Enrolling children at school
School ages, zones, and when state school is free.
Ages
School is compulsory from age 6 to 16, and most children start on or soon after their 5th birthday.
Zones
Many schools have an enrolment zone. Living inside it guarantees your child a place; applying from outside may not succeed. The Find a school tool shows schools near an address and whether the address is in zone, which is worth checking before you sign a lease.
Is it free?
State school is free for domestic students aged 5 to 19. Domestic students include citizens, residents, and some children of work and student visa holders; check the official definition for your visa. Schools may ask for a donation and charge for optional trips and activities. Children who are not domestic students pay international student fees.
Turkish at home
Many families keep Turkish going with weekend schools and tutors. You can find them under the categories below.
Businesses on Merhaba that can help
Official sources
- How to enrol your child at school · govt.nz
- Find a school and check zones · educationcounts.govt.nz
- Who is a domestic student · education.govt.nz
General information, checked against the official sources listed with each article. Rules and amounts change, so check the official page before you act. This is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Checked 11 October 2026.