Kristin School vs Takapuna Normal Intermediate School

	K Kristin School Auckland, New Zealand	T Takapuna Normal Intermediate School Auckland, New Zealand
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year NZ$500 - 29,056	Fees / year NZ$15,640
Age range	Age range 0 - 18 years	Age range 10 - 13 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP)
Pupils	Pupils 1,800	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 15	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1973	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location 360 Albany Highway, Albany, Auckland 0632, New Zealand. Based in Albany on Auckland's North Shore, the campus sits on a purpose-built 50-acre site set among native bush. A fleet of Kristin buses provides transport to multiple routes around Auckland.	Location 26 Northcote Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0622, New Zealand. The school is located at 26 Northcote Road in Takapuna. It provides a designated Pick Up/Drop Off Zone to manage student arrivals and departures. Parking is limited at the site with traffic arrangements to reduce congestion around the school.
Stages	Stages Early Learning to Senior School (Early Childhood Education 6 months–5 years; Kindergarten through Year 13)	Stages Year 7–8
School type	School type Independent, co-educational school	School type Intermediate
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support ESOL support for international students; MLS teacher; Literacy Support programme.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation New Zealand	Country affiliation New Zealand
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation non-denominational	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The school day begins at 8:45 a.m. The Pick Up/Drop Off Zone closes at 2:45 p.m. and reopens to cars at 3:20 p.m. The front car park is closed from 2:55 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. daily to enable learner egress.
Bus service details	Bus service details Dedicated Kristin buses operate for Kindergarten through Senior School with routes across Auckland. Drivers know students by name. Route information is available by selecting AM or PM tabs on the bus route page.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and Entrance Fees - Application fee (payable on submission; non-refundable): NZD 300 for Junior/Middle/Senior and International applicants. - Entrance fee (required to confirm acceptance; non-refundable): NZD 900 for Junior/Middle/Senior and International applicants. - Kristin Education Bond (non-interest bearing; payable on acceptance and repaid when the student leaves provided correct notice and accounts are clear): NZD 3,000 for Junior/Middle/Senior and International applicants. - Kindergarten-specific charges: Entrance Fee NZD 200 (non-refundable) and Kristin Education Bond NZD 500. Tuition fees — Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten (consolidated) - With 20 hours ECE funding (Full day 8:00am–4:00pm): Tuition Fee per term NZD 5,518; per month NZD 2,207. Activity fee per term NZD 90 (Total per term NZD 5,608; per month NZD 2,243). - Without 20 hours ECE funding (Full day 8:00am–4:00pm): Tuition Fee per term NZD 7,174; per month NZD 2,870. Activity fee per term NZD 90 (Total per term NZD 7,264; per month NZD 2,906). Tuition fees — Domestic students (2026) — annual and instalments - Junior School (Years 0–6): Annual tuition NZD 24,021. Term instalment (four equal instalments) = NZD 6,005.25 per term. Monthly amount if paid by 10-month direct debit = NZD 2,402.10 per month. - Middle School (Years 7–10): Annual tuition NZD 29,669. Term instalment (four equal instalments) = NZD 7,417.25 per term. Monthly amount if paid by 10-month direct debit = NZD 2,966.90 per month. - Senior School (Years 11–13): Annual tuition NZD 30,291. Term instalment (four equal instalments) = NZD 7,572.75 per term. Monthly amount if paid by 10-month direct debit = NZD 3,029.10 per month. Tuition fees — International students (2026) — annual and instalments - Junior School (Years 0–6): Annual tuition NZD 42,195. Term instalment (four equal instalments) = NZD 10,548.75 per term. Monthly amount if paid by 10-month direct debit = NZD 4,219.50 per month. - Middle School (Years 7–10): Annual tuition NZD 52,053. Term instalment (four equal instalments) = NZD 13,013.25 per term. Monthly amount if paid by 10-month direct debit = NZD 5,205.30 per month. - Senior School (Years 11–13): Annual tuition NZD 53,135. Term instalment (four equal instalments) = NZD 13,283.75 per term. Monthly amount if paid by 10-month direct debit = NZD 5,313.50 per month. Billing schedule and payment terms - Direct Debit over 10 months: due on the 20th of each month from February to November. Monthly amounts equal the annual tuition divided by 10. - Direct Debit termly instalments: four equal instalments due on 20 February, 20 April, 20 July and 20 October (term instalments equal