Enrolment
Welcome and thank you for your interest in Aquinas College.
Founded in 2003, our Year 7-13 Catholic school is set on 10.7 hectares in Pyes Pa, Tauranga — conveniently located near The Lakes and key city thoroughfares. Aquinas aims to educate the next generation of Catholic servant leaders who positively influence the lives of others. We are intentional about being an authentically Catholic College with a heart for Christ and a vision of holistic education to grow the gifts and talents of the whole person so they may realise their true potential.
With a roll of 860 students, Aquinas College attracts students from the Western Bay of Plenty and beyond. It is also a destination for international students from around the world. Due to our strong reputation for academic excellence and Catholic education, enrolment is highly sought-after, and demand for places often exceeds availability.
Applications for 2027 enrolments open on Monday, June 8 via this page. (A link to our online application form will be posted here that morning.)
Until then, we encourage you to read our 2026 Prospectus
June 15 Open Day
Registration and Outline
The best way to experience Aquinas College is to visit us in person and hear from our students and staff firsthand. We invite you to attend our Open Day for 2027 enrolments on Monday, June 15.
Registrations are essential and will open here on May 25.
Open Day Format: What to Expect
- Welcome & Introduction – Begin with a prayer and a brief welcome from our Principal and Head Students
- Guided College Tour – Explore our classrooms and learning environments, led by our senior student leaders
- What Makes Aquinas College Special – Gain insights into our values, academic programme, and student life
- Q&A with Staff – Parents and whānau can meet with staff responsible for curricular and extra-curricular areas, including Special Character, Learning Support, the Arts, cultural activities, buses and more
Applications
Application Process
Submit Application: Submit your online application when enrolments open on June 8 (carefully follow all document requirements outlined below)
Interviews: Once your application is received and reviewed, you may be invited to attend an interview
Acceptance Notification: If your application is successful, you will receive an offer of enrolment. You have seven days to accept the offer and confirm your child’s place at Aquinas College
Required Documents
All of the following documents must be submitted in your online application:
Aquinas College Enrolment Application: Please name this file: [Surname] Application Form
Diocese Enrolment Contract: (included within the Aquinas Enrolment Application)
- This form must be fully completed and signed
- One contract is required per student applying
- If the account is to be split, both signatories must sign
- Please name this file: [Surname] Diocese Contract
Preference Card: Please make an appointment with our local Parish to obtain this document. This can be done anytime up to one year prior to enrolment. Please name this file: [Surname] Pref Card
Copy of Student’s Birth Certificate or Passport: Please name this file: [Surname] ID
Evidence of NZ Visa Status: (if the student is not a New Zealand citizen.) Please name this file: [Surname] Visa
Most Recent School Report: Please name this file: [Surname] Learning
PLEASE NOTE: Files must be in PDF or JPEG format and be under 8MB
Enrolment Policy
Priority of Enrolment: If the number of applicants exceeds the available spaces, priority for preference students will be determined using one or more of the following criteria, as outlined in our enrolment scheme.
Enrolment FAQ
What is a Preference Enrolment?
Enrolment preference is given to students or families with an established Catholic connection. To establish this, families must obtain a Preference of Enrolment Certificate from their Parish Priest. A student qualifies for preference enrolment if they meet one of the following criteria:
- The child has been baptised or is being prepared for baptism in the Catholic Church.
- The child’s parents/guardians have already baptised one or more children in the Catholic faith.
- At least one parent/guardian is a Catholic, and although their child has not yet been baptised, their involvement in the school may lead to baptism.
- With the agreement of the child’s parent/guardian, a significant Catholic family member (e.g. grandparent, aunt, or uncle) who lives nearby and is actively involved in the child’s upbringing undertakes to support the child’s formation in the faith and practices of the Catholic Church.
- One or both of a child’s non-Catholic parents/guardians are preparing to become a Catholic.
What is a Non-Preference Enrolment?
Aquinas College welcomes non-preference (non-Catholic) families to apply for enrolment. However, as a Catholic school, preference applications are given priority.
The number of non-preference places available each year is limited and depends on the number of preference applications received. Due to high demand, non-preference enrolment is highly competitive.
What are Attendance Dues?
Attendance Dues are a mandatory fee set by the Catholic Integrated Schools Office of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton to fund the maintenance and improvement of school buildings.
The 2026 Aquinas College Attendance Dues for Year 7 or 8 students are $536 per student and $1,072 per Year 9 to 13 student. Attendance Dues are invoiced from and payable to the Catholic Integrated Schools Office. For more information, please visit our School Fees page.
In addition, the Aquinas Board requests a voluntary contribution from families to support the resources and facilities that enhance every student’s education. This Aquinas College Contribution is $1,200 for one student, with a maximum contribution per family of $3,000.
What is the Aquinas College Contribution?
The Aquinas Board has set the 2026 Aquinas Contribution at $1,200 per annum per student. Most families generously contribute, recognising the benefits for all students. The contribution is tax-deductible, and a 5% discount is available if paid by March 31.
The Aquinas College Contribution consists of:
- $1,000 – Education Enrichment Contribution
- $200 – Building Fund Contribution (collected on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton)
Education Enrichment Contribution
This contribution funds vital services we offer students. As a low-equity index school, our government funding per student is lower than that of schools with a higher equity index, leaving Aquinas with a funding shortfall. We need your support.
Your contribution helps pay for:
Financial support for students in need, ensuring: Access to school trips, sports teams, and uniforms. Assistance for Aquinas families facing hardship.
- Additional teaching staff beyond Ministry-approved levels
- Increased teacher aide funding
- Specialised literacy and numeracy support programmes
- Student well-being services and counselling. Unlike most schools, Aquinas has two counsellors, a staffing commitment well above our government funding
- Student well-being services and counselling. Unlike most schools, Aquinas has two counsellors, a staffing commitment well above our government funding
Building Fund Contribution
Collected on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, the fund helps maintain and improve our school’s facilities. It supports projects such as:
- Construction of the new Joy (Arts) Block
- Redevelopment of the Family (Technology) Block
- Refurbishment of the Administration Block
Since our land and buildings are owned by the Catholic Diocese, government funding for building development is lower than that provided to state schools. For generations, Aquinas families have supported the Building Fund, ensuring quality facilities for future students. By choosing Aquinas College, we encourage you to continue this tradition of support.
Contact Us:
Please contact the Executive Assistant at executiveassistant@aquinas.school.nz or by phone 07 543 2400 if you have any questions. We are here to help you.