Opunake High School

What Opunake High School does

Opunake High School (Ōpunakē High School / Te kura tuarua o Ōpunakē) is a co-educational state secondary school located on Tasman Street in Opunake, Taranaki, New Zealand. Founded in 1924 and formally constituted as a standalone High School in 1956, the school serves Years 9 through 13 (NCEA Levels 1–3) and draws its student body primarily from Opunake and surrounding coastal Taranaki communities including Kaponga, Rahotu and Manaia, as well as four named feeder primary schools (Kaponga, Rahotu, St. Josephs, St. Pats). The student body represents more than 35 nationalities, with over 40% identifying as Maori and active Te Whare Kura and kapahaka programmes supporting cultural identity.

The school's product surface comprises 66 NCEA courses across Arts, Health & PE, Humanities, Mathematics, Music, Science, Te Whare Kura and Technology, supplemented by vocational pathways (Gateway, STAR, WITT) and an Academy system of at least 11 specialised electives (Artist Toolbox, 35 Below Dance, Music, Makers, Sustainability, NCEA, Culture, Hospitality, Moto X, Surfing). An innovative trimester-based junior curriculum offers 13-week themed modules, and the underlying technology stack is a Chromebook 1:1 device programme with Google Classroom LMS, Google SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite. The school operates a Year 7 & 8 Technology outreach programme that delivers fortnightly practical sessions to four feeder primary schools.

Opunake High School is government-funded under New Zealand's Education and Training Act 2020 and governed by an elected Board of Trustees (with a Student BOT Representative). Its revenue model is effectively 100% Ministry of Education per-pupil and operational funding, augmented by minor third-party sponsorships (Platinum Homes, Air New Zealand Airpoints for Schools, Tu Manawa, OHS Fund at Taranaki Foundation, Lions Club). Go-to-market is direct enrollment via an online portal targeting the local community and feeder schools. Marketing is multi-channel: an active Facebook page, segmented Instagram accounts (@opunakehigh, @opunakehs.arts, @opunakehs.sport), a dedicated school mobile app, the school website, and community events (including the 2024 centenary celebration). The school holds Silver EnviroSchool status and is led by Principal Andrea Hooper with Deputy Principals Barry Skinner and David Hughes.

Name

Opunake High School

Legal name

Opunake High School

Website

https://opunake.school.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Opunake High School is a public New Zealand state secondary school in coastal Taranaki serving Years 9–13, funded by the Ministry of Education, with 66 NCEA courses and 11 specialist academies serving a diverse student body drawn from Opunake and surrounding feeder communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Opunake

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Public secondary school funded by New Zealand Ministry of Education through operational funding and per-student allocations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Opunake High School is a state co-educational secondary school that delivers NCEA-accredited education for students in Years 9-13 across 66 courses in Arts, Health & PE, Humanities, Mathematics, Music, Science, Te Whare Kura, and Technology. The school supplements its core academic curriculum with a distinctive Academy system of 11 elective programmes (Artist Toolbox, 35 Below Dance, Music, Makers, Sustainability, NCEA, Culture, Hospitality, Moto X, and Surfing) and vocational pathways through Gateway, STAR, and WITT partnerships. Operating under a DREAMS values framework with a Silver EnviroSchool designation, the school serves the coastal Taranaki community from its main campus in Opunake.

