New ZealandAucklandBotany DownsBotany Downs Secondary College

Botany Downs Secondary College

StateSecondary (Year 9-15)Co-Educational
Botany Downs, Auckland · Major urban area
admin@bdsc.school.nz 09-2732310
Total Roll1,991enrolled students
Māori3.8%of roll
Pacific6%of roll
Asian65.4%of roll
Student Body
1,991
enrolled students
European/Pākehā29.5%
Māori3.8%
Pacific6%
Asian65.4%
GenderCo-Educational
Botany Downs Secondary College

Ethnicity Breakdown

Botany Downs Secondary College's roll is predominantly asian (65.4%). The next largest group is european/pakeha students.

1,991students
European/Pakeha29.5%
Maori3.8%
Pacific6%
Asian65.4%
European/Pakeha29.5%
Maori3.8%
Pacific6%
Asian65.4%
Source: Ministry of Education (2026).

Compared to National Averages

The bars below show Botany Downs Secondary College'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
-16.5pp below avg29.5%
National average: 46%
Maori
-21.2pp below avg3.8%
National average: 25%
Pacific
-4.0pp below avg6%
National average: 10%
Asian
+53.4pp above avg65.4%
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/Pakeha58829.5%
Maori763.8%
Pacific1206%
Asian1,30365.4%
MELAA100
Other51
International140
Total Roll1,991100%
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.