Introducing Our Newest Member, Mangawhai Hills College

ISNZ would like to introduce our latest member, Mangawhai Hills College which opened in February 2025 with 13 students.  A registered charity, the school is owned by the Mangawhai Education Trust. Planning for the College began pre-Covid to meet the needs of students from Mangawhai and immediate surrounds, as there is no state secondary school in the area. Students were expected to travel up to an hour each way to attend the state secondary schools they are zoned for.  The project stalled over Covid and things were too disruptive for families to consider broaching the subject of a College for Mangawhai until early 2023 and the College came into fruition for the start of the 2025 school year.  Jill Corkin, Chair says, ‘The buildings have been built through the generous support of donors, and the college’s foundation families have been amazing ambassadors for the school.’

Mangawhai Hills College currently has 36 students and 3.6 equivalent FTEs, with a part time learning support teacher and one full time equivalent Manager. The school is values-based, with a strong community and environmental focus. It also strives to provide a high-quality academic education.

With regards to becoming an ISNZ member, Jill Corkin, Chair says, ‘We want to belong to a group of like-minded professionals and recognise ISNZ as an organisation that can help support professional development for staff and for the Board, as well as a source of information for us. We have contact with colleagues in other independent schools (Crimson Global Academy, Kings College, Huanui College) who all belong to ISNZ and recommended the organisation to us.’

Mangawhai Hills College is happy to have visitors, to share its knowledge where it may be useful and actively participate in any way it can within the membership network.

Nau mai, haere mai!

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