Western Heights High School

State co-educational secondary school in Rotorua, NZ

Western Heights High School

Te Kura Tuarua o Kaitao Rotohokahoka

Address

Old Quarry Road
Selwyn Heights
Rotorua 3015
New Zealand

Coordinates| 38°07′12″S 176°13′20″E﻿ / ﻿38.1201°S 176.2221°E﻿ / -38.1201; 176.2221
Information
Type| State co-ed secondary
Motto| Heights Through Opportunity
Māori: Taumata Rau
Established| 1961
Sister school| Beppu Shosei
Educational authority| Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education Institution no.| 151
Chairperson| Rebecca Moore
Principal| James Bracefield
Teaching staff| 120+
Years offered| 9–13
School roll| 1,211[1] (March 2025)
Houses| Ngā Pumanawa e Waru o Te Arawa
Waiariki
Rotorua Nui ā Kahumatamomoe
Ngongotahā
Te Motu Tapu ā Tinirau
Song| Taumata Rau
Socio-economic decile| 4K[2]
Website| www.whhs.school.nz
Last updated: 25 November 2024

Western Heights High School (Māori: Te Kura Tuarua o Kaitao Rotohokahoka) is a co-educational state secondary school located in the northwestern suburbs of Rotorua, New Zealand. In April 2013, 1,887 students from Years 9 to 13 (ages 12 to 18) attended the school, including 1,172 students identifying as Māori – the largest Māori school roll in New Zealand in terms of number of students.[3]

Western Heights High School offers Cambridge International Examinations in addition to the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).[4]

## Houses

[edit]

Western Heights High School has school houses or groups to identify students and provide a sense of belonging to the school.

The current houses at Western Heights High School are:

* Te Motu Tapu ā Tinirau (Purple)
* Waiāriki (Yellow)
* Ngā Pumanawa e Waru o Te Arawa (Red)
* Ngongotahā (Green)
* Te Rotorua nui ā Kahumatamomoe (Blue)

## Sister school

[edit]

The current sister school to Western Heights High School is Beppu Shosei, a co-educational high school located in Ōita, Japan. The city of Beppu is also the sister city to Rotorua. In August 2024, students from Beppu Shosei visited Western Heights High School for one week on a cultural exchange. In October 2024, 17 students and staff from Western Heights High School attended Beppu Shosei for one week. [5]

## International education

[edit]

Western Heights High School offers international enrolment from a variety of countries. For the year 2025, international student fees to study at Western Heights High School ranges based on duration of the students' duration of stay, travel insurance, NCEA standard admission, student visa renewal, school uniform, school and extra curricular expenses, Christmas holiday fee, and additional recreational expenditure.[6][7]

## Curriculum

[edit]

Western Heights High School currently requires students in the junior school (Years 9 and 10) to take five compulsory courses throughout the year, along with four additional options classes that will alternate throughout two terms. In Year 11, there are four compulsory courses, and in Year 12, the only compulsory course is English. Students in Years 13 and 14 may choose a minimum of five courses.[8][9][10]

Compulsory Classes  | Year 9  | Year 10  | Year 11  | Year 12  | Year 13

|
|
|
|
|

English  | •  | •  | •  | •  |
Science  | •  | •  | •  |
Mathematics  | •  | •  | •
Physical Education and Health  | •  | •  | •
Social Sciences  | •  | •  |

### Years 9 & 10

[edit]

In year 9 mainstream, students may choose four of the following elective courses which will alternate after two terms, excluding the Rugby League Academy, Sports Academy, and Volleyball Academy.[11]

In year 10 mainstream, students may only choose two elective courses as listed below, where year 10 Te Akoranga Reo Rua students can only choose one subject given Te Reo Māori is compulsory.[12]

* Animation
* Business Innovation
* Chinese
* Contemporary Music
* Dance
* Design & Technical Drawing
* Digital Coding
* Drama
* Fabric Technology
* Food Technology
* French
* Hard Materials: Wood
* Hard Materials: Metal
* Japanese
* Performance Music
* Rugby League Academy
* Spanish
* Sports Academy
* Te Reo Māori
* Visual Arts
* Volleyball Academy

### Year 11

[edit]

In year 11, students may choose to remove social science as a course, and may select two options as listed above, preferably those in which an enjoyment was found throughout years 9 and 10. Students may also choose to study six subjects in year 11, but require approval from the subjects' Head of Faculty and Year Level Dean.[13][14]

### Year 12

[edit]

In year 12, students may choose a further four subjects, with the required mathematics course. Similar to year 11, students may choose to study six subjects, but will require approval from the subjects' Head of Faculty and Year Level Dean.[15][16]

### Year 13

[edit]

In year 13, students may take their desired courses, while adhering to any subject pre-requisites.[17][18]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Steve McDowall – Rugby Union player (Auckland, All Black)[19]
* Temuera Morrison – Actor[20]
* Nando Pijnaker – All Whites defender[21]
* Caleb Ralph – Rugby Union player (Crusaders, All Black)[22]
* Hika Reid – Rugby Union player (All Black) and coach[23]
* Elias Scheres – Netball player[citation needed]
* Buck Shelford – All Blacks Captain[24]
* Darrall Shelford – NZ Māori (rugby union)[25]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
2. ^ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
3. ^ "New Zealand Schools - Education Counts". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
4. ^ "Assessment". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
5. ^ "NZウェスタンハイツ高校の生徒が来校しました". 大分県立別府翔青高等学校. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
6. ^ "Haere Mai/Welcome". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
7. ^ "International Student Fees - 2025" (PDF). Western Heights High School. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
8. ^ "Senior Curriculum". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
9. ^ "Curriculum Overview 2023*". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
10. ^ "Junior Curriculum". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
11. ^ "YEAR 9 OPTIONS 2025". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
12. ^ "Year 10 Selection List". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
13. ^ "Yr 11 Subject Selection". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
14. ^ "2025 Yr 11 Curriculum.pdf". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
15. ^ "Yr 12 Subject Selection 2025". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
16. ^ "2025 Yr 12 Curriculum". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
17. ^ "Yr 13 Subject Selection 2025". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
18. ^ "2025 Yr 13 Curriculum". Western Heights High School. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
19. ^ "Steve McDowall: Great All Black prop and innovator". The Roar. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
20. ^ "Temuera Morrison - Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos". BookMyShow. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
21. ^ "Nando Pijnaker". Auckland. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
22. ^ "Blood, sweat and cheers for Caleb Ralph". Stuff. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
23. ^ "Hika Reid selected as a living rugby legend". The New Zealand Herald. 2024-11-28. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
24. ^ "Wayne Shelford". Te Arawa Stories. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
25. ^ "WAYNE 'BUCK' SHELFORD TRIBUTE". ALL BLACKS. 2015-01-12. Retrieved 2024-11-28.

## External links

[edit]

* School website
* Education Review Office (ERO) reports for Western Heights High School

* v
* t
* e

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