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Tararua College

Pahiatua · Manawatū-Whanganui Region

Secondary (Year 9-15) · State · Co-Educational · Small urban area

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Tararua College at a glance

Tararua College is a co-educational secondary (year 9-15) school in Pahiatua, within the Manawatū-Whanganui Region, operating in the state sector, with 379 students on roll, and an Equity Index of 510. The school has been open since 1960.

With 379 students on roll, Tararua College is a large school — larger than about 71% of New Zealand schools.

The school's Equity Index is 510, 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 47 points is substantial enough to matter when comparing schools.

87.8% of students identify as European, so the school has a strongly homogeneous roll. Students of Pasifika descent make up 5.7%.

On the isolation index the school scores 0.71 (moderate isolation) — this measures how far students travel and how accessible the school is, not how good it is.

Students by ethnicity

European 32487.8%
Pasifika 215.7%
Asian 184.9%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 51.4%
Other 10.3%
European 324 · 87.8%
Pasifika 21 · 5.7%
Asian 18 · 4.9%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 5 · 1.4%
Other 1 · 0.3%

Total roll recorded: 379 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

379Students on rollLarger than 71% of NZ schools · national median 215.5
510Equity IndexAbove national mean of 463
0.5Diversity scoreHigher = more mixed roll (max 1.95)
0.71Isolation indexmoderate isolation
344 · lowest need569 · highest need

School facts

  • School typeSecondary (Year 9-15)
  • YearsYears 9–15
  • AuthorityState
  • GenderCo-Educational
  • SettingSmall urban area
  • Territorial authorityTararua District
  • Education regionWellington
  • Regional councilManawatū-Whanganui Region
  • Enrolment schemeNo — no enrolment scheme
  • BoardingDay school only
  • Language of instructionAll students taught in English/other setting
  • Cohort entryNo — individual entry
  • DonationsDonations should not be requested, unless for a school camp
  • Opened1960
  • Roll date2026 directory export
  • Statistical areaPahiatua
  • WardSouth Tararua General Ward
  • General electorateWairarapa
  • Māori electorate—

Location

Manawatū-Whanganui Region
Pahiatua 40.4560° S · 175.8348° E
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Nearby schools

Pahiatua SchoolPahiatua · Full Primary 0.6 km St Anthony's School (Pahiatua)Pahiatua · Full Primary 0.9 km Mangatainoka SchoolMangatainoka · Full Primary 4.9 km Ballance SchoolPahiatua · Full Primary 6.7 km Woodville SchoolWoodville · Full Primary 13.5 km Makuri SchoolMakuri · Full Primary 17.4 km

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About this data

School #235 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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