Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland

Diocesan School for Girls (Dio) is a private girls' school in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. It is consistently a top-achieving school nationally. The school is Anglican-based and was established in 1903. It caters to international students and has accommodation for 50 boarders at Innes House. The school elected to offer students the option of International Baccalaureate diplomas, as an alternative to the national NCEA qualification, from 2008.^[2]

Diocesan School for Girls
Aerial view of Diocesan School for Girls in 1957
Address
Clyde Street Epsom Auckland New Zealand.
Coordinates	36.8801°S 174.7797°E / -36.8801; 174.7797
Information
Type	Private, girls, composite (Year 1–13) with boarding facilities
Motto	Latin: Ut Serviamus (That we may serve)
Denomination	Anglican
Established	1903; 122 years ago
Ministry of Education Institution no.	67
Principal	Heather McRae
School roll	1691[1] (July 2025)
Socio-economic decile	10
Website	diocesan.school.nz

History

Bishop Moore Richard Neligan first proposed the Diocesan School for Girls in October 1903. A subcommittee of the synod purchased land in November 1903, and the first class began on 27 May 1904 with twenty-five students and Mary Etheldred Pulling as headmistress.^[3] Neligan formally dedicated the school on 14 June 1904, and the school celebrates its birthday on this date. The founders were Auckland businessperson Stephen Cochrane,^[4] Dr Ernest Roberton, Lord Ranfurly, Edwin Mitchelson, Bishop Williams of Waiapu and Bishop Neligan^[5]
The former Goodall Construction company constructed many of the buildings.^[6]

Enrolment

As a private school, Diocesan School charges tuition fees to cover costs. For the 2025 school year, tuition fees for New Zealand residents are $25,880 per year for students in years 1 to 6 and $29,870 per year for students in years 7 and above. Boarding fees are an additional $21,210 per year.^[7]

At the school's May 2021 Education Review Office (ERO) review, Diocesan School had 1,659 students, including 35 international students.^[8] Around 59 percent of students at the school identified as New Zealand European (Pākehā), 31 percent as Asian, 0.5 percent as Māori, and 0.2 percent as Pacific Islanders.^[9]

As of July 2025, Diocesan School has roll of 1691 students, of which 96 (5.7%) identify as Māori.^[1] As a private school, the school is not assigned an Equity Index.

Technology

The school opened a $4 million science block in 1999.^[10] During that year a pilot system to supply all students with notebooks was run with two year-8 classes. By November 1999 the school had three IT staff, supporting 469 PCs (150 of which were notebooks), 110 printers, and 6 file servers.^[11] The school introduced electronic whiteboards in 2005 that allow students to download class notes directly to their notebooks.^[12] In 2006, it ranked as the 96th largest IT organisation in New Zealand, with a staff of eight supporting 300 PCs and 1,170 notebooks.^[13] in 2012 the school officially opened a new water-based sports turf and underground car park. The sports turf is identical in likeness to the one in London built for the 2012 London olympics.^[14][15]

Headmistresses and principals

Since the school was established, there have been 11 headmistresses or principals.^[16]

	Name	Portrait	Term
1	Mary Pulling		1904–1926
2	Ethel Sandford		1927–1932
3	Eliza Edwards		1933–1950
4	Dorothy Shrewsbury		1951–1965
5	Elizabeth Roberton		1966–1972
6	Jean Crosher		1973
7	Beverley Williamson		1974
8	Dawn Jones		1974–1993
9	Gail Thomson		1993–2003
10	Ann Mildenhall		2003–2008
11	Heather McRae		2009–present

Notable alumnae

• Stephanie Bond – netball player ^{[citation needed]}
• Margaret Brimble – chemist^[17]
• Alice Bush – doctor and paediatrician^[18]
• Niki Caro – writer and director of Whale Rider and Mulan^[19]
• Kimberley Crossman – Shortland Street and Power Rangers Samurai television actor^[20]
• Sian Elias – New Zealand's first female Chief Justice^[21]
• Holly Rose Emery – model^[22]
• Georgia Fowler – supermodel
• Charlotte Glennie – television journalist ^{[citation needed]}
• Katie Glynn – field hockey player, member of Black Sticks Women (2009–)^[23]
• Christobelle Grierson-Ryrie – winner of the first cycle of New Zealand's Next Top Model, attended in 2009 ^{[citation needed]}
• Ella Gunson – field hockey player, member of Black Sticks Women (2009–)^[23]
• Samantha Harrison – field hockey player, member of Black Sticks Women (2009–)^[23] (also attended Whangarei Girls' High School)
• Anna Lawrence – Olympic field hockey midfielder ^{[citation needed]}
• Jamie McDell – New Zealand singer, before moving on to King's College ^{[citation needed]}
• Meredith Orr – Olympic field hockey midfielder^{[citation needed]}
• Una Platts – art historian^[24]
• Allison Roe MBE – winner of the 1981 New York and Boston Marathons ^{[citation needed]}
• Jaime Ridge – Socialite,^[25] before moving to King's College for Year 12
• May Smith – painter, engraver, textile designer and textile printer ^{[citation needed]}
• Peggy Spicer – artist^[26]
• Sarah Ulmer – first New Zealander to win an Olympic cycling gold medal ^{[citation needed]}
• Arena Williams – member of New Zealand Parliament^[27]
• Chantel Yiu zh:姚焯菲 – Hong Kong singer & artist^[28]