Catholic school roll increase unexpected, but positive

By CathNews New Zealand

June 17th, 2025

(NZCEO)

There has been an unexpected increase in the total number of students attending Catholic schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.

According to the chairperson’s report in the latest New Zealand Catholic Education Office annual report, the roll data for July 2024 showed a “significant and unexpected growth in the total rolls of Catholic schools”.

“Across Aotearoa New Zealand, Catholic rolls have increased by approximately 1600 students to a total of 68,000, which is an unanticipated increase,” said NZCEO board chairperson John Gallaher.

Areas where rolls were predicted to fall, such as in Wellington, have seen some unexpected growth, he said.

The combined primary and secondary rolls for each diocese were: 24,568 students at Catholic schools in Auckland Diocese, 9838 in Hamilton Diocese, 7854 in Palmerston North Diocese, 11,595 in Wellington Archdiocese, 9067 in Christchurch Diocese and 5047 in Dunedin Diocese. The total was 67,969.

Mr Gallaher said while the increase in roll numbers “is positive on many fronts, it may require some financial support from the Government to help meet this increased demand for places in our schools”.

He added that Education Minister Erica Stanford “has displayed a pleasing desire to meet with our sector and discuss the issues and challenges we face”.

“As chair of the NZCEO board, I am confident that Minister Stanford views state integrated schools as an important part of state school provision and I am expecting several decisions to be made in 2025 because of the strength of our partnership,” Mr Gallaher said.

Mr Gallaher acknowledged that a “lack of access to Policy Two funds continues to cause frustration for some of our proprietors”.

According to the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools, the Ministry of Education may provide Policy Two funding towards the costs of building either new classrooms in an existing integrated school, or for a new integrated school. But this funding is not always available.

But Mr Gallaher said that “the Minister has listened to our concerns, and I am pleased she is looking at a range of possible options to put on the table in 2025 to try to support our growth aspirations within a challenging fiscal environment”.

FULL STORY

New Zealand Catholic Education Office Ltd (NZCEO) Annual Report 2024 (NZCEO)

Handbook for Proprietors (NZCEO)