# Whakatane High School

Whakatane High School (or Whakatāne High School) is a secondary school located in the town of Whakatāne, New Zealand. As of 2022, the school has a roll of 1067 students and aims to offer every student an equal opportunity to succeed with strong values around responsibility, respect and achievement. Whakatane High School has a 100-year history as a co-educational public high school, opening in 1920 as Whakatane District High School, becoming a full high school in 1950. The school held its centennial on 2–3 April 2021, postponed from 2020.

## History

Whakatane High School is over a century old, opening in 1920 as Whakatane District High School, becoming a full high school in 1950. In 1973, as the population of Whakatane neared 10000, Trident High School was opened

## Facilities and buildings

The school consists of a field, gymnasium (a separate gymnastics building operated by the local Gymnastics Club lies next to it), school & student office, Careers Centre, the Barclay Hall, a library (named in November 2011 after New Zealand author Margaret Mahy, who went to Whakatane High School for a period of time), and numerous buildings split into blocks including: N block (Mainly used for Math, and Computer sciences), T Block (Mainly used for Technology), B Block (Mainly for English, Social Studies and related subjects), A block (Multiple subjects including Languages and Health), C Block (Mainly for art and related subjects) and L Block (Mainly for science and related subjects).
* The N block
* The L block
* The T block
* The main office viewed from Ghoulstone rd.

## Students

As of the 1st of July 2023, the total school roll was 1067 students. 62.76% of the students are European / Pākehā, 46.33% are Māori, 2.53% are Pacific, 4.98% identify as Asian, 0.87% are classified as MELAA, and 1.22% are registered as Other. There are 39 international students as of the first of July, 2023.

## Houses

Students at Whakatane High School are split into one of four houses. Each house is named after a tree that is native to New Zealand. Students compete in school-related sporting and cultural events to win points for their house. At the end of the year, one house is named champion for that year. The houses are represented by a colour and are listed below:
* Matai
* Kauri
* Totara
* Rimu

## Notable alumni

* Jack Brodrick, New Zealand rugby league international, Māori All Black, NZ Māori rugby league team player
* Lisa Carrington, Canoe Sprint World Champion, Olympic gold medalist
* Richard James Conway, New Zealand rugby union player
* Karen Hanlen, Oceania mountain bike champion
* John Vernon Head QSM, anti-landmines activist
* Toni Jeffs, New Zealand swimmer
* Jozef Klaassen, Member of Nederlands Olympic Eight at 2012 London Games
* Jaimee Lovett, New Zealand canoeist
* Margaret Mahy, author
* Benji Marshall, rugby league player
* Noel Mills, former New Zealand rower, Olympic silver medalist
* Ian Shearer, former National MP
* Brett Sinkinson, rugby union player
* Paul Steel, New Zealand squash player
* Sir Alan Stewart, founding vice-chancellor, Massey University
* Jon-Paul Tobin, New Zealand windsurfer
* Nathan Twaddle, world champion rower and Olympic bronze medalist
* Wybo Veldman, former New Zealand rower, Olympic gold medalist
* Stacey Waaka, New Zealand rugby union player