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Te Waitai Sefton School

Sefton · Canterbury Region

Full Primary · State · Co-Educational · Rural settlement · Enrolment scheme

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Te Waitai Sefton School at a glance

Te Waitai Sefton School is a co-educational full primary school in Sefton, within the Canterbury Region, operating in the state sector, with 131 students on roll, and an Equity Index of 434. The school has been open since 1884.

With 131 students on roll, Te Waitai Sefton School is a medium-sized school — larger than about 33% of New Zealand schools. Its rural setting typically means smaller class groups and a close-knit community feel.

The school's Equity Index is 434, which is below the national average of 463. A lower Equity Index signals less socio-economic need in the school's community than the national norm.

96.7% of students identify as European, so the school has a strongly homogeneous roll. Students of Asian descent make up 2.4%.

On the isolation index the school scores 0.61 (moderate isolation) — this measures how far students travel and how accessible the school is, not how good it is.

Students by ethnicity

European 11996.7%
Pasifika 10.8%
Asian 32.4%
European 119 · 96.7%
Pasifika 1 · 0.8%
Asian 3 · 2.4%

Total roll recorded: 131 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

131Students on rollLarger than 33% of NZ schools · national median 215.5
434Equity IndexBelow national mean of 463
0.16Diversity scoreHigher = more mixed roll (max 1.95)
0.61Isolation indexmoderate isolation
344 · lowest need569 · highest need

School facts

  • School typeFull Primary
  • YearsYears 1–8
  • AuthorityState
  • GenderCo-Educational
  • SettingRural settlement
  • Territorial authorityWaimakariri District
  • Education regionCanterbury, Chatham Islands
  • Regional councilCanterbury Region
  • Enrolment schemeYes — has an in-zone entitlement
  • 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
  • Opened1884
  • Roll date2026 directory export
  • Statistical areaAshley-Sefton
  • WardKaiapoi-Woodend Ward
  • General electorateKaikōura
  • Māori electorate—

Location

Canterbury Region
Sefton 43.2467° S · 172.6729° E
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Nearby schools

Ashley Rakahuri SchoolRangiora · Full Primary 6.9 km Leithfield School Te Kura o KōwaiAmberley · Full Primary 7.7 km Pegasus Bay SchoolPegasus · Full Primary 7.7 km Rangiora High SchoolRangiora · Secondary (Year 9-15) 8.3 km Woodend SchoolWoodend · Full Primary 8.7 km St Joseph's School (Rangiora)Rangiora · Full Primary 9.2 km

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About this data

School #3501 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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