New ZealandCanterburyChristchurchAo Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery

Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery

StateCompositeCo-Educational
Christchurch, Canterbury · Major urban area
office@aotawhiti.school.nz 03-3777773
Total Roll655enrolled students
Māori15.3%of roll
Pacific2.9%of roll
Asian8.2%of roll
Student Body
655
enrolled students
European/Pākehā89.3%
Māori15.3%
Pacific2.9%
Asian8.2%
GenderCo-Educational
Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery

Ethnicity Breakdown

Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery's roll is predominantly european/pakeha (89.3%). The next largest group is maori students.

655students
European/Pakeha89.3%
Maori15.3%
Pacific2.9%
Asian8.2%
European/Pakeha89.3%
Maori15.3%
Pacific2.9%
Asian8.2%
Source: Ministry of Education (2026).

Compared to National Averages

The bars below show Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery's ethnicity breakdown compared to the national average across all New Zealand schools. The white reference line marks the national average for each group.

European/Pakeha
+43.3pp above avg89.3%
National average: 46%
Maori
-9.7pp below avg15.3%
National average: 25%
Pacific
-7.1pp below avg2.9%
National average: 10%
Asian
-3.8pp below avg8.2%
National average: 12%
Source: Ministry of Education (2026). National averages are approximate.

Ethnicity Roll Numbers

Absolute student numbers by ethnicity, as reported by the Ministry of Education. Students can identify with more than one ethnic group, so totals may exceed the total school roll.

Ethnic GroupStudents% of Roll
European/Pakeha58589.3%
Maori10015.3%
Pacific192.9%
Asian548.2%
MELAA21
Other16
Total Roll655100%
Source: Ministry of Education (2026).

Understanding Ethnicity Data

Self-identified ethnicity

Ethnicity in New Zealand school data is self-identified by students and families at enrolment. A student may identify with multiple ethnic groups, which means ethnicity percentages may sum to more than 100%.

Maori students and cultural context

New Zealand schools have a unique responsibility under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The proportion of Maori students can reflect a school's engagement with te reo Maori, tikanga, and culturally responsive practices.

Diversity is not a quality measure

A school's ethnic composition reflects its community, not its quality. Schools with high concentrations of any group serve their students well when they respond to their community's cultural, linguistic, and educational needs.

MELAA and Other categories

MELAA stands for Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African. The 'Other' category includes students who identify with ethnicities not covered by the main groups, as well as those who did not state an ethnicity.