New River Primary vs St Joseph's School (Invercargill)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Southland, New Zealand, 2.1 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
New River Primary
Kew · State contributing · Years 1–6
229 students
St Joseph's School (Invercargill)
Invercargill · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
153 students
| Measure | New River Primary Kew, Southland | St Joseph's School (Invercargill) Invercargill, Southland |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 32 Lower 50% | 47 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #41 of 48 | #29 of 48 |
| National rank | #1282 of 1,559 | #943 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Full Primary |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–8 |
| Students | 229 | 153 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 522 | 465 |
| Total roll | 229 | 153 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 2.6% | 12.2% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 33.6% | 15% |
| Pacific students | 24.5% | 15.7% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Kew | Invercargill |
| region | Southland | Southland |
| Website | newriver.school.nz | – |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's School (Invercargill) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (47.4 vs 31.9).
- •St Joseph's School (Invercargill) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (465 vs 522).
- •New River Primary does better on roll size (229 vs 153).
- •St Joseph's School (Invercargill) does better on roll growth (5 years) (12.2% vs 2.6%).
- •New River Primary is the larger school with 229 students compared with 153.
- •New River Primary is a state school while St Joseph's School (Invercargill) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (NZ) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is New River Primary better than St Joseph's School (Invercargill)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Joseph's School (Invercargill) ranks higher (47.4 vs 31.9 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are New River Primary and St Joseph's School (Invercargill)?
About 2.1 km in a straight line, between Kew and Invercargill in Southland.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
New River Primary: 522. St Joseph's School (Invercargill): 465. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do New River Primary and St Joseph's School (Invercargill) rank in Southland?
New River Primary is 41st of 48 and St Joseph's School (Invercargill) is 29th of 48 among contributing schools in Southland on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).