Enrolment schemes (zoning)
Some primary and many secondary schools in NZ have an enrolment scheme to prevent school overcrowding. This means that only students living in a specified area (the school’s home zone) are guaranteed a place at the school.
You can visit the school enrolment zones website to see if the school you would like your son or daughter to go to has an enrolment scheme and if so, whether you live in the zone.
If you don't live in the school’s home zone, there will be another school that’s reasonably convenient to your home, that your child could attend. It’s against the law to give a false address to try and get your child into a school with a zone that does not include your home. You must give the address of the house you actually live in.
Living out of the zone
Out-of-zone students who apply to enrol at the school will be accepted in this priority order:
- Students enrolled in a special programme run by the school
- Brothers and sisters of current students
- Brothers and sisters of former students
- Children whose parent is a member of the board of trustees
- All other students.
If there are more applicants than places available in groups 2 to 5, the school must hold a ballot (draw) to fairly select who can enrol.
Ballots
Each year, the school’s board of trustees must put a notice in a local newspaper, stating:
- how many out-of-zone places are likely to be available
- the date by which applications for out-of-zone places must be received
- any ballot(s) date(s) for out-of-zone places.
Some primary schools with enrolment schemes will hold more than one ballot each year (perhaps one each term) for five-year-olds who are starting school. If the board receives fewer out-of-zone applications than there are places available, no ballot is needed and all applicants will be enrolled.
You can download and print this information as a factsheet below.