Product overview

Opunake High School is a co-educational secondary school offering a comprehensive educational programme through a platform of curriculum subjects and elective academies. The core academic offering spans English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, The Arts, Health & PE, Te Whare Kura, Technology, and Vocational Pathways. This is complemented by a distinctive Academy system offering specialized programmes including Artist Toolbox, 35 Below Dance, Music, Makers, Sustainability, NCEA Support, Culture, Hospitality, Moto X, and Surfing. The school operates an innovative DREAMS values framework and a trimester-based Junior Curriculum for Years 9-10 featuring themed modules. Senior students access NCEA preparation support and Vocational Pathways guidance. The Technology department offers Digital Technology, Engineering, Graphics/DVC, Hospitality, and Workshop/DST programmes with strong practical components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary Education (NCEA Years 9-13) Core NCEA-accredited secondary education programme for Years 9-13 students, covering 66 courses across Arts, Health & PE, Humanities, Mathematics, Music, Science, Te Whare Kura, and Technology, plus Gateway, STAR, and WITT vocational pathways. Designed for students in the coastal Taranaki region seeking qualification and preparation for tertiary education or vocational pathways.
• Junior Curriculum (Year 9 & 10) Innovative trimester-based curriculum for Year 9 and 10 students offering 13-week modules including Sweet Tooth, Distorted Selfies, Media Superstars, Movie Madness, and other themed courses combining multiple subjects. Designed for collaborative, future-focused problem-based learning.
• Senior Curriculum (Years 11-13) NCEA-accredited senior curriculum for Years 11-13, including Digital Technology (HTML/CSS coding, multimedia, film, game design, app development), Engineering (welding, machining, fabrication projects), Graphics/DVC (architecture and product design), Hospitality (industry-standard food preparation), and Workshop/DST (BCITO Unit Standards wood-based programme).
• Year 7 & 8 Technology Programme Technology programme for feeder primary schools (Kaponga, Rahotu, St. Josephs, St. Pats) providing fortnightly access to the school's Hospitality suite, Workshop, and Graphics suite for practical project-based learning. Designed to bridge the primary-to-secondary transition and introduce younger students to technology specialisms.
• Vocational Pathways & Careers Career guidance programme offering University and Industry Training Organisation visits, Work Experience, Gateway, WITT, drivers licensing support, and scholarship assistance for senior students preparing for school completion and transition to employment or further education.
• Artist Toolbox Academy Elective academy where senior students work on senior portfolios while juniors develop personal interest art projects, culminating in exhibition work at the biennial Creative Showcase at Everybody's Theatre Opunake.
• 35 Below Dance Academy Dance academy for students to participate in Showquest and dance competitions across the North Island, with opportunities to earn NCEA credits through the dance programme.
• Music Academy Music programme offering solo and group performance skills, music theory, composition, with trips to shows like Les Miserables and participation in Rockquest competitions.
• Makers Academy Trades-focused academy where students learn from a range of trades through real-life construction projects including the Fale, greenhouse, and rugby pavilion rebuilding.
• Sustainability Academy Environmental practice academy developing student-led projects including Chook Motel, boomerang bags, herb garden, fruit forest, solar hot water, and solar panel setup. The school holds Silver EnviroSchool status as a result of this programme.
• NCEA Academy Focused support academy for senior students to concentrate on NCEA internal assessments and exam preparation across all curriculum areas.
• Culture Academy Cultural diversity exploration academy investigating own and others' cultures, language learning, marae noho, and Polyfest attendance.
• Hospitality Academy Hospitality and food preparation academy offering skills development and practical food preparation with food challenges and community food assistance for outside agencies.
• Moto X Academy Motocross academy competing in school race meetings across the central North Island with expert coaching from top NZ riders.
• Surfing Academy Surfing programme chasing waves throughout Taranaki with video coaching, TSSSA championships participation, and overseas fundraising trips.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only 2 students on average leave with no immediate plan
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Lions ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported student Chloe Terrill for advanced leadership course in Fiji by contributing to flight costs alongside school teachers
• Te Kiri Hockey ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides coaching support for school hockey teams; coaches come from the club, with students also playing weekend hockey in club's Premier and Reserve Senior grade teams
• Platinum HomesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNaming rights sponsor for Coastal Secondary School Rugby teams since 2018 season, supporting 'NO Sports Fees' policy
• Air New ZealandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected for Airpoints for Schools programme, offered to only a few select schools for Sustainability Academy fundraising
• Future Leaders NZminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided leadership course opportunity for student Chloe Terrill in Fiji

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Waitara High School: North Taranaki state secondary school serving the Waitara catchment with overlapping regional competition for students. Directly comparable as a NZ state secondary school offering NCEA pathways and trades/vocational programming.
• New Plymouth Boys' High School: Largest boys' secondary school in Taranaki, located in New Plymouth and serving a regional catchment overlapping Opunake's coastal feeder area. Directly comparable as a NZ state secondary school competing for the same families in the Taranaki region.
• Hawera High School: South Taranaki state secondary school in Hawera with a comparable rural-provincial profile and overlapping regional catchment. Directly comparable as a Taranaki state secondary school offering NCEA, trades pathways and sporting programmes.
• Francis Douglas Memorial College: Catholic integrated secondary school in New Plymouth with a regional Taranaki catchment that overlaps Opunake's feeder geography. Directly comparable as a Taranaki secondary school offering NCEA, vocational pathways and academy-style electives.
• Spotswood College: Co-educational secondary school in New Plymouth serving a Taranaki catchment that overlaps Opunake's draw area. Directly comparable as a NZ state secondary school with broad curriculum, vocational pathways and sporting programmes.
• Stratford High School: Small rural Taranaki secondary school in Stratford with a comparable size and rural/coastal catchment profile. Closely comparable as a similarly-sized provincial NZ state secondary school competing for the same pool of regional students.
• Inglewood High School: Smaller Taranaki secondary school in Inglewood with a rural/coastal draw area. Directly comparable as a similarly-sized NZ state secondary school operating in the same Taranaki education ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OpunakeHigh
• Instagraminstagram.com/opunakehigh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/opunake-high-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Opunake High School