Country guide

Boarding Schools in New Zealand

The New Zealand Ministry of Education requires a school to be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 before it enrols international fee-paying students. If a student does not live with their parents, the Ministry states that the school is responsible for their care at all times and must meet all Code requirements. Enrolment terms are set out in a contract between the school and the student or family.

Stone chapel on a tussock-covered hillside lit by golden evening light — Destination image. Photo: Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.0

Coverage: 36 schools and 36 campuses published so far. Research is substantial for this country but not exhaustive.

Terminology: Year levels (Year 9 to Year 13).

Country notes reviewed 17 October 2026.

How boarding works in New Zealand

Pastoral care Code of Practice

As published by the Ministry of Education on 2026-10-17: a school must be a signatory to the Code of Practice 2021 to enrol international fee-paying students, and must care for students who do not live with their parents at all times. Immigration New Zealand also requires the offer of place to come from an approved provider that is a signatory to the Code. official source

Fee Paying Student Visa for children

As published by Immigration New Zealand on 2026-10-17: a student under 10 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who lives with them, unless they live in an approved school hostel. Students in compulsory education need NZD 17,000 per year to live on unless they have a sponsor or guarantor, and insurance for the whole course. Check the official page before applying; it does not guarantee a visa. official source

Parent or guardian evidence

As published by Immigration New Zealand on 2026-10-17: a parent or legal guardian must show a legal right to care for the child and that they care for the child in their home country; grandparents generally do not meet the guardian requirements. Under-18 students who will work need written permission from the parent or guardian and the education provider. official source

Sources

Regions with schools

Schools

36 campuses from 36 schools, listed A to Z by school name. Paid placements are labelled and never change this order.

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Boarding is for

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Original currency only; no conversion. Schools without a calculable annual figure are not shown.

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Accepts international applicantsScholarships or financial assistance publishedDay places also availableReligious affiliation published

