Lack of public secondary school in Mangawhai a ‘growing problem’

Mangawhai is a fast-growing town, with an estimated population of around 7500 as of 2024. Pictured here is Mangawhai Heads. Photo / Brodie Stone

Mangawhai residents say people with secondary school-aged children are choosing other towns on account of better public schooling access.

Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson has said it is time for the Ministry of Education to get the wheels in motion regarding a secondary school in Mangawhai.

Currently, teens must travel to Otamatea High School in Maungatūroto or Rodney College to access secondary schooling – or their parents must pay $16,000 annually for them to attend the newly built Mangawhai Hills College.

Māori immersion school Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngaringaomatariki also plans to relocate to Kaiwaka and provide schooling for students up to 18 years old.

The trust responsible for the Mangawhai Hills College, Mangawhai Education Trust, was formed in a bid to fill the gap for those wanting education closer to home.

Chairwoman Jill Corkin previously told the Advocate the initiative was driven by a community outcry.

They were overwhelmed with expressions of interest when it was first announced, she said.

Yet as Term 1 beckons, some are questioning why the Ministry of Education appears to have no set plans for a public option.

Ministry of Education northern leader Isabel Evans said the ministry was aware of the population growth in Mangawhai and working with local schools to manage it.

Infometrics data shows the population is sitting around 7500 (as of 2024)and has more than doubled in the last 10 years.

“We are considering all options for the short, medium and long-term education provision in the Mangawhai area.”

Work continued to create a long-term plan to manage growth in the wider Mangawhai catchment, she said.

But despite there being several potential options, they would be subject to funding and prioritisation.

Jepson said the local primary school had a fast-growing roll, which highlighted the need for secondary schooling.

Mangawhai Beach School caters to Years 1-8 and the roll sits at more than 600.

Jepson felt as though the ministry was content with residents from Mangawhai “topping up” schools in the wider area.

A ministry spokesperson said historical and current schooling options for secondary-aged students were provided outside of the Mangawhai community because teaching spaces were available in neighbouring community schools.

Jepson had not recently spoken with the ministry about the issue but felt it was about time, he said.

He pointed out travel was a barrier to schooling.

Having grown up attending a rural school himself, he added it was difficult to participate in extracurricular activities as a teen.

Jepson said people were choosing to move elsewhere, such as Auckland, to access secondary schooling.

Ōrewa residents Rick and Heidi May own a house in Mangawhai, and they would likely live there permanently if it weren’t for the lack of secondary school.

The pair have two teenagers aged 15 and 17 but they attend school in Ōrewa.

The couple said the travel required for schooling in surrounding areas was off-putting.

“That’s why we haven’t moved here. It’s because of the schooling.”

Rick said a lot of people they know have the same opinion.

Christine Stewart, a teacher aide from Mangawhai, wanted to see a public secondary school in the township.

“I have a grandchild that goes out [of the area for school], and I just feel with the area growing, there’s probably a need for it.”

“I just think [considering] the way Mangawhai is growing, the school roll is growing, that it would be good to have a secondary school.”

Mangawhai is popular partly because of the beaches in the surrounding areas, which are ideal for surfing.

Mangawhai Matters chairman Doug Lloyd believed the ministry was dragging its feet because of economic factors.

He felt it was likely more cost-effective for them to run buses to nearby schools than build a new school.

But he was aware there was a growing need.

“We would all love a secondary school.

“A lot of people come here and leave when their kids get to [their] secondary school years.”

“It’s definitely a growing problem.”

Note: This story has been updated to clarify Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngaringaomatariki planned for Kaiwaka will enrol teens, and to note that students living in Mangawhai travel outside of Northland to Rodney College in Wellsford, the northernmost major settlement in the Auckland region.

Brodie Stone is an education and general news reporter at the Advocate. Brodie has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.