Waiopehu College

Waiopehu College is a state coeducational secondary school located in Levin, New Zealand. The school opened in February 1973 as Levin's second secondary school, after Horowhenua College struggled to cope with 1200 students.^[2] Serving Years 9 to 13 (ages 13 to 18), the school has a roll of 525 students as of July 2025.^[1]

Waiopehu College
Location
74 Bartholomew Road Levin 5510 New Zealand
Coordinates	40.63038°S 175.29621°E / -40.63038; 175.29621
Information
Funding type	State
Established	February 1973 (1973-02)
Ministry of Education Institution no.	237
Chairperson	Jenny Warren
Principal	Guy Reichenbach
Years offered	9–13
Gender	Coeducational
School roll	525[1] (July 2025)
Website	www.waiopehu.ac.nz

The original school buildings were built to the Education Department's S68 design: single-storey classroom blocks of cinderblock or masonry construction, with low-pitched roofs and internal open courtyards. The college was one of many that had problems with leaking roofs in the 1990s and 2000s due to the S68's roof design.^[3] In 2014 the school opened a purpose-built teen parent unit.^[4] The building won an award in the 'education' category at the 2015 New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards.^[5][6] In 2016 a new special needs unit was opened.^[7]

Enrolment

As of July 2025, Waiopehu College has roll of 525 students, of which 266 (50.7%) identify as Māori.^[1]

As of 2025, the school has an Equity Index of 511,^[8] placing it amongst schools whose students have many socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 2 and 3 under the former socio-economic decile system).^[9]

Notable alumni

• Barry Petherick – former principal at Waiopehu College, made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his work in education.^[10]
• Carlos Spencer – rugby union player and coach, All Black (1995–2004).^[11]
• Robert Nopera (Chubb) Tangaroa - international softball player,^[12] made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List.