Waiheke High School

What Waiheke High School does

Waiheke High School is a New Zealand state co-educational secondary school located at 11 Donald Bruce Road on Waiheke Island, the only island-based high school in New Zealand. Established in 1986, it serves approximately 400 students across Years 7–13 (ages 11–17), delivering the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) at Levels 1–3 as its core academic qualification, supplemented by specialized academies including the Sea Sports Academy (marine-based outdoor education with Coastguard Day Skipper qualifications), the Building Academy (trades training in partnership with Waiheke Home Builders), the HETA Academy, the Creative Industries programme (housed in the Te Whare Toi facility opened in 2025), the Piringākau Māori department, and an ESOL programme for international students.

The school's revenue model is anchored in three streams: per-student operational funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Education as a state school, tuition fees from approximately 25 international students annually drawn from 15 countries, and community donations and fundraising. International student fees for 2026 are structured as comprehensive annual tuition covering instruction, textbooks, airport pickup, and ferry access, with supplementary charges for uniforms, NZQA fees, and specialized programmes like Sea Sports. The school operates a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy supported by Ministry of Education-approved internet filtering, uses Kamar Portal for student management and course selection, and integrates Kindo and EZLUNCH for payment and meal ordering. Its competitive position rests on geographic monopoly as the sole secondary provider on the island, unique marine and island-based learning opportunities, 40 years of brand heritage, and deep community integration with local businesses and cultural institutions. The school is governed by a Board of Trustees under the New Zealand Education Act and is led by Principal Cameron Flude, appointed in December 2023.

Name

Waiheke High School

Legal name

Waiheke High School

Website

https://waihekehigh.school.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Waiheke High School is New Zealand's only island-based state secondary school, serving approximately 400 Year 7–13 students on Waiheke Island with NCEA qualifications, specialized academies (Sea Sports, Building, Creative Arts), and an international student programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• NCEA qualifications
• International student programmes
• Marine outdoor education
• Trades training academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Waiheke Island

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a New Zealand state secondary school, Waiheke High School receives operational funding from the Ministry of Education based on student enrollment numbers.
2. International Student Tuition: International students pay tuition fees that include all subject costs (except Sea Sports/Outdoor Education), textbooks, airport pickup, 5 return ferry tickets, and Term 4 Activities programme. NZQA fees and insurance are additional.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The school receives donations and fundraising contributions from the community, including for specific initiatives like the Matariki celebration and infrastructure upgrades.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Waiheke High School is a New Zealand state secondary school on Waiheke Island delivering NCEA-aligned education to approximately 400 students in Years 7-13. The school supplements its core curriculum with specialised academies (Sea Sports Academy, Building Academy, HETA Academy, Arts), an ESOL programme, a Māori department (Piringākau), and an International Student Programme hosting roughly 25 students per year from around 15 countries.

Product overview

Waiheke High School offers a comprehensive secondary education programme for students in Years 7-13. The core offering is the NCEA qualification programme supplemented by specialized academies including the Sea Sports Academy (marine-focused outdoor education), Building Academy (trades training), and Arts programme in the Creative Industries facility. The school provides ESOL support for international students, a Māori department (Piringākau), and extracurricular activities including Waka Ama and music programmes. Technology integration includes a BYOD policy and student portal access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NCEA Programme New Zealand's national secondary school qualification programme for Years 11-13, recognised by employers and universities, tracking student achievement against national benchmarks such as PATs and eAsTTle.
• International Student Programme Full secondary education programme for international students under 18 years old, with homestay accommodation, ESOL support, NCEA preparation, and a Term 4 Activities programme. Includes comprehensive annual tuition covering academic instruction, most subject costs, textbooks, airport pickup, and ferry tickets.
• Sea Sports Academy Outdoor education course focused on the marine environment for students in Years 11-13, offering sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, paddleboarding, and fishing, with formal qualifications including the Coastguard Day Skipper Certificate and International Marine Radio Licence.
• Building Academy Trades training programme teaching carpentry skills through real-world construction projects, with students working alongside industry professionals such as Waiheke Home Builders on actual builds.
• HETA Academy Hospitality, trades, and applied learning academy providing practical vocational skills pathways for Waiheke High School students.
• ESOL Programme English for Speakers of Other Languages programme providing English language support for international students who need additional help alongside the standard curriculum.
• Piringākau (Māori Department) Māori language and culture programme applied to the kapa haka group, junior and senior classes, and whānau support (parent group), with the name Piringākau meaning "close to the heart".
• Arts Programme Creative arts education covering Drama, Music, and Visual Arts, housed in the Te Whare Toi Creative Industries facility opened in 2025.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Waiheke Home BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal building professionals Rodney Pope and Thomas Robb from Waiheke Home Builders led the first official build day of the Building Academy on 11 April 2026, working alongside students to build the subfloor structure. This partnership provides real-world carpentry experience for students.
• Fullers (Waiheke Bus Company)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFullers operates the school bus service for Waiheke Island, providing transportation for students to and from school. The company also runs regular fast ferries between Waiheke Island and downtown Auckland.
• Northern MysticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe top premiership netball team for two years running partnered with Waiheke High School to deliver a netball masterclass for young netballers aged 7-18 on Waiheke Island in March 2025, organized by Sports Coordinator Shelley Foster.
• Local Businesses and CommunityminorOthersVarious local businesses and community members support school initiatives including Waka Ama nationals, fundraising events, and school activities through donations and sponsorship.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• St Andrew's College Christchurch: NZ private co-educational secondary school (Years 7-13) with boarding and international student programmes. Comparable as an established NZ secondary school combining NCEA pathways with international student recruitment.
• Christ's College Canterbury: Prestigious NZ private boys' secondary school (Years 9-13) in Christchurch with boarding and international student intake. Comparable as a long-established NZ secondary school with a strong alumni network and differentiated curriculum.

Direct peers

• Westlake Boys High School: NZ state secondary school in Auckland's North Shore serving Years 9-13 boys. Comparable as a state secondary school serving Auckland-region families with NCEA curriculum.
• Rangitoto College: One of New Zealand's largest state secondary schools on Auckland's North Shore, offering NCEA across Years 9-13. Comparable as a state secondary school serving Auckland families competing for the same regional enrolments.
• Auckland Grammar School: A large state secondary school in Auckland serving Years 9-13 boys, comparable as a NZ state secondary school competing for Auckland-region enrolments, with strong academic reputation and selective entry.
• Takapuna Grammar School: NZ state co-educational secondary school on Auckland's North Shore serving Years 9-13. Comparable as a state secondary school drawing from a defined Auckland catchment and offering NCEA programmes.
• Mount Albert Grammar School: Large NZ state co-educational secondary school in central Auckland, offering NCEA to Years 9-13. Comparable as a state secondary school in the Auckland region competing for similar domestic enrolments.

Emerging players

• ACG (Academic Colleges Group) New Zealand: Private international education provider in NZ operating multiple schools including ACG Parnell and ACG Strathallan, with strong international student programmes. Comparable as a NZ secondary school actively recruiting international students across multiple source countries.
• Pinehurst School: Private NZ school in Auckland offering Years 1-13 with international student programmes and Cambridge/NCEA pathways. Comparable as an Auckland-based school offering international programmes to overseas families.

Regional players

• Wentworth College: Small NZ private secondary school in the Bay of Plenty region offering NCEA and Cambridge with international student programmes. Comparable as a smaller NZ secondary school targeting international student enrolments and offering a tight-knit community experience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@waihekehighschool3984
• Facebookfacebook.com/WaihekeHighSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/waihekehighschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waiheke-high-school

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Waiheke High School