WESTERN HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL
About Western Heights High School
Nau mai, haere mai ki Rotorua! Welcome to Rotorua!
Our school is located in the city of Rotorua, it has approximately 77,000 inhabitants. It is situated in the North Island of New Zealand. Rotorua is three hours drive by car to Auckland (New Zealand’s largest city).
Rotorua is a fantastic place to live and study. There really is so much to do here!
Students can explore geothermal parks, experience rejuvenating spa and wellness therapies, wander through and around the beautiful Whakarewarewa Forest and many of our 18 lakes. Enjoy thrilling adventures and create many friends and memories whilst immersing yourself in the Māori culture. Rotorua is New Zealand’s first bilingual city (Speaking both Māori and English) which allows students to have an authentic Māori culture experience. Of course, we also have award-winning cafés, restaurants and shopping appealing to all tastes and budgets.
In Rotorua, we’ll look after you – the way we always have.
A welcoming spirit and manaakitanga (hospitality, kindness) have been part of our DNA in Rotorua since visitors first started arriving in the 1800s.
Since then, Rotorua’s steady growth and development have created excellent opportunities for students to live an enviable lifestyle with an excellent education, thriving arts and culture scene, excellent sports and extracurricular opportunities where students can try activities such as rafting, zorbing, mountain biking and so much more! We are proud to live in such a beautiful environment. Read more about Rotorua.
Western Heights High School has so many reasons to be proud. The academic, the cultural and the co-curricular achievements of our students and the emphasis on whanaungatanga (family connectedness) creates the unique character that is ‘heights’. We offer our local and international students the opportunity to make their learning experiences enjoyable and rewarding in a truly unique way.
We carefully place our international students after interviews and testing to ensure they get the best form their experience with a personalized and flexible programme gaining a quality education. Our school can offer over 40 different subjects to choose from. Some of these include: Mathematics, Languages (English, Maori, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and French), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business Studies, Art Painting, Photography, Art Design, Computing and Digital Technology, Music, Physical Education, Health Education, Geography, History, Food Technology, Metal and Woodwork, Fabric Design, Social Studies, Tourism, Outdoor Education, Drama, Dance and so many more! Students can choose up to five subjects.
Our school has a careers advisory service which can support students who want to gain entrance into academic and technical universities.
“Heights” as we are known, has a huge diversity in co-curricular activities including NZ ranking in teams, individual sports and other activities as well as offering opportunities for those who just want to enjoy and take part. Some of these activities include sports such as: Football, Rugby, Netball, Tennis, Kayaking, Volleyball (10 x National Champions!), Hockey, Badminton and more! We also have other co-curricular activities such as Choir, Concert/Jazz/Rock Bands, Gaming Club, Dance (Dance NZ Made Champions), Drama, Duke of Edinburgh (Hiking Club), Heights Creative, Model United Nations and Spirit of New Zealand just to name a few!
Being an international student at Western Heights is an experience like no other. During your time here you will:
- Make friends and family for life!
- Have warm and welcoming homestays on farms and in the city
- Experience authentic New Zealand culture and lifestyle
- Have highly professional and caring staff
- Have specialised orientation
- Experience trips around Rotorua and our surrounding area
You will also participate in our activities programme where you get to enjoy all the local attractions and beautiful scenery, swimming in lakes and hot springs in natural settings. You also get to attend popular surfing beaches, ski fields and other local attractions.
Studying at Western Heights is an experience like no other. So what are you waiting for?
Location:
Rotorua – North Island – NZ
Programme:
High School
Course Duration:
1 to 4 Terms
Uniform:
Compulsory
Accommodation:
Homestay
TYPE OF SCHOOL: Co-educational, Public.
SCHOOL LEVEL: year 9-13
NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 1360+
TERMS: T1 – 30 January – 12 April
T2 – 29 April – 05 July
T3 – 22 July – 27 September
T4 – 14 October – 30 November
SCHOOL GUIDE
Testimonials
