New ZealandManawatū-WhanganuiPalmerston NorthPalmerston North Girls' High School

Palmerston North Girls' High School

StateSecondary (Year 9-15)Girls School
Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui · Large urban area
office@pnghs.school.nz 06-3579194
Total Roll1,350enrolled students
Māori19.9%of roll
Pacific9.3%of roll
Asian24.4%of roll
Student Body
1,350
enrolled students
European/Pākehā68.3%
Māori19.9%
Pacific9.3%
Asian24.4%
GenderGirls School
Palmerston North Girls' High School

Ethnicity Breakdown

Palmerston North Girls' High School has a diverse student body with significant representation from multiple ethnic groups. European/Pakeha students make up the largest group at 68.3%.

1,350students
European/Pakeha68.3%
Maori19.9%
Pacific9.3%
Asian24.4%
European/Pakeha68.3%
Maori19.9%
Pacific9.3%
Asian24.4%
Source: Ministry of Education (2026).

Compared to National Averages

The bars below show Palmerston North Girls' High School'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
+22.3pp above avg68.3%
National average: 46%
Maori
-5.1pp below avg19.9%
National average: 25%
Pacific
-0.7pp below avg9.3%
National average: 10%
Asian
+12.4pp above avg24.4%
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/Pakeha92268.3%
Maori26819.9%
Pacific1269.3%
Asian33024.4%
MELAA50
Other22
International26
Total Roll1,350100%
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.