Western Heights High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · State
- Year levels
- 9–13
- Total roll
- 1,206
- Enrolment zone
- Yes
- Gender
- Co-Educational
Where is it, and how do I get in touch?
- Address
- 70 Old Quarry Road, Rotorua Central, Rotorua
- Territorial authority
- Rotorua District
- Phone
- 07-3495940
- admin@whhs.school.nz
- Website
- http://www.whhs.school.nz
- Directions
- Get directions
Other schools nearby: schools in Rotorua · schools in Bay of Plenty
Can my child go here?
This school has an enrolment scheme, so a place is not open to every address. How enrolment zones work
Loading zone map…
Zone boundaries shown here are approximate. Ministry of Education data warns these boundaries do not have high spatial precision and can place neighbouring addresses on different sides of a line. This is not a confirmation of enrolment eligibility — always confirm directly with the school. Zone geometry also does not reflect enrolment priority rules (siblings, special character categories, ballots) — it shows the mapped boundary only.
Check if your address is in zone →
Source: Ministry of Education, CC BY 3.0 NZ
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.
- International students
- Accepted, as stated
If successful, an International Student Acceptance Letter, Offer of Place and Invoice will be issued.
- Accepted, as stated
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
- Volleyball
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Mountain Biking
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Rowing
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Gymnastics
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Basketball
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Rugby
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Rugby League
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Touch
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Hockey
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Canoe Slalom
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- White water Kayaking
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Martial Arts
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Waka Ama
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Archery
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Windsurfing
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Underwater Hockey
We have New Zealand national and international representatives in Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Rowing, Gymnastics, Basketball, Rugby, Rugby League, Touch, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and White water Kayaking, Martial Arts, Waka Ama, Archery, Windsurfing and Underwater Hockey!
- Volleyball
Who goes here?
Ethnicity breakdown of the total roll, shown as context. Not ranked, and not compared against any average.
- European
- 706
- Māori
- 643
- Pacific
- 90
- Asian
- 143
- MELAA
- 8
- Other
- 4
- International
- 15
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 09 | 169 | 19 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 165 | 0 | 275 |
| Year 10 | 162 | 19 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 152 | 0 | 277 |
| Year 11 | 128 | 13 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 158 | 5 | 242 |
| Year 12 | 107 | 22 | 33 | 3 | 2 | 108 | 3 | 209 |
| Year 13+ | 78 | 16 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 103 | 2 | 173 |
| Total | 644 | 89 | 129 | 12 | 4 | 686 | 10 | 1176 |
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Age 13 | 118 | 12 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 118 | 0 | 197 |
| Age 14 | 186 | 22 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 173 | 0 | 304 |
| Age 15 | 125 | 14 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 136 | 2 | 230 |
| Age 16 | 114 | 20 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 124 | 3 | 218 |
| Age 17 | 83 | 19 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 106 | 4 | 176 |
| Age 18 | 16 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 40 |
| Age 19+ | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 10 |
| Total | 644 | 89 | 129 | 12 | 4 | 686 | 10 | 1176 |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0
Academic results
Percentage with NCEA level 1 or above — 2025
87.5%
| Western Heights High School | 87.5% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 87.3% |
| Secondary (Year 9-15) | 88% |
| State: Not integrated | 83.6% |
| New Zealand | 85.2% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 86.9% |
|---|---|
| Male | 88.2% |
| Māori | 83.3% |
| Pacific | Too few to report |
| Asian | 100% |
| MELAA | Too few to report |
| Other | Not applicable |
| European/Pākehā | 90.8% |
| Total | 87.5% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison NCEA level 1 data (2023-2025)
Percentage with NCEA level 2 or above — 2025
72%
| Western Heights High School | 72% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 78.1% |
| Secondary (Year 9-15) | 81% |
| State: Not integrated | 75.4% |
| New Zealand | 77.8% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 69% |
|---|---|
| Male | 75.6% |
| Māori | 64.6% |
| Pacific | Too few to report |
| Asian | 86.7% |
| MELAA | Too few to report |
| Other | Not applicable |
| European/Pākehā | 76.3% |
| Total | 72% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison NCEA level 2 data (2023-2025)
Percentage with NCEA level 3 or above — 2025
50.8%
| Western Heights High School | 50.8% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 56.5% |
