Enrolment Requirements.

Thank you for your interest in enroling your in one of our Primary or Secondary Catholic Schools. Because our Catholic Schools are a state-integrated school, we require that you obtain a Preference Certificate in order to enrol in our Catholic Schools.

Preference Certificates.

To be able to enrol in our Catholic Schools the child (or the parents) must have a connection with the Catholic Faith. Once this connection is established, this form is signed by a Catholic Priest - usually the parish priest (or assistant priest) of the local parish..

Please note: if you live outside the parish boundary (see below), you will need to make contact with the local parish you are attached to (the Catholic Church that is closest to you).

  • For a primary school preference certificate, the parents or caregiver must contact Wilma in the parish office - finance@christchurchnorth.org.nz or (03) 359 1438

    • The necessary paperwork is then completed. Please note: Your child’s baptismal certificate must be sighted by the parish. If you cannot locate your child’s baptism certificate, please make contact with the parish where they were baptised.

    • An explanation will be given around the diocesan costs and that parents understand the legal obligation to pay these costs, which are invoiced by the parish each term – and then forwarded to the diocese.

    Priests are then available to sign these preference certificates on the 1st and 2nd Friday of each month at our parish offices at 26 Cotswold Avenue, between 3.00pm – 4.00pm.

  • Other than the below preference criteria (5.1) – where your child is baptised, the parent or caregiver must make an appointment with the priest to discuss how to proceed.

    This appointment can be made via the Parish Office by ringing Melonie on (03) 359 1438, or emailing admin@christchurchnorth.org.nz

  • For a secondary school preference certificate – these can be obtained by emailing Wilma on finance@christchurchnorth.org.nz and then bought to the parish office along with the CHILD’S BAPTISM CERTIFICATE. (Criteria 5.1)

    Priests are then available to sign these preference certificates on the 1st and 2nd Friday of each month at our parish offices at 26 Cotswold Avenue, between 3.00pm – 4.00pm

    Other than the below preference criteria (5.1) – where your child is baptised, the parent or caregiver must make an appointment with the priest to discuss how to proceed.

    This appointment can be made via the North Parish office by ringing Melonie on 359 1438 or emailing admin@christchurchnorth.org.nz

  • 5.1 The child has been baptised or is being prepared for baptism in the Catholic Church.

    5.2 The child’s parents/guardians have already allowed one or more of its siblings to be baptised in the Catholic faith.

    5.3 At least one parent/guardian is a Catholic, and although their child has not yet been baptised, the child’s participation in the life of the school could lead to the parents having the child baptised.

    5.4 With the agreement of the child’s parent/guardian, a significant familial adult undertakes to support the child’s formation in the faith and practices of the Catholic Church. The significant familial adult is expected to be practising their faith in their own local parish. They may be a grandparent, aunt, or uncle, who is actively involved in the child’s upbringing.

    5.5 Catholic parents/guardians is preparing to become a Catholic.

  • With the parish office closed during the Christmas and New Year Holiday, there will be no preference certificate signings between mid-December to end of January.

Diocesan Costs
(Attendance Dues + Catholic Special Character Contribution)

Attendance dues are a legal charge and not a donation as this is a condition of enrolment at integrated schools.

Attendance Dues are for property related costs, including compliance costs, school building works, loan repayments, building insurance and costs directly associated with the administration of Attendance Dues.

The Catholic Special Character Contribution portion of these costs are tax deductible.

Please email finance@christchurchnorth.org.nz at the end of each financial year, should you wish for a tax receipt.

If you are experiencing hardship, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Fr Rick (via the parish office) and we’ll do our best to give you support.

2025 Costs are as follows:

Total per year: $635.00 per child
Total per term: $158.75 per child

This is made up of:
Attendance Dues: $575.00 including GST per child per year ($143.75 per term)
Catholic Special Character Contribution: $60.00 no GST per child per year ($15.00 per term)

*Please note that these costs are for our Catholic Primary Schools.