Papatoetoe High School
State co-ed secondary (year 9–13) school
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Papatoetoe High School (PHS) is a secondary school (years 9–13) in Papatoetoe suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.
("worthy to hand on the torch")
| Papatoetoe High School | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
 | |
19 Nicholson Avenue Papatoetoe Auckland 2025 New Zealand | |
| Coordinates | 36°58′30″S 174°52′21″E |
| Information | |
| Type | State co-ed secondary (Year 9–13) |
| Motto | Digne Lampada Tradas ("worthy to hand on the torch") |
| Established | 1956 |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 95 |
| Principal | Vaughan Couillault |
| Staff | 120 |
| Enrollment | 1,807[1] (March 2026) |
| Socio-economic decile | 3 |
| Website | papatoetoehigh.school.nz |
History
Papatoetoe High School was established in 1956.
In February 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, cases of COVID-19 associated with a family whose daughter attended Papatoetoe High School led to increased lockdowns in the Auckland Region for several weeks.[2][3]
Enrolment
At the September 2018 Education Review Office (ERO) review of the school, Papatoetoe High School had 1396 students enrolled. 52% of students were male and 48% were female. The prioritised ethnic composition was 37% Indian, 16% Māori, 13% Samoan, 7% Tongan, 9% South East Asian, 5% Chinese, 4% Cook Islands Maori, 3% other Pacific peoples, 3% New Zealand European, and 3% other ethnic groups.[4]
As of March 2026, Papatoetoe High School has a roll of 1,807 students, of which 253 (14.0%) identify as Māori.[1]
As of 2026, the school has an Equity Index of 472,[5] placing it amongst schools whose students have above average socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 4 and 5 under the former socio-economic decile system).[6]
Principals
- Colin McGill 1956–1966
- Bruce Hunter 1966–1978
- Hugh Richards 1978–1996
- Peter Gall 1996–2016
- Vaughan Couillault 2016–present
Notable alumni
- Fepulea'i Margie Apa, healthcare chief executive[citation needed]
- Georgina Beyer,[7] former Labour Member of Parliament
- Dillon Boucher, New Zealand's most decorated basketballer and former assistant coach of the Tall Blacks and former small forward for the New Zealand Breakers[citation needed]
- Charlie Faumuina, Auckland and All Blacks player[citation needed]
- Phil Goff, former Mayor of Auckland, former MP for Mount Roskill, former Leader of the Opposition (2008–11)[8]
- Mark Gosche,[9] former Labour Member of Parliament
- Ricki Herbert, former All White and former manager of All Whites and Wellington Phoenix
- Emma Hunter, Samoan New Zealander Olympic swimmer[10]
- David Shearer (1971–75), MP for Mount Albert, humanitarian worker, Leader of the Opposition (2011–2013)[8]
- Ish Sodhi, Northern Districts player and member of the New Zealand national cricket team
- Young Sid, real name Sidney Diamond, rapper