Whakatane High School (or Whakatāne High School) is a secondary school located in the town of Whakatāne, New Zealand. As of 2022, the school has a roll of 1067 students and aims to offer every student an equal opportunity to succeed with strong values around responsibility, respect and achievement. Whakatane High School has a 100-year history as a co-educational public high school, opening in 1920 as Whakatane District High School, becoming a full high school in 1950.[3] The school held its centennial on 2–3 April 2021, postponed from 2020.[4]

Whakatane High School
Location
Map
Goulstone Road


New Zealand
Coordinates37°57′44″S 176°59′07″E / 37.9621°S 176.9854°E / -37.9621; 176.9854
Information
Funding typeState
MottoKia Whakatane Au I Ahau
Opened1920 (As Whakatane District High School)
Ministry of Education Institution no.144
PrincipalMartyn Knapton
Years offered9–13
GenderCo-educational
Number of students1211[1] (August 2024)
Hours in school day6.5 hours (including form time)
HousesKauri, Rimu, Totara, Matai
Colour(s)  Black
  Gold
SloganChallenging Students to Achieve
Socio-economic decile4K[2]
Websitewww.whakatanehigh.school.nz

History

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Whakatane High School is over a century old, opening in 1920 as Whakatane District High School, becoming a full high school in 1950. In 1973, as the population of Whakatane neared 10000, Trident High School was opened[5]

Facilities and buildings

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The school consists of a field, gymnasium (a separate gymnastics building operated by the local Gymnastics Club lies next to it), school & student office, Careers Centre, the Barclay Hall, a library (named in November 2011 after New Zealand author Margaret Mahy, who went to Whakatane High School for a period of time), and numerous buildings split into blocks including: N block (Mainly used for Math, and Computer sciences), T Block (Mainly used for Technology), B Block (Mainly for English, Social Studies and related subjects), A block (Multiple subjects including Languages and Health), C Block (Mainly for art and related subjects) and L Block (Mainly for science and related subjects).

Students

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As of the 1st of July 2023, the total school roll was 1067 students. 62.76% of the students are European / Pākehā, 46.33% are Māori, 2.53% are Pacific, 4.98% identify as Asian, 0.87% are classified as MELAA, and 1.22% are registered as Other.[6] There are 39 international students as of the first of July, 2023.

Houses

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Students at Whakatane High School are split into one of four houses. Each house is named after a tree that is native to New Zealand. Students compete in school-related sporting and cultural events to win points for their house. At the end of the year, one house is named champion for that year. The houses are represented by a colour and are listed below:

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Welcome". Whakatane High School. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  4. ^ "Centennial 2021". Whakatane High School. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  5. ^ Williams, Shirley; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Whakatāne High School". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  6. ^ Counts, Education. "Ministry of Education - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  7. ^ Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. p. 341. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
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