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Motatau School

Motatau · Northland Region

Full Primary · State · Co-Educational · Rural other

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Motatau School at a glance

Motatau School is a co-educational full primary school in Motatau, within the Northland Region, operating in the state sector, with 63 students on roll, and an Equity Index of 539. The school has been open since 1915.

With 63 students on roll, Motatau School is a small school — larger than about 18% of New Zealand schools. Its rural setting typically means smaller class groups and a close-knit community feel.

The school's Equity Index is 539, which is above the national average of 463. A higher Equity Index signals greater socio-economic need in the school's community — schools in this band receive more targeted government funding and support. The gap of 76 points is substantial enough to matter when comparing schools.

The roll is genuinely diverse: no single ethnic group dominates, with European at 53.8% and Pasifika at 30.8%. Diversity of this kind is common in urban New Zealand schools.

On the isolation index the school scores 1.66 (very high isolation) — this measures how far students travel and how accessible the school is, not how good it is.

Students by ethnicity

European 753.8%
Pasifika 430.8%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 215.4%
European 7 · 53.8%
Pasifika 4 · 30.8%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 2 · 15.4%

Total roll recorded: 63 students. Percentages are calculated from the 2026 roll census and may not sum to exactly 100% because of rounding and students who decline to state an ethnicity.

Roll in context

63Students on rollLarger than 18% of NZ schools · national median 215.5
539Equity IndexAbove national mean of 463
0.98Diversity scoreHigher = more mixed roll (max 1.95)
1.66Isolation indexvery high isolation
344 · lowest need569 · highest need

School facts

  • School typeFull Primary
  • YearsYears 1–8
  • AuthorityState
  • GenderCo-Educational
  • SettingRural other
  • Territorial authorityFar North District
  • Education regionTai Tokerau
  • Regional councilNorthland Region
  • Enrolment schemeNo — no enrolment scheme
  • BoardingDay school only
  • Language of instructionAll students taught in te reo Māori
  • Cohort entryNo — individual entry
  • DonationsDonations should not be requested, unless for a school camp
  • Opened1915
  • Roll date2026 directory export
  • Statistical areaMaromaku
  • WardBay of Islands-Whangaroa General Ward
  • General electorateNorthland
  • Māori electorate—

Te reo Māori programme

60Taught predominantly in te reo Māori100.00% of the roll
0Learning te reo in English mediumLevels 3–5 immersion recorded separately

This school reports 60 students learning te reo Māori across immersion and English-medium programmes, according to the kura language statistics.

Location

Northland Region
Motatau 35.4959° S · 174.0348° E
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Nearby schools

Maromaku SchoolKawakawa · Full Primary 6.4 km Moerewa SchoolMoerewa · Composite (Year 1-10) 11.6 km TKKM o TaumarereMoerewa · Composite 12 km Kawakawa Primary SchoolKawakawa · Full Primary 12.8 km Bay of Islands CollegeKawakawa · Secondary (Year 9-15) 13.5 km Te Horo School (Whangarei)Whangarei · Full Primary 13.9 km

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About this data

School #1053 is drawn from the New Zealand Ministry of Education school directory export dated 1 September 2026, with roll and ethnicity figures recorded at the same snapshot. Equity Index, isolation index, enrolment scheme and boarding fields are as published by the Ministry. Qualification attainment statistics on this site come from Education Counts releases.

Figures are provided for information and comparison only. NewzSchools is an independent directory, is not affiliated with the Ministry of Education, and does not endorse or rank schools. Always confirm enrolment details, zone boundaries and fees directly with the school.

Corrections and updates: contact the directory.

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