the annual tuition divided by 4). - Single payment discount: a 1% discount on the annual tuition fee when the full year tuition is paid by 15 December of the prior year; to arrange payment via accountsreceivable@kristin.school.nz. - Credit card, Alipay or WeChat payments incur a bank surcharge of 1.4%. - Fees billed for incidental items (co‑curricular activities, camps, IB exam fees, etc.) are charged to the school account as they arise and are communicated to families in advance. Additional recurring and one‑off costs - Development Contribution (annual, per child): NZD 1,150. - Activity Fee (covers field trips and curriculum-related activities): up to NZD 699 (varies by year level). - Kristin Alumni Association Fee (one‑off on entry; lifetime membership; non-refundable): NZD 500. - Uniform (new students can expect approximate initial cost): NZD 1,100 for a full uniform; second‑hand options available through school sales. - Digital learning: Year 4–6 iPad lease (managed and owned by the school until student finishes Junior School, then transferred to family) estimated NZD 1,600. Years 7–13 bring-your-own-laptop. - Bus fares: dependent on route and distance; concession cards available for casual users. - International-specific extras: homestay accommodation NZD 410 per week; English acquisition lessons (if required) NZD 1,850 per term; medical insurance approximately NZD 650 per year. - Other incidental charges: co‑curricular activities, outdoor education (camp) charges and IB Diploma exam fees are billed to the school account when applicable. Sibling discounts - A sibling discount applies to tuition only: 10% off tuition for the third sibling attending Kristin Junior–Senior School (excludes Little Doves ELC and Kindergarten). The discount increases to 15% for the fourth and subsequent siblings. Refunds, transfers and fee protection - Entrance fees and the alumni fee are non‑refundable. Kristin Education Bonds are repaid when the student leaves provided the required notice has been given and all accounts are paid. - International students: prepaid tuition and certain annual fees must be paid in full by set deadlines for visa processing; fees are not refundable within the first 12 months if an international student gains permanent residence or a work permit and seeks to transfer to domestic fees. In later years, a full term's notice and evidence of change of status are required before a fee change will be applied. - Tuition Fee Protection: prepaid tuition fees are held in a reserve; at the beginning of each term a quarter of pre‑paid tuition fees are transferred from the reserve to the school's income account to ensure the pre‑paid portion can be identified at any time. Accepted payment methods and surcharges - Direct debit (termly instalments or over 10 months) and single upfront payments are accepted. Credit card, Alipay and WeChat are accepted but incur a 1.4% bank surcharge. Single upfront payments eligible for a 1% discount if paid by the specified deadline. Bank transfer and direct debit arrangements are used for regular instalments. Notes on incidental timing obligations - Certain categories of fees (for example, full-year tuition, homestay, alumni fee in the entry year, activity and development contribution, and medical insurance) are required to be paid in full by the deadlines set for international enrolment to permit timely visa issuance and renewal.	Fee details Application / Administration fees - Administration (application) fee: NZD 1,000 (non‑refundable) per enrolment. No additional administration fee is charged for a subsequent year or an extension of the enrolment. - Designated caregiver administration fee (when the student stays with an approved designated caregiver): NZD 345 (non‑refundable). Tuition fees (by enrolment period and per term) — International students - Full year (4 terms) tuition: NZD 15,640 (equivalent to NZD 3,910 per term). - Three terms tuition: NZD 11,730 (NZD 3,910 per term based on the school's term tariff). - Two terms tuition: NZD 7,820 (NZD 3,910 per term). - One term tuition: NZD 3,910. Note: The tuition amounts include the school education levy, basic stationery, school event buses, specified online learning programs and the Yearbook where these are listed as included. An offer of place is issued together with an invoice for the applicable tuition. Billing schedule and payment terms - An offer of place is issued and an invoice for tuition fees is raised; fees must be paid by the invoice due date to secure the place. The school issues a receipt when payment is received; that receipt is used together with the Offer of Place for immigration purposes where required. - Re‑enrolment for the following year must be completed by 30 September of the current year for continuing international learners. (Invoice issuance, payment-by-due-date requirement, receipt issuance and re‑enrolment deadline are part of the school's enrolment and invoicing