| Secondary (Year 9-15) | 61.8% |
| State: Not integrated | 55.2% |
| New Zealand | 59% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 48.3% |
|---|---|
| Male | 53.8% |
| Māori | 43.1% |
| Pacific | Too few to report |
| Asian | 70% |
| MELAA | Too few to report |
| Other | Not applicable |
| European/Pākehā | 55.3% |
| Total | 50.8% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison NCEA level 3 data (2023-2025)
Percentage with VP Award — 2025
21.6%
| Western Heights High School | 21.6% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 18.1% |
| Secondary (Year 9-15) | 15.2% |
| State: Not integrated | 14.4% |
| New Zealand | 14.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 24.8% |
|---|---|
| Male | 17.6% |
| Māori | 20.1% |
| Pacific | Too few to report |
| Asian | 30% |
| MELAA | Too few to report |
| Other | Not applicable |
| European/Pākehā | 21.7% |
| Total | 21.6% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison Vocational Pathway data (2023-2025)
Retention
Percentage staying until at least 17th birthday — 2025
75.4%
| Western Heights High School | 75.4% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 77.3% |
| Secondary (Year 9-15) | 83.5% |
| State: Not integrated | 81.4% |
| New Zealand | 83% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 73.1% |
|---|---|
| Male | 78.2% |
| Māori | 69.4% |
| Pacific | Too few to report |
| Asian | 90% |
| MELAA | Too few to report |
| Other | Not applicable |
| European/Pākehā | 76.3% |
| Total | 75.4% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison trend data (2023-2025)
— 2024
not reported
| Female | not reported |
|---|---|
| Male | not reported |
| Māori | not reported |
| Pacific | not reported |
| Asian | not reported |
| MELAA | not reported |
| Other | not reported |
| European/Pākehā | not reported |
| Total | not reported |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 1: School leavers enrolled in tertiary education one year after leaving school (2022-2024 leaver cohorts)
— 2023
not reported
| Female | not reported |
|---|---|
| Male | not reported |
| Māori | not reported |
| Pacific | not reported |
| Asian | not reported |
| MELAA | not reported |
| Other | not reported |
| European/Pākehā | not reported |
| Total | not reported |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: School leavers enrolled in tertiary education two years after leaving school (2021-2023 leaver cohorts)
— 2024
not reported
| Female | not reported |
|---|---|
| Male | not reported |
| Māori | not reported |
| Pacific | not reported |
| Asian | not reported |
| MELAA | not reported |
| Other | not reported |
| European/Pākehā | not reported |
| Total | not reported |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 1: School leavers enrolled in tertiary education one year after leaving school (2022-2024 leaver cohorts)
— 2023
not reported
| Female | not reported |
|---|---|
| Male | not reported |
| Māori | not reported |
| Pacific | not reported |
| Asian | not reported |
| MELAA | not reported |
| Other | not reported |
| European/Pākehā | not reported |
| Total | not reported |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: School leavers enrolled in tertiary education two years after leaving school (2021-2023 leaver cohorts)
Student engagement
Age-standardised stand-down rate per 1,000 students — 2024
41.7%
| Western Heights High School | 41.7% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 37.4% |
| Secondary (Year 9-15) | 35.8% |
| State | 40.2% |
| New Zealand | 37.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 30% |
|---|---|
| Male | 58.2% |
| Māori | 67.3% |
| Pacific | 48.2% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 39.1% |
| European/Pākehā | 27.4% |
| Total | 41.7% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison stand-down rates data (2024)
Age-standardised suspension rate per 1,000 students — 2024
4.7%
| Western Heights High School | 4.7% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 3.8% |
| Secondary (Year 9-15) | 4% |
| State | 4.5% |
| New Zealand | 4.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 5.2% |
|---|---|
| Male | 4.1% |
| Māori | 4.8% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 5% |
| Total | 4.7% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison suspension rates data (2024)
Age-standardised exclusion rate per 1,000 students — 2024
1.1%
| Western Heights High School | 1.1% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 1.4% |
| Secondary (Year 9-15) | 1.7% |
| State | 1.9% |
| New Zealand | 1.8% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0.9% |
|---|---|
| Male | 1.3% |
| Māori | 1.9% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 1.1% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison exclusion data (2024)
About the school
- Equity Index (EQI)
- 499
- Boarding
- No
- Language of instruction
- Some students taught in te reo Māori
- Urban / rural
- Large urban area
- Date opened
- 2 February 1961
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
- 5
- Last reviewed
- 7 September 2023
- Latest report
- Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report
- Report type
- Profile report
- Board assurance
- The board attested to all areas (7 September 2023)
A board assurance statement is the board’s own account of whether it took all reasonable steps to meet its legal obligations, on the date shown. It is not ERO’s finding. ERO reports separately, in the same report, on any non-compliance it identified during that process.
