Nelson College (Prep Dept)
Intermediate · Private : Fully Registered
- Year levels
- 7–8
- Total roll
- 93
- Enrolment zone
- No
- Gender
- Boys School
Where is it, and how do I get in touch?
- Address
- Waimea Road, Nelson
- Territorial authority
- Nelson City
- Phone
- 03-5483099
- excellence@nelsoncollege.school.nz
- Directions
- Get directions
Other schools nearby: schools in Nelson
What would the day look like?
The practical things this school states on its own website — the hours, the uniform, the term dates, and how children get there. These are the school’s own words, not the Ministry’s record and not ERO’s.
What does the school say about itself?
Quoted, not summarised. Every school describes itself well, so this is here to be read as the school’s own case rather than as a finding — and a school that states nothing simply has no row.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- In their words
- Our Pillars: Manaaki, Pono, Kairangi
- At Nelson CollegeTe Kura Tamatāne o Whakatū, our culture is grounded in three foundational pou that guide how we learn, interact, and grow together:
What is on offer beyond the classroom?
The sports, arts, clubs and groups this school names on its own website. Not a complete list of what any school offers, and not a count — a school that names more here has written more down, which is not the same as doing more.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- On offer
- Ngā Aho Rau
Our combined kapa haka group, Ngā Aho Rau, brings together students from Nelson College and Nelson College for Girls
- Kī-o-Rahi
Kī-o-Rahi at Nelson College
- Waka Ama
Activities such as Waka Ama, Manu Kōrero, Kapa Haka, and our academic programmes continue to flourish within this special space
- Manu Kōrero
Activities such as Waka Ama, Manu Kōrero, Kapa Haka, and our academic programmes continue to flourish within this special space
- basketball programme
With 30+ teams at Nelson College, we cater for all ages and abilities in our basketball programme.
- major joint drama production
Each year, we collaborate with Nelson College for Girls to stage a major joint drama production.
- Rock the Boathouse
We host an annual rock gig, “Rock the Boathouse,” which showcases the talents of our student rock bands.
- student rock bands
We host an annual rock gig, “Rock the Boathouse,” which showcases the talents of our student rock bands.
- Between Two Colleges
we have an evening of classical music, “Between Two Colleges,” where students perform in a more traditional setting
- Combined Concert Band
students can join the Nelson College for Girls and Nelson College Combined Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Orchestra
- Jazz Band
students can join the Nelson College for Girls and Nelson College Combined Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Orchestra
- Orchestra
students can join the Nelson College for Girls and Nelson College Combined Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Orchestra
- Ngā Aho Rau
Who goes here?
Ethnicity breakdown of the total roll, shown as context. Not ranked, and not compared against any average.
- European
- 86
- Māori
- 3
- Pacific
- 1
- Asian
- 5
- MELAA
- 2
- Other
- 1
- International
- 3
Roll by year level and age
Shown as context, not ranked, not compared to any average. As at 30 June 2026, from the same annual return as the roll count above.
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 07 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 47 | 0 | 48 |
| Year 08 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 2 | 46 |
| Total | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 87 | 2 | 94 |
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Age 12 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 51 |
| Age 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 14 |
| Total | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 87 | 2 | 94 |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0
About the school
- Equity Index (EQI)
- not applicable
- Boarding
- No
- Language of instruction
- All students taught in English/other setting
- Urban / rural
- Large urban area
- Date opened
- 16 November 1858
The Equity Index is used by the Ministry to allocate equity funding. It describes the socio-economic barriers a school’s students face, not how good the school is. How the Equity Index works
What did ERO find?
The Education Review Office reviews every school and publishes what it finds in full. We quote ERO’s report here, section by section, in ERO’s own words and order, and link to it. We do not summarise a report, pick a line out of one, or turn one into a score. How ERO reviews schools
- Reports ERO holds
- 2
- Last reviewed
- 23 March 2026
- Latest report
- Nelson College (Prep Dept) March 2026
- Report type
- not reported
- Board assurance
- not reported
What this report states about the school
As stated in ERO’s report of 23 March 2026 — not necessarily the position now. Each line quotes the sentence it came from.
- International students
- true
The school is a signatory provider to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021
- true
Read the full report on ero.govt.nz →
All 2 reports ERO holds for this school
ERO reviews a school every few years — around four years between reviews is the usual cycle — so an older date here reflects where a school sits in that cycle, not how it is doing.
Source: Education Review Office, CC BY 4.0.
Roll date: 30 June 2026 (2026).