procedures.) Boarding / accommodation fees - The school does not operate a boarding hostel. International students must either live with at least one parent in New Zealand or with an approved Designated Caregiver. The designated caregiver arrangement carries the non‑refundable administration/supervision fee of NZD 345. Other costs and typical additional fees - Designated caregiver administration/supervision fee: NZD 345 (non‑refundable). - Education outside the classroom (EOTC) / camp: approximately NZD 200 (payable in NZD; actual cost may vary by activity). - Uniform (approximate cost): NZD 330 (dependent on number and choice of items purchased). - Extra‑curricular activity fees (estimate): NZD 200 (varies by activity — sports, music tuition, dance, etc.). - Additional costs that may arise for particular students include specialist music tuition, some after‑school sports programme fees, specific trip or overnight camp charges, and any insurance purchased through the school if required. Refund information (summary of key points) - Refunds of international student fees are considered only on written request to the school and are processed under the school's refund policy. Requests must include student details, the circumstances, the amount requested and nominated bank account details for any eligible refund. - The following fees are non‑refundable: the Administration (application) fee, the Designated Caregiver admin fee, and a specified withdrawal administration fee (NZD 1,000) where applicable. The school may retain a portion of unused tuition fees to cover costs already incurred or committed. - If a student's visa application is declined, a refund of tuition fees is available less any non‑refundable administration fee, provided the school receives evidence of Immigration NZ's visa refusal. (Refund requests must follow the formal refund policy and supply the bank account details for the recipient account.) Fee payment options and how to pay school charges - The school uses a parent payment system (myKindo) for many day‑to‑day payments such as lunches, sports, trips, fundraising and other school activity charges. myKindo supports multiple payment methods including credit/debit card (processed via Stripe), POLi, Online EFTPOS and bank transfer top‑ups/withdrawals, depending on the myKindo configuration the family uses. - Tuition and international enrolment invoices are issued with payment instructions. Parents are required to pay tuition by the invoiced due date; the school issues official receipts when payment is received. For activity and school shop payments, use of myKindo is standard practice for families. Brief practical notes for parents (fees only) - All international fees and listed additional costs are charged in New Zealand dollars (NZD) and are GST‑inclusive where indicated. - Where a student will not be living with a parent, the Designated Caregiver fee applies and school‑approved arrangements are required. Important amounts (at a glance, NZD) - Tuition (4 terms / full year): NZD 15,640 (NZD 3,910 per term). - Tuition (1 term): NZD 3,910. - Administration (application) fee: NZD 1,000 (non‑refundable). - Withdrawal administration fee (where applied): NZD 1,000 (non‑refundable). - Designated caregiver admin fee: NZD 345 (non‑refundable). - Typical EOTC / camp: ~NZD 200. - Typical uniform purchase: ~NZD 330. - Typical extra‑curricular estimate: ~NZD 200.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum World School with dual curriculums: IB and NCEA; senior students choose between the IB Diploma Programme and NCEA.	Curriculum details TNIS teaches the New Zealand Curriculum, supported by the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. It uses an interdisciplinary, integrated approach to learning. The curriculum covers English, Mathematics, Technology, Te Reo Māori, Languages, Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, Science, Visual Art, Food Technology, Performance Art, STEAM, and Material Technology. English literacy is defined as the study, use, and enjoyment of the English language and its literature, with learning across oral, visual, and written forms. Te Reo Māori is taught in all classes with three instructional lessons per week in Term 1, focusing on korero, and Te Reo is used in classes throughout the school year. Languages are integrated into everyday life to celebrate diversity and promote intercultural understanding; Social Sciences use six Transdisciplinary Themes; Health and Physical Education emphasizes Hauora, well-being, attitudes and values, and social action.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes; senior school classes have an average of 15 students.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results The school has a 100% pass rate in the IB Diploma and 97% of students achieving University Entrance (UE) in 2024.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression 97% of students achieved University Entrance (UE) in 2024.