EDUCATION
A great place to learn
South Waikato has a great range of education providers from primary to secondary schooling to practical trades training and tertiary study options.
SCHOOLS
South Waikato has twenty primary, intermediate and secondary schools. These schools will give your children the education they need to pursue the career they want. They cater for students from New Entrants right through to Year 15. School rolls tend to be smaller than those in the main centres, so there’s a sense of family between the staff and pupils. Class sizes are smaller too (typically around 20 pupils), so chances are your child will have more valuable one-on-one time with their teacher. Find a list of our schools here.
TERTIARY OPTIONS
South Waikato has a range of practical trades training and tertiary study options that can give you a great head start. For students looking for a career in farming, forestry, paper or engineering, South Waikato is the perfect place with many opportunities.
The University of Waikato offers a free regular bus service from Tokoroa, Putāruru and Tīrau to the Hamilton campus to support students living in the outer districts of the Waikato.
Toi Ohomai is one of the largest tertiary education providers in New Zealand. Its Tokoroa campus works closely with local employers, equipping skills with relevant qualifications in engineering, forestry, mechanics, logistics, construction and hospitality. A new campus is being built and is expected to open in 2023.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is a uniquely Maori learning environment for everyone. With a campus based in Tokoroa, they offer a range of study options from certificates and diplomas to degree-level qualifications.
WORK PLACEMENT
WORKit supports people under the age of 25 to find employment opportunities, whether that is education, training, work or other positive activities in the community. They tailor their programmes to suit your needs and can connect you with a pool of potential employers and assist you with on-the-job training and support services.
The Generation Programme offers participants work experience in silviculture, harvesting and mechanisation, processing, manufacturing, technology, office management, health and safety, roading, dispatch, and transport. It includes site visits, training simulators, fitness and nutrition, first aid, transportation and licensing, drug and alcohol education, and NZQA qualifications. Once completed participants go into paid employment with options for further study.