Aotearoa New Zealand
Your guide to New Zealand: schools, childcare, and more.
Official NZ data turned into practical tools and plain-language guides for families, newcomers, and residents.
Built from public sources · No login · Free to use
2,522+
Schools profiled
4,378+
ECE services listed
100%
Official NZ data
Free
No account needed
Explore topics
Two live directories. More coming.
Schools & education
National directory, map finder, school comparison, and an EQI plain-language guide.
- Search & maps
- Compare schools
- EQI guide
- By city
Childcare & early learning
Find licensed ECE services, explore 20 Hours Free ECE, and read practical guides for families.
- ECE directory
- Map finder
- 20 Hrs Free ECE
- By city
Popular tools & guides
Jump straight into the most-used features.
Compare NZ schools
Side-by-side by EQI, roll size, type, and location.
Find childcare near you
Browse licensed ECE centres by suburb or city.
Understanding EQI
Plain-language guide to the index that replaced deciles.
NCEA explained
Levels 1–3, credits, endorsements and University Entrance in plain language.
NZ school system explained
Zones, school years, NCEA, school types and more.
State vs private schools
Key differences in fees, funding, and what to expect.
Childcare costs in NZ
Fee ranges, 20 Hours ECE, the Childcare Subsidy, and how to reduce costs.
Explore by region
Schools and childcare in New Zealand's main cities.
NZ education in numbers
Did you know?
of free early childhood education available to every child aged 3–5 in NZ.
How 20 Hours ECE works →NZ guides
Useful reads for NZ families
What is the Equity Index (EQI)?
The plain-language guide to the system that replaced school deciles in 2023.
Read guide →Childcare20 Hours Free ECE explained
Who qualifies, which services offer it, and how to use the entitlement.
Read guide →SchoolsSchool zoning in NZ explained
In-zone rights, enrolment priority order, and how out-of-zone ballots work.
Read guide →ChildcareChildcare costs in New Zealand
What families typically pay, government funding, and how to reduce fees.
Read guide →New to NZ schools?
How the NZ school system works
New Zealand schooling follows a clear progression. Most children move through three stages before finishing at Year 13.
Primary school
Children start on or after their 5th birthday. Contributing primaries run from Year 1 to 6; full primaries extend to Year 8.
Browse Primary schools →02Intermediate school
A two-year bridge between primary and secondary. Not all areas have separate intermediates — some schools run Years 1–8 or 7–13.
Browse Intermediate schools →03Secondary school
Students study NCEA qualifications across Years 11–13. School is compulsory to age 16; most students stay until Year 13.
Browse Secondary schools →Some schools combine multiple stages. See NZ school FAQs or all school types for composite, specialist, and correspondence options. Learn about NCEA qualifications or how school zoning works.
FAQ
Common questions
Real questions from NZ families, newcomers, and parents.
Is FernHub run by the government?
What is the Equity Index (EQI) and does a high score mean a bad school?
Can I enrol my child in a school outside our zone?
What is 20 Hours Free ECE and who qualifies?
What is the difference between a composite school and a contributing school?
Where can I find childcare near me?
How do I compare schools side by side?
Does FernHub show NCEA results?
How do I contact FernHub?
Ready to explore?
Find the right school or childcare for your family.
Search 2,522 schools and 4,378 early childhood services across New Zealand. Free, no account required.