| Waiopehu College | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| 40°37′49″S 175°17′46″E / 40.63038°S 175.29621°E / -40.63038; 175.29621 | |
| Information | |
| Funding type | State |
| Established | February 1973 (1973-02) |
Ministry of Education Institution no. | 237 |
Chairperson | Jenny Warren |
Principal | Guy Reichenbach |
Years offered | 9–13 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrollment | 578[1] (March 2026) |
| Website | www |
Waiopehu College is a state coeducational secondary school located in Levin, New Zealand. The school opened in February 1973 as Levin's second secondary school, after Horowhenua College struggled to cope with 1200 students.[2] Serving Years 9 to 13 (ages 13 to 18), the school has a roll of 578 students as of March 2026.[1]
The original school buildings were built to the Education Department's S68 design: single-storey classroom blocks of cinderblock or masonry construction, with low-pitched roofs and internal open courtyards. The college is one of many that have problems with leaking roofs due to the S68's roof design.[3] In 2014 the school opened a purpose-built teen parent unit.[4] The building won an award in the 'education' category at the 2015 New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards.[5][6] In 2016 a new special needs unit was opened.[7]
Enrolment
As of March 2026, Waiopehu College has roll of 578 students, of which 275 (47.6%) identify as Māori.[1]
As of 2026, the school has an Equity Index of 513,[8] placing it amongst schools whose students have many socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 2 and 3 under the former socio-economic decile system).[9]
Notable alumni
- Barry Petherick – former principal at Waiopehu College, made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his work in education.[10]
- Carlos Spencer – rugby union player and coach, All Black (1995–2004).[11]
- Robert Nopera (Chubb) Tangaroa - international softball player,[12] made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List.
References
- "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- Swarbrick, Nancy (16 November 2012). "First day at Waiopehu College - Numbers and types of schools - Primary and secondary education". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- Hill, Marika (5 July 2010). "Leaking roofs hit region's schools". Stuff. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- Townend, Lucy (27 January 2014). "Second chance for young mothers". Stuff. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- "He Whare Manaaki Tangata: Teen Parent Unit at Waiopehu College". NZ Institute of Architects. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- "He Whare Manaaki Tangata". McKenzie Higham Architects. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- Tuckey, Karoline (22 June 2016). "New architecture embraces inclusive unit at Waiopehu College". Stuff. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- "New Zealand Equity Index". New Zealand Ministry of Education.
- "School Equity Index Bands and Groups". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- "Four appointed to New Zealand Order of Merit". Stuff. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- "Houston could follow same track as Carlos Spencer". The New Zealand Herald. 16 September 2005. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- "Robert Nopera Tangaroa". Heritage Horowhenua. Retrieved 4 May 2023.