Waimea College
About Us
A very warm welcome to Waimea College!
Nestled at the top of the New Zealand’s South Island, Waimea College is a co-educational secondary school supporting over 1600 domestic students and around 75 International students from all around the world.
We are located in the beautiful Nelson region, Nelson is in the centre of New Zealand and perfectly placed for you to enjoy one of the best climates in New Zealand, beautiful beaches, mountains, rivers and 3 national parks all on our doorstep, our region is an adventure-seekers’ paradise. It provides an incredible classroom for all students to experience exhilarating outdoor activities through our World-Class Outdoor Education programme. You can participate in a range of outdoor pursuits such as kayaking, rock-climbing, caving, white-water rafting, tramping, alpine skills and mountain biking. There is no better place than Waimea College for a true “Kiwi” experience and the adventure of a lifetime!
Our school culture is friendly and welcoming, You will have a New Zealand student “buddy” to help you settle in to the school and the community. You can make friends with the local New Zealand students as well as other international students from all over the world.
Our warm and friendly Homestay Coordinator carefully matches you with a homestay family so you will have common interests and shared expectations and experiences. She meets you at Nelson Airport with your homestay family and fully supports you during your time with us.
International students have access to a variety of events throughout the year. From our adventurous 3-day ski trip, to our weekend away in a vibrant NZ city, to our two-week end of year programme – there is always something to look forward to.
For a full overview of our materials for international students, click HERE.
Please go to our Facebook and Instagram pages to see more of our school and what we do every day.
Our Courses
The huge range of opportunities available at Waimea College is what sets us apart. We offer a broad curriculum, with one of the largest range of subjects of any school in the country. This means there is something here for you to individualise your learning.
General Curriculum and Subject Options
Please click to see our 2025 Senior Curriculum Handbook
Please click to see our 2025 Year 10 Curriculum Handbook
Please click to see our 2025 Year 9 Curriculum Handbook
Please click to see our Subject Pathways
Outdoor Education
Waimea College has a major commitment to education outside the classroom and has an outstanding Outdoor Education Programme for Year 11, 12 and 13 students.
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Develop an appreciation of the opportunities and experiences available in Outdoor Education
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Experiences include kayaking, rock-climbing, abseiling, caving, white-water rafting, tramping, alpine skills and mountain biking
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Outdoor Education programmes are both theoretical and practical
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Practical sessions involve part-day, full-day and multi-day activities and provide considerable opportunities for personal growth and development
Sport
Waimea College has an excellent record of achievement at regional and national level in a number of sports. We encourage students to take advantage of the wide range of sporting activities on offer – options include: cricket, athletics, swimming, tennis, rugby, football, hockey, netball, volleyball, basketball, badminton, touch rugby, bowls, squash, sailing, golf, mountain biking, cycling, ski team, multi-sport and much more. Remember many of these sports are seasonal so may not be offered for the full year.
See more HERE.
Performing Arts and Music
Each year we aim to provide opportunities for students to participate in acting, singing, dancing and instrumental music. Also experience technical production of special events with stage make-up, lighting, sound systems, set design construction and stage crew.
We offer a variety of musical opportunities for students at all levels:
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Vocal and instrumental lessons
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Specialist groups such as concert band, solo vocals, rock and jazz groups
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Musical productions and tours
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Orchestra
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Nationally acclaimed choirs
See more HERE.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Waimea College is a big school and we pride ourselves on offering a large range of extra-curricular activities that will enable every student to discover their passion. Events include:
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Stage challenge, Shakespeare festival, theatre sports, speech competitions, chess club, debating, and creative design competitions.
Please visit our website to learn more about Waimea College HERE.
School Specific Fees
Tuition Fees
General Tuition Fees apply as shown in the Costs & Dates page.
See also the Costs & Dates page for other information on fees etc.
For a full overview of materials for international students, including application form, course overviews, testimonials and fees, click HERE.
Homestay Fee
2025: NZD 315 per week
2026: NZD 340 per week
Includes all meals. Special dietary requirements might incur an extra weekly cost.
Outdoor Education Course Fees
NZD 300 per term.
Student Visa Processing
The College will charge an additional NZD 450 in the event that a student requires their Visa to be processed or extended from New Zealand. This is inclusive of all fees set by New Zealand Immigration.
Airport Transfer Service
Most international students fly into New Zealand via the International terminal at Auckland Airport.
Waimea College is able to arrange assistance in supporting a student to transfer from the international terminal to the domestic terminal on request at a cost of NZD 120.
There is no additional charge for meeting students at the domestic terminal of Nelson Airport.
Uniform Items
Basic uniform items are included in the tuition fee e.g., shorts, skirt, and jersey. Students are required to pay a NZD 200 security bond for their uniform items and this is refunded when the uniform is returned in good condition.
Full purchase of uniform items: NZD 480.
Additional personal uniform items such as shoes, socks, shirts and PE gear are not included.
Pocket Money Allowance
A minimum of NZD 75 per week for day-to-day spending is suggested. The College is able to set up an automatic payment into the student’s New Zealand bank account on request.
School Fee
For the current school fees, please check the school website directly HERE.
Contact
International Manager: Hayley Roper
Waimea College
Salisbury Road Richmond, Nelson, 7020 New Zealand
Telephone:
+64 3 544 6099
View our web page:
E-mail:
Facebook:
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