ABOUT US

WHATAROA SCHOOL in 2022.

Whataroa School is a full primary school, catering for children from Year 0-8, with a current grading roll of 30 and staffing
entitlement of 2.64.

Staffing at Whataroa School:

  • Teaching Principal in the Senior Room Yr7-8

  • one full-time Teacher in the Junior class Y0-2,

  • one part-time teacher in the Middle Room Y3-6, - full time, covered by School Board ( 40%)

  • 3 x part-time aide/administration support and a cleaner.

At present the school has three composite classes, Junior Y0-2, Middle Y3-6 and Senior Y7-8. Teachers have high expectations of their student’s achievement school wide and individual needs are catered for.

A few children live in close proximity to the village, although some children travel by bus from Whataroa Flat Road (11kms), Whataroa /Franz Josef Highway (33kms), as well as TeTaho (11kms).

The school was established in 1879 and has been refurbished as part of the Small & Rural Schools Project (MOE). There are two classrooms, a School/Community Library, resource room, an administration area and a swimming pool.

There is access to our wireless network throughout the school. There is an adventure playground, swings area, covered swimming pool, netball court and large playing field.

The school also makes good use of the Whataroa Community Hall, located next door to the school, for assemblies, annual prize giving and sports activities.

Whataroa Playgroup is located on the school grounds in a free standing building.

Our school networks closely with the four other South Westland schools, with each school hosting sporting or cultural events during the year. This enables us to broaden our student's social base and nurture a positive regional identity.


We have become our own South Westland cluster – SCHOOLS WITH A VIEW - Haast, Fox Glacier, Franz Joseph, Whataroa & South Westland Area School – 5 schools in total.

South Westland Area School is our nearest high school and is situated in Hari Hari approximately 32km from Whataroa.

Our Year 7 & 8 students travel to Hari Hari weekly for Technology, Science and PE classes. A bus conveys the children from Whataroa every Friday.