Study in
New Zealand

Wakatipu High School (WHS) is a premier New Zealand secondary school located in the stunning, safe alpine environment of Queenstown. With a vibrant community of over 1,500 students in Years 9–13, we are dedicated to delivering a safe, high-quality learning environment where every student is supported to reach their full potential.

Our International Department maintains a community of typically 20 to 30 international students at any given time, ensuring you receive personalized care, build lifelong global friendships, and develop true independence.

Academic Excellence & University Pathways

We provide a solid academic foundation with rigorous monitoring and a focus on high performance, including Merit and Excellence endorsements and Scholarships. Our students consistently outperform national averages, providing an ideal pathway to university success.

Wakatipu High School NCEA Results (Well Above National Averages):

• University Entrance: 80% of Year 13 students achieved UE (National Average: 52%).
• NCEA Level 3: 91% pass rate (National Average: 72%).
• NCEA Level 2: 89% pass rate (National Average: 74%).

Our International Programme

Our comprehensive programme is designed to give you the ultimate New Zealand high school experience:

• Integrated & Personalised Learning: Students are fully immersed in mainstream classes, with personalised learning programmes designed to match your individual abilities, passions, and goals.
• Outstanding Pastoral Care: The happiness and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority. As a proud signatory to the Code of Pastoral Care for International Students, we ensure a safe, caring environment backed by a dedicated international team, guidance counsellors, and our House and Ako system.
• Iconic Outdoor Education: Located in the adventure capital of New Zealand, we offer world-class outdoor education opportunities that allow you to explore our breathtaking environment while building confidence, maturity, and teamwork skills.
• Extensive Extracurriculars: Beyond outdoor education, we offer a specialized curriculum complemented by a wealth of opportunities across sport, the arts, music, culture, and leadership—including our vibrant inter-House competitions.
• End-of-Year (EOY) Programme: For senior international students (Years 11–13) who are not sitting NCEA exams, we run a dedicated two-week activity programme in November while domestic students are on exam leave. The perfect way to experience the very best of the Queenstown region. 
  • Tentative 2026 EOY program dates: 9-19 November. You can view a sample EOY program here.

Key Information for Enrolment

• Programme Length & Intake: We invite applications for durations of two terms (one semester) or longer. Students can choose to begin their programme at the start of either Term 1 (January) or Term 3 (July).
• First-Day Orientation: To help you feel happy and settled, all international students take part in a comprehensive one-day orientation and welcome programme on their first day.
• The New Zealand School Year: The academic year runs from January to December and is split into four 10-week terms, with two-week holidays between terms and a six-week summer break at the end of the year.

2026 Term Dates

Term 1: Monday 26 January to Thursday 02 April
Term 2: ​Monday 20 April to Friday 03 July
Term 3: Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September
Term 4: Monday 12 October to Wednesday 09 December

2027 Term Dates

Term 1: Thursday 28 January to Friday 09 April
Term 2: ​Tuesday 27 April to Friday 02 July
Term 3: Monday 19 July to Friday 24 September
Term 4: Monday 11 October to Thursday 09 December

2028 Term Dates

Term 1: Tuesday 01 February to Thursday 13 April
Term 2: ​Monday 01 May to Friday 07 July
Term 3: Monday 24 July to Friday 29 September
Term 4: Monday 16 October to Friday 08 December
*2028 dates TBC

Check out the video below for an introduction to life at WHS.

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