NewzSchools New Zealand School Directory
Browse all schools

hello@newzschools.nz
NewzSchools · Aotearoa New Zealand

The Catlins Area School

Owaka · Otago Region

Composite · State · Co-Educational · Rural settlement

School website Get directions

The Catlins Area School at a glance

The Catlins Area School is a co-educational composite school in Owaka, within the Otago Region, operating in the state sector, with 127 students on roll, and an Equity Index of 470. The school has been open since 1858.

With 127 students on roll, The Catlins Area School is a medium-sized school — larger than about 32% of New Zealand schools. Its rural setting typically means smaller class groups and a close-knit community feel.

The school's Equity Index is 470, 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.

87% of students identify as European, so the school has a strongly homogeneous roll. Students of Pasifika descent make up 8.9%.

On the isolation index the school scores 2.03 (very high isolation) — this measures how far students travel and how accessible the school is, not how good it is.

Students by ethnicity

European 10787.0%
Pasifika 118.9%
Asian 54.1%
European 107 · 87.0%
Pasifika 11 · 8.9%
Asian 5 · 4.1%

Total roll recorded: 127 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

127Students on rollLarger than 32% of NZ schools · national median 215.5
470Equity IndexAbove national mean of 463
0.47Diversity scoreHigher = more mixed roll (max 1.95)
2.03Isolation indexvery high isolation
344 · lowest need569 · highest need

School facts

  • School typeComposite
  • YearsComposite — wide year range
  • AuthorityState
  • GenderCo-Educational
  • SettingRural settlement
  • Territorial authorityClutha District
  • Education regionOtago, Southland
  • Regional councilOtago 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
  • Opened1858
  • Roll date2026 directory export
  • Statistical areaCatlins
  • WardCatlins Ward
  • General electorateSouthland
  • Māori electorate—

Location

Otago Region
Owaka 46.4531° S · 169.6614° E
Open in Maps

Nearby schools

Romahapa SchoolBalclutha · Full Primary 12.5 km Warepa SchoolBalclutha · Full Primary 20.6 km Rosebank School (Balclutha)Balclutha · Full Primary 23.5 km South Otago High SchoolBalclutha · Secondary (Year 9-15) 23.6 km Kaitangata SchoolKaitangata · Full Primary 24.2 km St Joseph's School (Balclutha)Balclutha · Full Primary 24.3 km

Similar schools

About this data

School #394 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.

More in Otago Region

Other schools in the region.

All Otago Region schools
Compare schools

See how other schools stack up.

Filter 2,578 schools by region, type, roll size, Equity Index, boarding and enrolment scheme.

Open the directory NCEA results
Data as at
1 September 2026
Schools listed
2,578
Regions
18