Garin College is a New Zealand Catholic, integrated, co-educational day and boarding secondary school in Nelson on the northern outskirts of Richmond. The college opened on 28 January 2002 to serve the Catholic community, particularly in the upper South Island.
As a state-integrated school, the proprietors of Garin College charge compulsory attendance dues to cover capital costs. For the 2025 school year, the attendance dues payable is $1,147 per year per student.[3]
As of July 2025, Garin College has a roll of 638 students, of which 91 (14.3%) identify as Māori.[2]
As of 2025, the school has an Equity Index of 428,[4] placing it amongst schools whose students have few socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 8 and 9 under the former socio-economic decile system).[5]
Houses
Garin College has four houses. The houses all have individual names (all are named catholic religious figures) and are represented by colours. Siblings enrolled at the college are often put in the same house.[6]
The school has accommodation for up to 56 boarders from outlying areas in its boarding hostel, separated into two houses by gender: Francis Douglas House for male students; and Mother Teresa House for female students.[7]
Haka
The college's haka was written and performed for the first time in 2006, four years after the school first opened. It was first unveiled to the school and spectators at the 2006 annual Te Wairua o nga Mahi Toi festival. It was the opening act on the 2006 final Mahi Toi night.[8]
Garin Values
The name of the school has been backronymised to stand for: generosity, aroha (Māori for love), rangimarie (Māori for respect), integrity & new life
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