From the age of 16, schooling becomes optional.

Students work toward the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), New Zealand’s main secondary school qualification, which is offered at three levels: Level 1 (Year 11), Level 2 (Year 12), and Level 3 (Year 13).

After this, they can transition to further education, vocational training, or a career. For secondary schools, you may also opt for state schools, state-integrated schools, and private schools.

How much does secondary school cost?

State schools are free for NZ citizens and permanent residents. Children who are considered as international student pay around 15,000 NZD (approx. 8,700 USD) annually.

State-integrated schools cost around 1,500 NZD (approx. 870 USD) a year. Fees for private secondary schools start at around 25,000 NZD (approx. 14,500 USD).

Best primary and secondary schools in New Zealand

A ranking of the best schools based on outcomes for students shows that the top schools in New Zealand are:

• ACG Parnell College in Auckland
• St Cuthbert’s College (Epsom) in Auckland
• Kirstin School in Auckland
• Pinehurst School in Auckland
• Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland
• Samuel Marsden Collegiate in Wellington

You can search  for more information on schools, such as their locations, contact details, as well as other topics related to education.

International schools

You’ll find no shortage of schools for international students in New Zealand. However, the term “international schools” is rarely used in the country. This is because the schools authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Diplomas are spread across both the private and state sectors.

Below is a list of some of the best international schools in New Zealand:

• St Cuthbert’s College (Auckland)
• ACG Parnell College (Auckland)
• Scots College (Wellington)
• Shirley Boys’ High School (Christchurch)
• Diocesan School for Girls (Auckland)
• Auckland French International School (Auckland)

There are also some schools that offer bilingual education such as Richmond Road School, Ridgway School, Birkdale North School, and Kowhai Intermediate School.

Higher education in New Zealand

Higher or tertiary education in New Zealand includes:

• Private Training Establishments (PTEs)
• Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs)
• Wananga, which use Māori ways of teaching and learning
• Universities
• Workplace training and apprenticeships

Universities for international students in New Zealand

New Zealand has eight universities, all of which are ranked in the top 500 QS World University Ranking. These are:

• University of Auckland (Auckland)
• Auckland University of Technology (Auckland)
• University of Canterbury (Christchurch)
• Victoria University of Wellington (Wellington)
• Lincoln University (Christchurch)
• University of Waikato (Hamilton)
• Massey University (Palmerston North, Auckland, Wellington)
• University of Otago (Dunedin)

What are the tuition fees for international students in New Zealand?

International students wishing to go to university in New Zealand will pay higher fees than domestic students. While “domestic student” mainly refers to New Zealand citizens and residents, the definition can also include certain other groups, such as some children of work visa holders.

University tuition fees for bachelor’s degrees range from 8,000 to 55,000 NZD (approx. 4,600 to 32,300 USD) for international students. The highest fees are usually for degrees in medicine and veterinary.

Postgraduate degrees for international students range from 19,000 to 45,000 NZD (approx. 11,150 to 26,400 USD). A doctorate degree (PhD) cost the same for international and domestic students, which is around 6,500 to 9,000 NZD (3,800–3,500 USD).

See a for every course in the country, for each university.

Language schools

If you or a family member need to improve your English language skills while in New Zealand, there are many options.

But keep in mind that some visas require you to have an appropriate English level, so if your main goal is to learn English, be prepared to learn before applying for a visa.

Learning the Māori language

If you’re interested in learning Te Reo Māori, options are increasingly available. Unitec and other universities offer beginner courses, and some high schools provide community evening classes. Wānanga (Māori tertiary institutions) also run immersion and language programs, and there are growing numbers of online resources for learners. In addition, private courses and tutors are available, both in person and online, for those who prefer more flexible or intensive study.

Language school fees

When enrolling in a language school in New Zealand, you can expect to pay an enrolment or administration fee, usually around 150–250 NZD (approx. 88–145 USD).

Language schools tend to charge a weekly tuition, which is typically between 300 and 500 NZD (175 and 295 USD), depending on the school, city, and course type. If you want to sit an official English exam, such as IELTS or Cambridge English, the fee usually ranges from 270 to 500 NZD (155 to 295 USD).