General Information

School Background

Primary education in Whitianga celebrated its centenary in 1972. The District High School was opened in 1951 and the translation of the DHS to an Area School was in February 1977 (opening roll 423). The present site has been developed since 1953 and over the years buildings and grounds have been improved to make a welcoming, attractive environment. In 1997 the school celebrated 125 years of schooling in Mercury Bay at a reunion which also acknowledged our 20 years as an Area School. In 1998 a new Administration block and a new Library were opened and new Science Laboratories were opened in 2002. In 2006 we celebrated the opening of Matahaoura, a new block of classrooms for Year 5/6 students in February 2009 we opened Endeavour - a new suite of speciality, state of the art technology rooms and in 2010 we opened new specialist drama, dance, music, performance technology facilties and further computer labs.

To view the 2011 Educational Review Report please click this link

Roll Numbers

As an Area School, Mercury Bay is one school, consisting of classes from Year 1 to Year 13. The current total roll is 779 students with approximately 495 students in the Years 7-13 section of the school.

Academic Programme

Our School prepares students for all New Zealand public examinations and for tertiary education.

Students in Years 7 & 8 participate in full class programmes.

International students can select subjects taught in Year 9 through to Year 13 level. We offer a wide range of subjects leading to tertiary education and have direct links with University of Waikato, and Waikato Institute of Technology. As an Area School we are able to cater for students aged 5 - 19 years.

We offer a wide range of academic courses, and are part of the Coronet Distance Learning Cluster, which enables us to deliver virtually any course or programme students and their parents require. Qualifications are available for all courses studied in Years 11-13 (15-19 years old).

We have strong, dedicated professional teaching staff who deliver quality programmes for students of all ages, who enjoying academic success at all levels.

We are able to cater for students with learning difficulties in a caring, positive learning environment, through the development and implementation of an Individual Education Programme.

School Year

School hours and terms for Area Schools are generally the same as for Secondary Schools. In 2012 the school year will be as follows:

Schools must be closed in 2012 on Saturdays and Sundays and on the following holidays:
Waitangi Day 6 February
Good Friday 6 April
Easter Monday 9 April
Day after Easter Monday 10 April
Anzac Day 25 April
Queen's Birthday 4 June
Labour Day 22 October
Christmas Day 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December