Key facts
- School number2971
- School typeFull Primary · Years 1–8
- AuthorityState
- GenderCo-Educational
- BoardingNo
- Language of instructionEnglish medium / other settings
- Established26 January 1862
About Rapaura School
Rapaura School is a state primary school located at 349 Hammerichs Road, RD 3, Blenheim, Marlborough. It opened in 1862 with approximately seven students and has operated continuously since then.
The school uses the acronym REACH as its values framework, with each letter representing a stated value:
- Respect — for self, peers, families, culture, school, property, and community
- Excellence — attitude toward learning, pride, manners, and setting expectations
- Adaptable — problem-solving, self-management, and curiosity
- Collaboration — working constructively with others and sharing ideas
- Hauora — wellbeing across physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions, drawing on Dr Mason Durie's framework
The school has a strong multigenerational connection to the local Rapaura community, with the same family names appearing repeatedly across its student rolls since the nineteenth century. It is not faith-based and is not a Māori-medium or area school.
School donations
The Ministry of Education profile states that: "Donations may be requested".
With an Equity Index of 418, Rapaura School is below the 432 threshold newly required to opt into the donations scheme, though a school already receiving this funding from an earlier year may continue to do so. Outside the scheme, a school can still ask families for donations, but cannot compel or enforce payment.
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 Rapaura School 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 Rapaura School's own roll, so the shape of it is clear at a glance.
- European — 103 students (93.6%)
- Asian — 2 students (1.8%)
- Pacific — 6 students (5.5%)
- Māori — 30 students (27.3%)
- MELAA — 1 students (0.9%)
- Other — 1 students (0.9%)
Percentages may sum to more than 100% because students can identify with more than one ethnic group.
Location
- Street address349 Hammerichs Road
- CityRapaura
- Local authorityMarlborough District
Official contact details
- ContactCarey Huria
- Phone+64 3 570 5752
- Emailoffice@rapaura.school.nz
- Websitewww.rapaura.school.nz/
Nearby schools
Schools physically closest to Rapaura School, regardless of year level.
-
Springlands School Contributing · Years 1–6 · 4.6 km
-
Mayfield School (Blenheim) Contributing · Years 1–6 · 5.4 km
-
Spring Creek School Contributing · Years 1–6 · 5.8 km
-
Blenheim School Contributing · Years 1–6 · 6.1 km
-
Fairhall School Full Primary · Years 1–8 · 6.4 km
Explore schools in Rapaura
Browse Rapaura schools by type, including primary, intermediate, secondary, composite and other schools.
Enrolment
Rapaura School operates an enrolment zone. Children living within the zone are eligible to apply, and students transferring from other schools or from out of town are also accepted.
Early pre-enrolment is available from age three. Enrolment is confirmed in writing once all required documentation has been received. The required documents are:
- Completed enrolment forms
- EOTC (Education Outside the Classroom) permission form, signed
- Computer/internet permission form, signed
- Vision/Hearing consent form
- Photocopy of birth certificate and immunisation certificate
- For overseas students: a copy of the passport and visa acknowledging entitlement to education in New Zealand
For children turning five, school visits take place within the two weeks leading up to their fifth birthday. A letter is sent to families outlining dates and related information.
Enquiries can be directed to the school office or the Principal by phone on 03 570 5752.
Frequently asked
These aren't generic answers — each one is built directly from Rapaura School'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 Rapaura School'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) | Rapaura School's official website | Current | 21 October 2026 |