Key facts
- School number6975
- School typeSecondary · Years 9–15
- AuthorityState : Integrated
- GenderCo-Educational
- BoardingYes
- Language of instructionEnglish medium / other settings
- Established28 January 2002
About Garin College
Garin College is a Catholic state-integrated secondary school located in the Nelson Tasman region of New Zealand. It was established to serve Catholic young people in the top-of-the-south region, though it also enrols students from non-Catholic families who are drawn to its approach to education.
The school operates under a Catholic Special Character, meaning its educational approach is grounded in Catholic faith and values. This shapes how the school describes its purpose: forming students as responsible citizens whose lives reflect the teachings of Jesus, and educating what the school terms the whole person — academically, physically, spiritually, emotionally, morally, and creatively.
Alongside its Catholic character, the school places emphasis on New Zealand cultural identity. Students have opportunities to engage with Kapa Haka, Te Reo Māori, and Mahi Toi (art), which the school identifies as central to its identity. The school's location also informs an outdoor education programme, with access to beaches, mountains, rivers, and lakes in the surrounding region.
The current principal is John Maguire.
Enrolment
No enrolment scheme listedNo enrolment scheme is currently listed for Garin College in the available Ministry of Education data. Check the current Ministry of Education information or contact the school for the latest enrolment arrangements.
School donations
The Ministry of Education profile states that: "Donations may be requested".
Check directly with the school for current charges, contributions or other costs. Learn more on the donations scheme or fees and charges at school, both on education.govt.nz.
Equity Index
The Ministry publishes this figure as a bare number — KuraData shows it against the directory-wide average, so you can see where Garin College actually sits, not just the number on its own.
The Equity Index estimates the socio-economic barriers students face, on average, and is used to inform government funding and support. It is not a measure of school quality or academic performance.
Higher values indicate a higher level of estimated socio-economic barriers; lower values indicate fewer. Learn how the Equity Index is calculated →
Student ethnicity
The Ministry publishes this as a raw table — here it's visualised directly against Garin College's own roll, so the shape of it is clear at a glance.
- European — 538 students (84.7%)
- Asian — 98 students (15.4%)
- Pacific — 17 students (2.7%)
- Māori — 79 students (12.4%)
- MELAA — 12 students (1.9%)
- Other — 4 students (0.6%)
- International — 23 students (3.6%)
Percentages may sum to more than 100% because students can identify with more than one ethnic group.
Education pathway
Nearby schools serving the next or previous year levels are shown as potential pathway options. They do not indicate formal enrolment pathways or actual student transfers.
-
Broadgreen Intermediate Intermediate · Years 7–8 · 4 km
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Appleby School Full Primary · Years 1–8 · 7.8 km
-
Nelson College (Prep Dept) Intermediate · Years 7–8 · 8.1 km
Further education in Nelson
Explore tertiary providers based in Nelson — not necessarily where Garin College's own students go on to study.
-
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Institutes of Technology & Polytechnics
Location
- Street address35 Champion Road
- SuburbRichmond
- CityNelson
- Local authorityNelson City
Official contact details
- ContactJohn Maguire
- Phone+64 3 543 9488
- Emailachieve@garincollege.ac.nz
- Websitewww.garincollege.ac.nz
Nearby schools
Schools physically closest to Garin College, regardless of year level.
-
Salisbury School (Nelson) Specialist School · 822 m
-
Broadgreen Intermediate Intermediate · Years 7–8 · 4 km
-
Appleby School Full Primary · Years 1–8 · 7.8 km
-
Nelson College (Prep Dept) Intermediate · Years 7–8 · 8.1 km
-
Nelson College For Girls Prep School Intermediate · Years 7–8 · 9 km
Explore schools in Nelson
Browse Nelson schools by type, including primary, intermediate, secondary, composite and other schools.
Frequently asked
These aren't generic answers — each one is built directly from Garin College's own official Ministry of Education data already shown on this page, so what you read here always matches the figures above.
Sources & methodology
Every fact on this page traces back to one of the rows below — official Ministry of Education data, or Garin College's own published information, reviewed before publication. Nothing here is inferred or estimated beyond what its source actually states.
| Data | Source | Data period | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| School characteristics | Ministry of Education | — | 15 October 2026 |
| Student roll | Ministry of Education / Education Counts | September 2026 | 15 October 2026 |
| Equity Index | Education Counts | — | 15 October 2026 |
| Address & coordinates | Ministry of Education | — | 15 October 2026 |
| Contact details | NZ Schools Directory | Current | 15 October 2026 |
| School information (AI-curated, human-reviewed) | Garin College's official website | Current | 27 September 2026 |