Key facts
- School number532
- School typeSecondary · Years 7–15
- AuthorityState : Integrated
- GenderCo-Educational
- BoardingNo
- Language of instructionEnglish medium / other settings
- Established1 May 1987
About John Paul College
John Paul College is a Catholic secondary school in Rotorua, operating from Year 7 to Year 13. It was founded in 1987 through the amalgamation of Edmund Rice College and MacKillop College, and is known in Māori as Te Kura o Hoani Pāora.
The school operates in the Lasallian tradition, following the educational mission of Saint John Baptist De La Salle. This tradition emphasises faith formation alongside academic and personal development, with particular attention to students whose progress is affected by economic or personal circumstances.
The school's stated values centre on the Gospel, academic achievement, participation in sport, and community contribution. Mass is held every Wednesday during term time at 8.15am in the McKillop Chapel.
The school's motto is Ma te Pono, Me te Aroha — Through Faith and Love.
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 John Paul 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 John Paul College's own roll, so the shape of it is clear at a glance.
- European — 691 students (63.4%)
- Asian — 342 students (31.4%)
- Pacific — 43 students (3.9%)
- Māori — 191 students (17.5%)
- MELAA — 39 students (3.6%)
- Other — 22 students (2%)
- International — 25 students (2.3%)
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.
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Rotorua S D A School Full Primary · Years 1–8 · 2.2 km
Location
- Street addressWhitworth Road
- SuburbUtuhina
- CityRotorua
- Local authorityRotorua District
Official contact details
- ContactJustin Harper
- Phone+64 7 347 8795
- Emailinfo@jpc.school.nz
- Websitewww.jpc.school.nz
Nearby schools
Schools physically closest to John Paul College, regardless of year level.
-
Rotorua S D A School Full Primary · Years 1–8 · 2.2 km
-
Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Patetere Composite · Years 1–15 · 41.3 km
-
Aquinas College Secondary · Years 7–15 · 44.6 km
-
Taumata School Full Primary · Years 1–8 · 44.8 km
-
Selwyn Ridge School Contributing · Years 1–6 · 45.8 km
Explore schools in Rotorua
Browse Rotorua schools by type, including primary, intermediate, secondary, composite and other schools.
Enrolment
John Paul College is currently accepting enrolments. Applications are submitted online, and the following documents are required to complete an enrolment form:
- Birth certificate (required by the Ministry of Education)
- Preference Card, obtained from St Mary's Parish Office (phone 07 3480289)
- Signed Hamilton Diocese Contract
- Most recent school report or portfolio
- A letter from the student addressed to Mr Harper
- Evidence of NZ study eligibility, for non-New Zealand citizens (e.g. a study visa)
The school publishes enrolment criteria and an enrolment timeline as part of its prospectus, alongside information on Catholic character, school expectations, fees, and BYOD device requirements.
Student Support and Pastoral Care Services
John Paul College provides pastoral care through a tiered structure of staff roles and dedicated services spanning Years 7 to 13.
- Form teachers and classroom teachers — the first point of contact for students, working closely with Deans, counsellors, and other pastoral staff.
- Year-level Deans — dedicated Deans are assigned to each year group from Year 7 through to Year 13, working alongside form teachers on student welfare.
- Te Korowai Maioha — an on-site student Wellness Centre that houses the school's guidance counselling service and school nurse.
- Guidance Counsellors — registered professionals providing confidential counselling to students. Sessions can be attended individually, with a friend, or with family/whānau. The service operates under the Privacy Act 2020 and the codes of ethics of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and the New Zealand Psychological Society.
- School Nurse — based within Te Korowai Maioha, providing on-site health support.
- Whānau Support Group — meets twice a term, consulting Māori parents on academic and pastoral goals for their children and contributing to a Māori Achievement Plan reviewed annually.
- Whare 'Hoani Paora' — a centre focused on Te Reo and Tikanga Māori, with Faculty Heads and Deans specifically targeting Māori students for academic and pastoral support.
Frequently asked
These aren't generic answers — each one is built directly from John Paul 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 John Paul 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) | John Paul College's official website | Current | 7 October 2026 |