The name Parua Bay means "The Bay of Two Pa" which historically is thought to refer to Motukiore Island (near Headland Farm Park) and the Nook Headland. Parua Bay's first school opened in 1871 on Owhiwa Road (Mt Tiger) and relocated to its present site in 1872.
Our school is a co-educational state full primary school, catering for Years 1 to 8, approximately 25kms east of Whangarei. We are a ‘Decile 9’ school situated in a coastal community and finished the 2022 school year with a roll of 330 students.
Over the past five years there has been significant population growth in Parua Bay. Families are regularly moving into the area from overseas and Auckland. As a result, there was an enrolment zone put in place in 2018. The school has experienced substantial renovation and construction work during 2017, with Te Akonga, a four-classroom modern learning environment, being opened that year. Our ‘state of the art’ new classroom building, comprising eight classrooms, Admininistration area and Library, was named 'Te Kupenga o te Matauranga' and was completed in 2021 ready for use in Term 2, 2021. New parking and drop off and additional court spaces have since been completed.
Parua Bay School operates a House Whanau system; all students enrolled are attached to one of our Whanau Houses - Manaia, Motukiore, Pakikaikutu and Taika. Students compete for their house in a range of sporting and academic competitions throughout the year.
Within the school’s current physical boundaries there is a hall, Administration block including 8 classrooms, staff room and library, sports sheds, hard covered courts, playgrounds, sandpits, a special needs room, swimming pool and sports fields. The school has a pathway linking it to our Enviro area and the local estuary, making it a haven for various fauna. A community sports field will also be developed adjacent to the School within the next 2 years. The local Play Centre and Kindergarten reside on school property, along with an after-school care and holiday programme (SKIDS). Across the road from the school is the Parua Bay Day care.
In the school’s community there is a doctor's surgery and a number of retail outlets including a supermarket, cafés, bakery, gym, liquor store, hairdresser, beauty therapy, service station and tavern. The community also has a child day-care facility as well as sporting, cultural, and social clubs including squash, bowls, golf, badminton, martial arts, soccer, netball, rugby, athletics, yoga, dance, music, gymnastics, fishing, surf lifesaving, fitness classes and equestrian. Parua Bay is in close proximity to several beaches (both swimming and surfing), boat ramps, scenic nature trails, dormant/extinct volcanoes, kiwi habitats, and marine reserves. It is also the gateway to the Whangarei Heads peninsula.