What Wakatipu High School does

Wakatipu High School is a public, co-educational secondary school located in Frankton, Queenstown, in the Otago region of New Zealand, serving students across Years 9 to 13. It delivers the New Zealand Curriculum and prepares students for NCEA qualifications Levels 1-3 across eight learning areas (Arts, English, Health & PE, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, and Technology). The school offers specialised support through Learning Support (including Hakitekura classroom), Gifted Education and Career Guidance, and a te reo Māori programme supported by a dedicated Puna Reo classroom and kapa haka group (Te Iti o Tāhuna). Approximately 140 Māori students from multiple iwi attend, with cultural support delivered via Kaihāpai Māori and Pou Whirinaki roles and an annual noho marae at Takutai o Te Tītī Marae. An International Student Programme enrols overseas students with homestay accommodation arranged through vetted local families, and an outdoor recreation strand (including Duke of Edinburgh) leverages the Queenstown location. The school is governed by a Board of Trustees under New Zealand's Education Act, with supplementary funding channelled through the WHS Foundation (established 2013, over NZ$2 million cumulatively raised) and Branches Trust (established 2009) which subsidises the Year 10 Branches Camp. Day-to-day communication with parents and students runs through the SZapp mobile application, Schoolzine newsletters, and a Google-based portal supporting online enrolment and BYOD. Revenue is not publicly disclosed but is dominated by NZ government per-student funding, supplemented by international student fees, after-hours facility hire of sports fields, and community donations; WHS Foundation distributions underwrite targeted initiatives such as the Āwhina Fund for families needing financial support with uniform, devices, trips and extracurricular costs.

Name

Wakatipu High School

Legal name

Wakatipu High School

Website

https://wakatipu.school.nz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Wakatipu High School is a New Zealand state secondary school in Frankton, Queenstown, delivering Years 9-13 education and NCEA qualifications to domestic and international students, with supplementary support via the WHS Foundation and a Kāi Tahu-grounded bicultural programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• NCEA curriculum
• International student program
• Māori cultural education
• Student pastoral support

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankton, Queenstown

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wakatipu High School is a public secondary school delivering Years 9-13 education to students in the Queenstown Lakes region of New Zealand. Its core offering is the National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA) curriculum across Arts, English, Health & PE, Languages (including Te Reo Māori), Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, and Technology, supplemented by extracurricular sports, arts, outdoor recreation (Duke of Edinburgh), and an International Student Program with homestay accommodation.

Product overview

Wakatipu High School is a secondary school offering Years 9-13 education in Queenstown, New Zealand. The school provides NCEA qualifications (Levels 1-3) as its core academic credential, complemented by a comprehensive curriculum covering Arts, English, Health & PE, Languages (including Te Reo Māori), Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, and Technology. The school offers specialized support through Gifted Education, Learning Support Services, and Career Guidance. Cultural programs include Kapa Haka (Te Iti o Tāhuna) and Te Reo Māori from Years 9-13. An International Student Program provides education for overseas students with homestay accommodation. Extracurricular activities span Outdoor Recreation (Duke of Edinburgh), Sports, Arts and Culture, and Student Leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NCEA Curriculum National Certificates of Educational Achievement curriculum offered across Years 11-13, providing New Zealand's national secondary school qualification framework.
• Year 9-10 Curriculum General curriculum for Years 9 and 10 students covering Arts, English, Health & PE, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, and Technology.
• Te Reo Māori Program Te reo Māori and tikanga classes available from Year 9 to Year 13 as NCEA subjects, with a dedicated Puna Reo classroom embedded within the Languages Learning Area.
• International Student Program Program offering secondary education to international students, including curriculum, cultural activities, and homestay accommodation with vetted host families.
• Learning Support Services Special Education services including dedicated support staff, the Hakitekura classroom area, and individualized learning support programs for students with additional learning needs.
• Gifted Education Program Specialized programs for gifted and talented students that extend learning beyond the standard curriculum.
• Career Guidance Services Careers counselling and guidance services supporting students with future education and career planning.
• Outdoor Recreation Program Duke of Edinburgh Award program and outdoor education activities that leverage the school's proximity to Queenstown's natural environment.
• Kapa Haka - Te Iti o Tāhuna School kapa haka group that practises weekly and performs at school and community events, with aspirations to compete in regional competitions.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WHS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Established in 2013 to bring the community together to support the school in delivering a great all-round education. The Foundation has provided over $2 million in cumulative support, funding initiatives including the Āwhina Fund (financial support for families), academic achievement programs, leadership development, and strategic resourcing.
• Branches TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Formed in 2009 to help fund the Year 10 Branches Camp. Thanks to their generous support, the cost of this important camp has been kept down for families and students. The Trust continues fundraising initiatives specifically for this purpose.
• Kāi Tahu (Mana Whenua)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWakatipu High School is situated within the rohe (territory) of Kāi Tahu who advise the school. The school has a close connection with the awa (river) Kawarau and roto (lake) Whakatipu-wai-Māori. The school actively teaches students about the Māori history of the area, particularly the links to Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe and Kāi Tahu. The Whānau Advisory Group (WAG) includes mana whenua representatives.
• Homestay HostscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFamilies in the Queenstown community who host international students provide accommodation and cultural integration support. Host families undergo police vetting and complete documentation including host profile application and police vet forms. Each student receives an individual bedroom with furnishings, heating, and appropriate facilities.
• Takutai o Te Tītī Marae (Colac Bay)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual noho marae (overnight stay at marae) is held at Takutai o Te Tītī Marae at Colac Bay, providing students with immersive cultural education experiences.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Auckland Grammar School: Large NZ public boys' secondary school offering NCEA and a strong extracurricular and leadership ecosystem. Directly comparable in curriculum framework, governance, and target student outcomes to Wakatipu High School.
• Westlake Boys High School: Large co-ed-adjacent NZ public secondary school on Auckland's North Shore with strong academic, cultural, and sporting profile. Directly comparable as a high-performing state secondary institution pursuing all-round education.
• Rangitoto College: One of NZ's largest co-ed public secondary schools, delivering NCEA with broad academic, cultural, and sporting programmes. Comparable in operational scale and programme breadth to WHS.
• Burnside High School: Large co-ed NZ public secondary school in Canterbury with broad curricular and co-curricular offerings including international student programmes. Comparable scale, governance, and NCEA delivery to WHS.
• Mt Albert Grammar School: Large co-ed public secondary school in Auckland delivering NCEA with extensive cultural (including Māori and Pasifika) and sporting programmes. Directly comparable in scope, diversity of programmes, and student support model.
• Wellington College: Co-ed public secondary school in Wellington delivering NCEA across Years 9–13. Closely matches WHS in curriculum model, scale, and broad all-round education positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Christ's College, Christchurch: Historic NZ independent boys' school with boarding and strong all-round education. Compares to WHS on programme breadth and student outcomes, but contrasts as a private/boarding institution rather than a state school.

Regional players

• Otago Boys' High School: NZ public boys' secondary school in the same Otago/South Island region as WHS, offering NCEA. Regionally comparable peer with similar curriculum, Board of Trustees governance, and state-school operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wakatipu-high-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Wakatipu High School