Welcome to Arahunga School

We are a Specialist School dedicated to meeting the unique learning needs of students aged 5–21 years. We provide a supportive environment for learners with complex needs, ensuring every ?konga can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally in a safe, inclusive, and nurturing setting.

We pride ourselves on a culture of whanaungatanga, fostering strong, respectful relationships between learners, whanau, and staff. Our programmes are tailored to individual strengths and needs, blending evidence-based teaching with creativity, innovation, and cultural responsiveness.

At Arahunga, every child is valued, empowered, and encouraged to reach their full potential. We work collaboratively with families, local schools, and community services to ensure learners receive the support they need to succeed.

Our base school is located in Whanganui and includes the following classes:

Junior learners: Carlton, Tawhero, and Campus
Intermediate learners: Rutherford and Campus
Secondary learners: Whanganui City College and Poynter Place
Transition to life beyond school: Poynter Place

In New Plymouth, we operate specialist classes, hosted by:

FDMC
St Joseph's School
Mangorei School

Hawera class, located at:

Ramanui School

Across all locations, our programmes are designed to meet individual strengths and needs. Learners benefit from small classes with a high staff-to-student ratio, and our Specialist Teachers and Support Staff work together to provide tailored learning programmes.

Arahunga School has its own highly skilled Specialist Services Team. All learners can access regular specialist therapy from our team that includes: Speech Language Therapists, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Music Therapist, Educational Psychologists and Special Education Advisers.

In addition to supporting learners enrolled in our classes, Arahunga School operates a Specialist Teacher Outreach Service, which schools can choose to opt into. Outreach teachers support learners within their regular schools. Our service operates in Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu, Horowhenua, and Tararua. It is the largest Outreach Service in New Zealand, employing over 50 Outreach Specialist Teachers who work with approximately 200 students.

Thank you for taking the time to explore our website. Please contact us if you would like to know more about our school.

Shirley Wisnewski

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