Nau mai, haere mai ki te kura o
Hastings Girls' High School - Ngā Rau Huia O Ākina
Here, at Hastings Girls’ High School - Ngā Rau Huia O Ākina, your daughter writes her own story around learning in which she takes centre stage. Knowing your daughter’s story and catering to her specific learning needs is our ‘why’. Putting our why at the heart of everything we do enables us to make the best decisions for our girls, whether it be in the classroom, on the sports field, or through one of our many performing arts opportunities. Everything we do is shaped around the strengths and interests of our students. Our innovative curriculum hooks students in and challenges them by discovering their passions and interests. Flexibility allows students to make choices and drive their own learning.
I feel proud to be the Principal of a school that celebrates diversity, embraces inclusivity, and has a rich and valued history.
Catherine Bentley, Principal
Explore Our School: Book a Tour Today!
Are you considering enrolling your daughter at our school? We invite parents and students to book a personal tour and experience firsthand the vibrant and welcoming environment we offer.
Book a Tour Now!
Discover our outstanding facilities, meet our dedicated teachers, and learn about the unique programmes that make our school an excellent choice for your daughter's education.
We look forward to welcoming you to our school community!
HGHS Virtual Tour from Quest Marketing Ltd on Vimeo.
Our School
At Hastings Girls', we cherish identity as a precious asset—the cornerstone of student learning and the bedrock of our locally-rooted curriculum. Our aim is for each girl to embrace her heritage, strengths, and passions, empowered by a deep understanding of who she is.
Guided by our values—Pono, Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Whakaute, Kaitiakitanga—we provide a framework for developing moral courage. Through both example and exploration, these values become ingrained in our daily lives, shaping character and guiding actions. We recognize that moral courage, like physical strength or intellectual prowess, is not static but a quality that can be nurtured and refined with determination.
We uphold a holistic approach to education, nurturing well-rounded individuals who excel as learners, athletes, artists, exemplary citizens, and future leaders. Our aspirations for our girls are lofty; we strive to provide unwavering support, equipping them with courage, kindness, and readiness for life's challenges.
Strengthening student wellbeing for success
At Hastings Girls', our primary focus is on each individual girl. Understanding her unique journey informs how we tailor our educational support. Our comprehensive pastoral care system is designed specifically to meet the diverse needs of our students. Our aim is to establish a genuine partnership between families and the school, enhancing our capacity to nurture her well-being and effectively prepare her for the future.
Our team of wellbeing specialists is committed to addressing your daughter's needs comprehensively. They continually assess procedures, collaborate with external partners, and leverage the latest research and insights, whether related to academics, behavior, or family engagement. Through this collaborative approach, we stimulate innovation and cultivate the best possible experience for our students.
At Hastings Girls', holistic care is facilitated through our Ākina Groups, also known as Form Classes. These small groups are organised within Learning Hubs in the junior school and include a mix of students from Year 11, 12, and 13 in the senior school. Each Ākina Group ensures that every girl receives personalised attention from a dedicated adult who guides her learning, personal growth, and development throughout her school years. This enduring group dynamic fosters strong, positive relationships, provides mentoring opportunities, and fosters a profound sense of belonging. Our goal is to empower our girls with self-awareness and a deep sense of acceptance, connection, and value.
Providing rich, relevant learning pathways
Here at Hastings Girls’, we recognise students have different strengths, and learn at different speeds. We aim for each of our girls to achieve their goals and excel in learning, leaving us as young women who will flourish in society.
Students are mentored in order that they choose a pathway that best suits their strengths, interests and future plans.
We are committed to a curriculum that challenges and develops the critical thinking, creativity, knowledge and skills of all our girls. Specific learning needs are targeted by our supported learning programmes, tailored to offer extra support to girls who need it.
We also identify and provide for students who will benefit from further enrichment opportunities to extend their educational potential. This happens both in and beyond the classroom, with students participating in events such as Tournament of Minds and Growing NZ. From Year 10, students have the opportunity to take NCEA levels in their subjects of strength.
Become part of our school community and guarantee future success!
Winners of the Prime Minister's Excellence in Education Awards
Since 2014, the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards have been shining a light on teaching best practice by schools, kura, early learning services and kōhanga reo across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Awards focus on the work of groups, teams and partnerships in English, Māori, or Pacific-medium settings. They highlight the combined effort needed to achieve improvement, equity and planned innovation.
In 2021 Hastings Girls' won in the category of Excellence in Leading
Transformative leadership is developing high trust relationships with Māori and Pacific communities at Hastings Girls’ High School.
Junior subject hubs focusing on students’ interests, replaced class streaming. Middle leadership is developing, alongside student agency and power sharing, while cultural identity is embraced in the new uniform.
Expert mentorship supports the principal through a wide-ranging change programme, where community agencies are embedded in professional learning.
University Entrance achievement for Māori and Pacific learners has reached parity with other students, for the very first time.
What the judges said
Transformational leadership at Hastings Girls’ High School - Ngā Rau Huia O Ākina established a warm and supportive school environment that embraces diversity. The school believes in leadership at all levels, with students informing leadership roles. Whānau voice also contributed to a good partnership between home and school – creating tailored opportunities for each girl.