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Apply online: Applications take about 15 minutes to complete and require documents such as the photo page of the applicant's passport or NZ birth certificate; for non-New Zealand passport holders, a visa copy; a recent head-and-shoulders photo; two most recent school reports; and copies of any educational assessments if applicable. 2. Little Doves ELC and Kristin Kindergarten: Applications are open year-round; after submission, the child is placed in an Applicant Pool and will be contacted for an interview if a place becomes available; tours are invitation-only. 3. Junior School (Year 0 and Year 1): Applications are open year-round; selected candidates are notified for an entrance interview closer to when the child turns five; tours are offered by invitation. 4. Middle School (Years 7 and 9, 2026 entries): Applications for 2026 have closed; 2027 and beyond are open; due to high demand not all applicants will be selected for an entrance interview; those not selected will be placed in the Applicant Pool and may be contacted if opportunities arise. 5. Senior School (Years 11–13, 2026 entries): Applications for 2026 have closed; 2027 and beyond are open; due to high demand and limited places not all applicants will be shortlisted; shortlisted candidates and their parent(s) or guardian(s) must attend an entrance interview with the Senior School Principal or delegate. 6. International students: Kristin generally does not accept international students under 14 unless they live in Auckland with a parent permanently present; a copy of the birth certificate and passport must be provided with the International Student application. 7. What we look for: Kristin seeks students with real potential to be intellectual and independent learners and to contribute across the co-curriculum; selection considers academics, character, interests and personality. 8. Community connections: connections to the Kristin community (such as being siblings of current students or children of alumni) are considered as part of the process, but do not guarantee a place. 9.	Admissions 1. In-zone applications: Families living inside the school zone complete an online enrolment application using the form linked below. Upload two pieces of evidence of home address (e.g. utility bills or tenancy agreement), a student identification document (birth certificate or passport, with visas if applicable), and the latest school report. Complete all caregiver contact details, including an additional emergency contact. If uploading documents is difficult, send them separately to enrolments@tnis.school.nz. Enrolments for 2027 will open on 1 July 2026. 2. Out-of-zone applications: Out-of-zone applications for the 2027 Year 7 learners are now closed. The ballot will be held for any available places on 9 September and the results will be emailed within three school days. Priority will be given to siblings and children of past pupils in line with the Enrolment Scheme and Ministry of Education Guidelines. For queries please email enrolments@tnis.school.nz. 3. International Student Applications: For information on enrolling an International Student, contact our International Director, Sophia Yang, at studynz@tnis.school.nz. 4. Information evenings: Information Evening Slides are available and a Parent Orientation Evening is offered. 5. 2027 Enrolments: Enrolments for 2027 will open on 1 July 2026.
Scholarships	Scholarships Dove Scholarships are Kristin's main scholarship program for Years 9–13 and include four categories: Dove Sports Scholarships, Dove Performing Arts Scholarships, Dove Foundation Scholarships (for Alumni/Foundation families), and Dove Emerging Leaders Scholarships. Each category offers up to 50% of tuition fees and is renewed each year if scholarship requirements are met. Dove Scholarships open for 2027 entry; applications close 31 March 2026; applicants complete an online form and are notified by email about shortlisting. Eligibility requires New Zealand Citizenship or Permanent Residency; scholarships are for new students entering Years 9–13. Shortlisted applicants and their parents attend an interview; a financial disclosure may be requested; decisions are final; if no applicants meet criteria, Kristin may not award any scholarships that year.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist Applicants not selected for an entrance interview are placed in the Applicant Pool and may be contacted if an opportunity for an entrance interview arises at a later date.	Waitlist Out-of-zone applications are processed via a ballot for any available places. The ballot is held on 9 September for any available places with results emailed within three school days. Priority is given to siblings and children of past pupils in accordance with the Enrolment Scheme and Ministry of Education Guidelines.
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