The New Zealand School System

Children usually attend primary school from age five, and it is compulsory to attend by age six. They stay at primary school until Year Six at about age 10-11. After primary school, children attend intermediate school for two years (Year Seven and Eight) and this is followed by secondary schooling which commences at Year Nine. Some primary schools take children through to the end of the intermediate years, but there are also specific intermediate schools.

Most schools in New Zealand are part of the state system. There is no legal requirement to pay fees at state schools, but it is usual for parents to pay some fees and charges. In general, any child can go to any state school even if there is a state school nearer to where they live. However, some popular schools that have more pupils seeking enrolment than they have places for, restrict pupil intake to local residential areas.

Private schooling is available, but is expensive. Private schools receive some government funding, but income is largely from fees. There are also schools known as integrated schools - an integrated school is one which was a private school but now gets state funding for staff and operating costs. Fees may still be charged, but these would not be as much as for a private school. Many of the integrated schools have a religious character. Uniforms are worn at private schools, but not necessarily at public schools.

The school year starts at the beginning of February and finishes beginning to mid-December, after which there is the long summer vacation. The school year is usually divided into four terms.

The Special Education Service gives information, help, and advice to parents and schools with special needs children. Children with physical, intellectual, or other disabilities, and other special needs may be enrolled at regular early childhood services and schools.

Tertiary Education

There are a number of options for further education and training beyond secondary school. New Zealand has seven universities, 25 polytechnics, six Colleges of Education, a number of private educational institutions, as well as industry training options.

In Auckland alone, there is a large choice of tertiary education institutions. The University of Auckland is physically located in the central city area and also has a satellite Tamaki campus in the Auckland suburb of Glen Innes. Most faculties, eg Arts, Architecture, Commerce, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science etc are offered. Dentistry and Veterinary Science are only available at Otago University in Dunedin. Massey University, which has its base campus in Palmerston North, now has a campus located on Auckland's North Shore, giving a choice of two local universities.

The technical institutes &endash; including Auckland and Manukau Institutes of Technology and Unitec offer an extensive range of vocational courses in fields as diverse as accountancy, dress-designing, engineering, journalism, nursing, photography etc. Auckland also has a College of Education, which offers early childhood, primary and secondary teacher training

There is a range of Government loans and allowances for tertiary students to help offset course fees (which can range from $2,000 - $10,000 per annum, depending on the course). This financial assistance helps students meet their study and living costs. To qualify a student must be either a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and the rate paid depends on the student's age, the parents' income, and whether or not the student lives at home.