ENROLMENT QUICK LINKS

Open Days

The Marian College Open Day is held annually in May and is an opportunity to meet our school community and learn more about the College. Registrations for Open Day will be available on our website from mid-March each year.

Enrolment Criteria 

The Marian College Enrolment Scheme guides our enrolment process and outlines the priority criteria for selecting prospective students. For example, first priority is given to preference students who reside in qualifying Catholic parishes and attend certain Catholic primary schools. ​​​​​​​

Preference Enrolment

In order to apply for enrolment as a Catholic preference student, you need to contact your local Parish Priest to discuss your eligibility for a preference certificate for Marian College.  Your daughter may be eligible for preference of enrolment if:

• She is baptised Catholic or is being prepared to become Catholic
• She has a sibling who is baptised Catholic
• She has a parent baptised Catholic
• She has a significant familial adult such as a grandparent, aunt or uncle who is actively involved in the child's upbringing and undertakes to support the child's formation in the faith and practices of the Catholic Church
• One or both parents is preparing to become Catholic.

Please note that the Catholic preference certificate must be dated no more than TWO years prior to the proposed start date of enrolment.​​​​​​​

Qualifying Parish (Zoning) Information

Qualifying Parishes for Marian College means one of the following Catholic Parishes as defined by the Diocese:

• Christ the Redeemer Parish - Map here; written description here
• Stella Maris Parish - Map here; written description here​​​​​​​
• Catholic Cathedral Parish - Map here; written description here
• St Peter Chanel Parish - Map and written description here

Non Preference Enrolment

Non-preference students may be considered for enrolment only if enrolment places remain after all preference applicants have been enrolled and the total roll is still less than the maximum specified in our Integration Agreement. 

The maximum number of places available for non-preference students will be governed by the maximum allowable under the College Integration Agreement, which for Marian College is 5% of the total roll. 

Non-Preference applicants accept they will be attending a College of Catholic Special Character and that their place in the school is conditional on their participation in the Special Catholic Character of the College

Student Testimonials

Kia Ora parents, teachers, and future students. My name is Darcy, and I am a Year 9 student here at Marian College. Standing here today, I can honestly say that coming to Marian has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Starting high school can feel exciting, but also a little overwhelming. I remember before I started I was constantly having thoughts and  feeling nervous about whether I would fit in, make friends, or be able to keep up. But from my very first day, I felt welcomed, supported, and encouraged to be myself. Marian is not just a school where you learn subjects — it is a community where people genuinely care about you.

One of the things that makes Marian so special are the opportunities that are given to each and  every student. Whether your passion is academics, sports, music, drama, leadership, or helping others, there is a place for you here. I have been able to try new things that I never thought I would have the confidence to do before. The teachers constantly encourage us to step outside our comfort zones because they believe in our potential, even when we sometimes doubt ourselves. That support has helped me grow not only as a student, but also as a person already.

Another thing I love about Marian is the sense of belonging. Everyone talks about school spirit, but here you truly feel it every day. The older students are friendly and supportive, and the friends you make through whanau events are forever. There is always someone willing to help when things get difficult, whether it is with schoolwork, friendships, or simply having a tough day.  I remember not too long ago when I experienced my first high school athletics day, and swimming sports. Even if athletics isn't your thing or you aren't a professional level swimmer, there are so many options for you to participate in. I know for me, swimming isn't my strong suit but that day I ended up in the pool so many times participating in every race I could. 

What inspires me most about Marian is how it teaches us to believe in our potential and our future. We are reminded that success is not only about grades, but also about kindness, courage, resilience, and independence. Since coming here, I have become more confident speaking up, taking on challenges, and setting goals for myself. Marian has shown me that growth happens when you are surrounded by people who support you and inspire you to aim higher.

To all the students and families visiting today, I hope you can see why Marian means so much to us. Choosing a high school is a big decision, but I truly believe Marian is a place where you can learn, grow, and discover who you want to become. It is a school filled with opportunity, friendship, faith, and encouragement. I am proud to call Marian my school, and I hope that one day many of you will feel proud to call it yours too. Thank you.

Who do you want to be when you leave high school?Courageous? Respectful? Committed? Persevering?

Marian graduates leave with much more than just their NCEA qualifications. They leave as faith-filled, confident, and compassionate young women.

Kia ora,My name is Seyara De Silva, I’m a Year 13 student, and I’m honoured to serve as the Head Student of Marian College for 2026. 

My Marian journey started in the very same seats many of you are sitting in now, on Open Day in 2021 — nervous, excited, and unsure of what high school would look like.

The transition to high school can feel a little daunting. Suddenly your classes are in different places, you’re reading from a timetable, and there are seniors with cars and jobs. But I can confidently say that Marian makes this transition incredibly smooth.

One of the most special things about Marian is that every single staff member and student genuinely cares about you. This makes all the difference. It becomes so much easier to say yes, try new things, and be courageous when you know you have an entire community backing you.

Throughout my time at our beautiful kura, I’ve immersed myself in many aspects of school life.. Special Character, Young Vinnies, Debating, Ethics Olympiad, Kapa Haka, Choir, and Netball. Every opportunity has allowed me to learn from the incredible young women around me.

No matter which club or activity I stepped into as a Year 9, I was always met with supportive smiles from older students. Over the past few years, I’ve tried my best to reflect those same smiles back to our juniors — maybe even a little wider. 

Some of my biggest highlights have been opportunities like the Bishop Lyons Public Speaking Competition, Feast Day, and organising the 24 Hour Caritas Move It Challenge. Before high school, I never would have imagined experiences like raising over $25,000 through Caritas to support people living in poverty, learning how to debate, or even flying to Sydney to meet student leaders from across Australia.

But above all of those achievements, my greatest highlight has been the genuine friendships I’ve made across year levels. The sisterhood at Marian is something truly special.

One thing I love most about Marian is that every girl is encouraged to participate, contribute, and grow. Whether your strengths are academic, sporting, cultural, creative, or service-based, there is truly a place for everyone here.

As a Catholic school, our faith is woven into everyday life. It teaches us to uplift others, live with kindness and integrity, and use our gifts in service of the people around us. My favourite quote from Mary MacKillop , “Never see a need without doing something about it,” is something I will always treasure.

So to all of the future Marian students here tonight, I want to leave you with a few simple pieces of advice:

Love learning. Be curious. Challenge yourself.Build good habits and work hard, even when things feel difficult.Live through your faith and values. And most importantly, take every opportunity presented to you.

Join the sports team. Audition for the choir. Enter the competition. Talk to new people. Say yes to experiences, even when they scare you.

As the days count down towards graduation, I couldn’t feel more grateful for my experience at Marian. While my cohort will not be here when many of you join the Marian whānau next year, I can say with complete confidence that you will be in incredibly good hands among the staff and students of Marian College.

 I’d now like to leave you with the same question I began with:

Who do you want to be when you leave high school?

Whoever that person is, I can assure you that Marian College will help you become her.

Thank you, and may God bless you all.