Nga Tawa Diocesan School

Nga Tawa Diocesan School, also known as the Wellington Diocesan School for Girls, is a state-integrated, Anglican girls’ boarding school situated in the heart of the Rangitikei. It is located just outside the township of Marton in New Zealand.HistoryThe school was founded near Shannon in 1891, by Mary Taylor. She named her school Nga Tawa because of the tawa trees that grew nearby. In 1909, the school relocated from Shannon to Calico Line, where it stands today. The original buildings were burnt to the ground in 1924. Originally a private school, Nga Tawa integrated into the state education system in 1980.Today, the school has roughly 250 pupils, most of whom are boarders. The school also accepts a growing number of international students. These students mainly come from, but are not limited to, Europe and Asia.Co-curricularNga Tawa students participate in a wide variety of sporting disciplines. A unique focus of the school is the level to which equestrian sport can be pursued. There is room for stabling up to 80 horses on school grounds as well as a dressage arena, a full-sized showjumping arena, 1200m all weather canter track and a cross-country course.There are multiple cultural activities offered at the school. Nga Tawa students are represented in a varied array of disciplines and arts, particularly given the significantly smaller student body than most of their local competitors.AcademicThe school previously offered the International Baccalaureate exams (up until the end of the 2013 academic year) as well as the New Zealand NCEA exams.