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Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Christchurch, Canterbury
- Research checked
A girls’ independent school in Merivale, Christchurch, teaching Years 7 to 13 with a single on-site boarding house for girls from Year 7 to Year 13.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
NCEA
Independent · Ages taught: Years 7 to 13
Annual boarding fee
NZ$51,800 per year
boarding (pattern not named). Domestic pupils. 2026. Tuition (published per year) plus boarding charge (published per year).
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Rathkeale College
Masterton, Wellington
- Research checked
A boys’ school near Masterton in the Wairarapa with three boarding houses, Cranleigh, Repton and Rugby.
Boarding
Flexible boarding
Boarding entry
Rathkeale accepts casual boarders as space in the Boarding house allows.
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
NCEA
Independent
Annual boarding fee
NZ$50,340 to NZ$52,600 per year
boarding (pattern not named). International pupils. 2027. Range across the year groups the school lists.
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Scots College
Wellington
- Research checked
A co-educational IB World School in Strathmore Park, Wellington, teaching Years 0 to 13, with boarding in Gibb House for Years 9 to 13.
Boarding
Full boarding
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
IB Diploma Programme, NCEA
Independent · Ages taught: Years 0 to 13
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
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Southland Boys’ High School
Invercargill, Southland
- Research checked
A state boys’ secondary school in Invercargill with a boarding hostel, Coldstream Hostel.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
NCEA
Public / state
Annual boarding fee
Fees not confirmed
View profile
St Andrew’s College
Christchurch, Canterbury
- Research checked
A co-educational independent school in Strowan, Christchurch, with three boarding houses for students in Years 9-13.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
NCEA
Independent · Faith-based · Ages taught: Years 9-13 (boarding)
Annual boarding fee
NZ$51,200 per year
weekly boarding. Domestic pupils. 2026. Tuition (published per year) plus boarding charge (published per year).
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St Hilda's Collegiate School
Dunedin, Otago
- Research checked
A state-integrated girls' school in Dunedin whose boarders live at Tolcarne, a boarding residence a short walk from the school.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Public / state
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
View profile
St Joseph's Māori Girls' College
Napier, Hawke's Bay
- Research checked
A Catholic state-integrated Year 7 to Year 13 girls' day and boarding college in Napier, principally for Māori girls, with a hostel on site.
Boarding
Weekly boarding
Boarding entry
Hostel boarding for Year 9 - 13 and for Year 7 & 8; 5-day boarding is offered for Year 7 & 8 only.
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Public / state · Faith-based · Ages taught: Year 7 - Year 13
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
View profile
St Patrick’s College, Silverstream
Silverstream, Wellington
- Research checked
A Catholic and Marist boys’ school in Silverstream, Wellington region, with Redwood House boarding facilities for 110 students.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
NCEA
Public / state · Faith-based · Ages taught: Years 9 to 13
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
View profile
St Paul’s Collegiate School
Hamilton, Waikato
- Research checked
A co-educational boarding and day school in Hamilton teaching Years 9-13, with three boys’ boarding houses and one girls’ house.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
NCEA, Cambridge International
Independent · Faith-based · Ages taught: Years 9-13
Annual boarding fee
NZ$72,480 per year
boarding (pattern not named). International pupils. 2026. Tuition (published per year) plus boarding charge (published per year).
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St. Peter’s School, Cambridge
Cambridge, Waikato
- Research checked
A co-educational independent day and boarding school in Cambridge, Waikato, teaching Years 7 to 13.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
NCEA
Independent · Ages taught: Years 7 to 13
Annual boarding fee
NZ$79,445 per year
boarding (pattern not named). International pupils. 2026. Tuition (published per year) plus boarding charge (published per year).
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Te Aute College
Pukehou, Hawke's Bay
- Research checked
A state-integrated Māori Anglican boys’ college in Pukehou, Central Hawke’s Bay, with a boarding hostel and a day-student option.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
NCEA
Public / state · Faith-based
Annual boarding fee
Fees not confirmed
View profile
Timaru Boys’ High School
Timaru, Canterbury
- Research checked
A state boys’ school in Timaru with an on-site boarding house, Thomas House.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
NCEA
Public / state
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
View profile
Waikato Diocesan School for Girls
Hamilton, Waikato
- Research checked
An Anglican girls' school in Hamilton with five boarding houses for about 140 boarders in Years 9 to 13.
Boarding
Full boarding
Boarding entry
Junior students (Years 9 to 11) live in two of five boarding houses and senior students in the other three.
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Faith-based
Annual boarding fee
Fees not confirmed
View profile
Waitaki Boys’ High School
Oamaru, Otago
- Research checked
A state boys’ secondary school in Oamaru with an on-campus hostel, Don House, offering boarding.
Boarding
Offered (type not named)
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Boys, day places
Curriculum
NCEA
Public / state
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
View profile
Whanganui Collegiate School
Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui
- Research checked
A co-educational state-integrated Anglican school in Whanganui with six boarding houses and full, regional, Whanganui, two- and three-night boarding options.
Boarding
Full boarding, Flexible boarding
Boarding entry
Regional Boarding for students within the defined Regional Boarding Area (up to five leave weekends per term); Whanganui Boarding for families within approx. 20km; part-time boarding of two or three fixed nights per week; casual boarding as space permits.
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
NCEA, IGCSE
Public / state · Faith-based
Annual boarding fee
NZ$49,310 per year
boarding (pattern not named). International pupils. 2027. Tuition (published per year) plus boarding charge (published per year).
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Woodford House
Havelock North, Hawke's Bay
- Research checked
A state-integrated girls’ boarding and day school in Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay, teaching Years 7 to 13.
Boarding
Full boarding
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
NCEA
Public / state · Ages taught: Years 7 to 13
Annual boarding fee
NZ$30,520 per year
full boarding. Domestic pupils. 2026. Tuition and boarding, published per year.
View profile

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