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Tauranga Special School

Tauranga · Bay of Plenty Region

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Figures on this page come from the New Zealand Ministry of Education school directory export dated 1 September 2026, with roll and ethnicity recorded at the same snapshot. Always confirm enrolment, zoning and fees directly with the school. About this directory

At a glance

About Tauranga Special School

Tauranga Special School is a co-educational specialist school school in Tauranga, within the Bay of Plenty Region, operating in the state sector, with 134 students on roll, and an Equity Index of 499. The school has been open since 1963.

With 134 students on roll, Tauranga Special School is a medium-sized school — larger than about 34% of New Zealand schools.

The school's Equity Index is 499, which is close to the national average of 463. That means the roll faces a broadly typical level of socio-economic challenge compared with schools across Aotearoa.

The largest group is European at 60.2%, with a meaningful Asian community at 21.5% — a mixed but clearly led roll.

On the isolation index the school scores 0.12 (low isolation) — this measures how far students travel and how accessible the school is, not how good it is.

Students by ethnicity

European 56 · 60.2%
Pasifika 15 · 16.1%
Asian 20 · 21.5%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 2 · 2.2%

Total roll recorded: 134 students, from the 2026 roll census. Percentages may not sum to exactly 100% because of rounding and students who decline to state an ethnicity.

Roll in context

134Students on rollLarger than 34% of NZ schools · national median 215.5
499Equity IndexAbove national mean of 463
1.01Diversity scoreHigher = more mixed roll (max 1.95)
0.12Isolation indexlow isolation
344 · lowest need569 · highest need

Pacific language programme

0Pacific medium (levels 1–2)lea faka Tonga | Tonga
1Pacific language in English mediumLevels 3–4

Nearby schools

Tauranga IntermediateTauranga · Intermediate 0.1 km Gate Pa SchoolTauranga · Contributing 0.9 km Tauranga Girls' CollegeTauranga · Secondary (Year 9-15) 0.9 km Tauranga Boys' CollegeTauranga · Secondary (Year 9-15) 1 km St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga)Tauranga · Contributing 1.1 km Merivale SchoolTauranga · Contributing 1.4 km

School information

  • School typeSpecialist School
  • Special characterDay Specialist
  • YearsSpecialist — all years
  • AuthorityState
  • GenderCo-Educational
  • SettingMajor urban area
  • Territorial authorityTauranga City
  • Education regionBay of Plenty, Waiariki
  • Regional councilBay of Plenty Region
  • Enrolment schemeNo — no enrolment scheme
  • BoardingDay school only
  • Language of instructionSome students taught in a Pacific language
  • Cohort entryNo — individual entry
  • DonationsDonations should not be requested, unless for a school camp
  • Opened1963
More in Bay of Plenty Region

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ACG Tauranga

Tauranga, Bay of Plenty Region

CompositePrivate