Schools in South Taranaki District, Taranaki (2026)
30 schools · 4,145 students · 25 state, 5 state integrated · median Equity Index (EQI) 499.
South Taranaki District, in Taranaki, has 30 schools in New Zealand's 2026 data, together educating about 4,145 students. By level there are 16 full primary, 9 contributing, 3 composite, 1 secondary (year 9-15), 1 secondary (year 7-15); by sector 25 state, 5 state integrated.
The median Equity Index (EQI) across South Taranaki District's schools is 499, above the Taranaki median of 473. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
19 of the 30 schools qualify for the Success Index (NZ). The highest-scoring is St Joseph's School (Opunake) (56.7, top 50% of full primary schools nationally), followed by St Joseph's School (Hawera) (54.8, top 50% of full primary schools nationally), and Turuturu School (48.8, lower 50% of contributing schools nationally). Scores are percentiles within school type, so compare a primary school with other primary schools.
The largest schools are Te Paepae o Aotea (863 students), Opunake High School (315 students), Turuturu School (284 students).
Schools are spread across 12 suburbs or towns, with the most in Hāwera (10), Opunake (4), Patea (4), Kaponga (2).
Ranked schools in South Taranaki District
Ordered by Success Index (NZ). Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Taranaki.
- 157St Joseph's School (Opunake)Opunake · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 441 · 124 students
- 255St Joseph's School (Hawera)Hāwera · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 439 · 209 students
- 349Turuturu SchoolHāwera · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 466 · 284 students
- 446Matapu SchoolHāwera · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 467 · 146 students
- 546Tawhiti SchoolHāwera · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 473 · 278 students
- 644Kakaramea SchoolPatea · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 457 · 64 students
- 742Opunake High SchoolOpunake · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 503 · 315 students
- 840Waverley Primary SchoolWaverley · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 487 · 168 students
- 939Auroa SchoolHāwera · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 473 · 167 students
- 1038Te Paepae o AoteaHāwera · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 509 · 863 students
- 1129Opunake SchoolOpunake · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 499 · 156 students
- 1228Te Kura o Nga Ruahine RangiMangatoki · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 531 · 64 students
- 1328Normanby SchoolNormanby · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 503 · 142 students
- 1427Rahotu SchoolRahotu · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 503 · 122 students
- 1525Patea Area SchoolPatea · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 541 · 184 students
- 1624TKKM o Ngati RuanuiHāwera · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 531 · 150 students
- 1723Hāwera Primary SchoolHāwera · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 521 · 165 students
- 1822Eltham SchoolEltham · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 521 · 131 students
- 1914Ramanui SchoolHāwera · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 556 · 62 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Joseph's School (Opunake) Opunake · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 56.7 Top 50% | 441 | 124 |
| 2 | St Joseph's School (Hawera) Hāwera · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 54.8 Top 50% | 439 | 209 |
| 3 | Turuturu School Hāwera · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 48.8 Lower 50% | 466 | 284 |
| 4 | Matapu School Hāwera · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 46.1 Lower 50% | 467 | 146 |
| 5 | Tawhiti School Hāwera · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 45.9 Lower 50% | 473 | 278 |
| 6 | Kakaramea School Patea · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 43.5 Lower 50% | 457 | 64 |
| 7 | Opunake High School Opunake · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 42.3 Lower 50% | 503 | 315 |
| 8 | Waverley Primary School Waverley · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 39.6 Lower 50% | 487 | 168 |
| 9 | Auroa School Hāwera · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 38.7 Lower 50% | 473 | 167 |
| 10 | Te Paepae o Aotea Hāwera · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 37.6 Lower 50% | 509 | 863 |
| 11 | Opunake School Opunake · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 29.2 Lower 50% | 499 | 156 |
| 12 | Te Kura o Nga Ruahine Rangi Mangatoki · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 28.3 Lower 50% | 531 | 64 |
| 13 | Normanby School Normanby · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 27.7 Lower 50% | 503 | 142 |
| 14 | Rahotu School Rahotu · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 27.1 Lower 50% | 503 | 122 |
| 15 | Patea Area School Patea · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 25.0 Lower 50% | 541 | 184 |
| 16 | TKKM o Ngati Ruanui Hāwera · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 23.9 Lower 50% | 531 | 150 |
| 17 | Hāwera Primary School Hāwera · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 23.0 Lower 50% | 521 | 165 |
| 18 | Eltham School Eltham · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 22.3 Lower 50% | 521 | 131 |
| 19 | Ramanui School Hāwera · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 13.6 Lower 50% | 556 | 62 |
Other schools in South Taranaki District
Schools without a rank: fewer than 60 students, no published Equity Index (EQI), or a school type that is not scored.
St Patrick's School (Kaponga)
Kaponga · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
27 students
Whenuakura School
Patea · State contributing · Years 1–6
30 students
Hāwera Christian School
Hāwera · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
49 students
Rawhitiroa School
Eltham · State full primary · Years 1–8
43 students
Mokoia School
Mokoia · State contributing · Years 1–6
24 students
Ngamatapouri School
Waitotara · State full primary · Years 1–8
8 students
Waitotara School
Waitotara · State full primary · Years 1–8
42 students
Kaponga School
Kaponga · State full primary · Years 1–8
45 students
Manaia School (Taranaki)
Manaia · State full primary · Years 1–8
54 students
TKKM o Tamarongo
Opunake · State full primary · Years 1–8
24 students
St Joseph's School (Patea)
Patea · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
5 students
Compare the top 4 schools in South Taranaki District side by side →
Suburb or towns in South Taranaki District
Other places in Taranaki
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track for NCEA?
Success Tutoring runs personalised English and Maths tutoring for Years 1–13 in New Zealand. Start with a free assessment mapped to the New Zealand Curriculum.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT
Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in South Taranaki District?
St Joseph's School (Opunake) is the highest-ranked school in South Taranaki District with a Success Index (NZ) of 56.7 out of 100 (Top 50% of full primary schools in New Zealand).
How many schools are in South Taranaki District?
South Taranaki District has 30 schools (16 full primary, 9 contributing, 1 secondary (year 9-15), 1 secondary (year 7-15), 3 composite) educating 4,145 students in 2026.
What is the typical Equity Index (EQI) in South Taranaki District?
The median Equity Index (EQI) across schools in South Taranaki District is 499. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.