The board assurance report of 7 September 2023 carries no actions-for-compliance section — the section ERO uses when it names non-compliance it identified. That is what this report contains; it is not ERO saying it found none. Other reports ERO holds for this school may say something different.
What ERO wrote in its latest report
This is ERO’s report of 7 September 2023 — “Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report” — section by section, under ERO’s own headings, in ERO’s own order. Nothing is summarised, shortened or reordered.
Background
This Profile Report was written within 7 months of the Education Review Office and Western Heights High School working in Te Ara Huarau , an improvement evaluation approach used in most English Medium State and State Integrated Schools. For more information about Te Ara Huarau see ERO’s website. www.ero.govt.nz
Context
Te kura tuarua o Rotohokahoka , Western Heights High School is situated on land known as Rotohokahoka at the foot of Ngongotahā maunga . Ngongotahā rises above Rotorua city and Te Rotorua-Nui-ā-Kahumatamomoe in the heart of Te Arawa . The school provides co-education for Years 9 to 13. The school has specialist units that support students wanting an education in Te Reo and other units that cater for students with diverse learning needs. The school’s pepeha is Taumata Rau , heights through opportunity, where every student has over 100 peaks that they are working on or are aspiring towards. Once they achieve one peak they look ahead to the next. It is a journey of continual improvement.
Western Heights High School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are to:
provide a safe, affirming, and inclusive place for everyone
identify and reduce barriers that impact on participation, engagement, learning and achievement
celebrate and accurately use te reo and tikanga Māori in our daily interactions
support and develop the people that support and develop our ākonga /students
ensure our ākonga /students have the skills to be work ready
recognise the importance of developing the four dimensions of hauora for continual growth.
You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Western Heights High School’s website.
ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how effectively data is used to inform curriculum planning and design to improve student outcomes.
The rationale for selecting this evaluation is to:
continue to build on assessment for learning professional development
strengthen culturally responsive practice across the school
prepare students with the skills to cope with increasing change and uncertainty.
The school expects to see deliberate acts of teaching and planning that are data informed, and observation data that shows shifts in teacher practice and an increase in student engagement and achievement through improved agency and self-determination.
Strengths
The school can draw from the following strengths to support the school in its goal to improve student outcomes:
Systems and processes to gather multiple forms of data to inform decision making are in place.
Clear strategic direction of the school from Board and senior leadership.
Well established partnerships and networks that support a wide range of learning opportunities.
Inclusive learning climate that supports wellbeing of all students.
Teaching staff with specialist subject knowledge.
Where to next?
Moving forward, the school will prioritise:
conducting the Rongohia te Hau observation, survey cycle and using the data gathered to inform curriculum planning, design and professional learning
established professional learning groups to use data to inform deliberate acts of teaching to improve outcomes for targeted students
utilise existing internal evaluation processes that identify what approaches are working for students to inform next steps for teaching and learning.
ERO’s role will be to support the school in its evaluation for improvement cycle to improve outcomes for all learners. ERO will support the school in reporting their progress to the community. The next public report on ERO’s website will be a Te Ara Huarau | School Evaluation Report and is due within three years.
Shelley Booysen Director of Schools
7 September 2023
About the School
The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement. educationcounts.govt.nz/home
Read the full report on ero.govt.nz →
All 5 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).