Enrolments
All children have the right to be enrolled at a state school between their fifth birthday and the first of January following their 19th birthday.
Enrol your child when they are:
- starting school for the first time
- moving between different school types (for example, from primary to intermediate school)
- moving to a new area and changing schools.
Enrolling early helps the school in planning for how many children will be attending, so it’s important to do this as early as possible – ideally by the end of September of the year before they first start school or move to a new school.
Enrolment schemes (zoning)
Schools for Year 0-8 students may have an enrolment scheme to prevent overcrowding. This means that only students living in a specified area (the school’s home zone) are guaranteed a place at the school.
Use the Search for a New Zealand School website to see if the school you would like your child to go to has an enrolment scheme and if so, whether you live in the zone. If you live The school principal can provide information on how this happens.