About us

Wesley College was established in 1844. It is New Zealand’s oldest registered school. Wesley College was the first Private School to integrate in the State Education system under the terms of the Private Schools Conditional Integration Act 1975. The Integration Agreement was signed in 1976.

Under the terms of the Agreement:

• The School is governed by the Wesley College Board of Trustees and operates like any New Zealand State School;
• The Proprietor's [Trust Board] hostel was not integrated and remains a private boarding establishment;
• Wesley College has a Special Character, based on a relationship with the Methodist Church of New Zealand – Te Haahi Weteriana o Aotearoa; and the special character includes religious observances.

 In general terms, the Special Character says

• We are Christian
• We are Methodist
• We are Accepted
• We are called to be and to do ...
• We belong

To read in more detail download a copy of the Methodist Ethos here

Download a copy of the Historical Development of the Special Character here

Attendance at Chapel services and Religious Education [Life and Faith] classes are a condition of enrolment at the School and residence in the Hostel.

The College provides education from Year 9 to Year 13 [Form 3 to Form 7] and is coeducational from Year 11 to Year 13 [Form 5 to Form 7].

Enrolments are taken for both boarding and day students.

Historic Information

Download a copy of Reflections on the History of Wesley College here