Queen Elizabeth College, Palmerston North

Queen Elizabeth College
Location
Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Coordinates	40°20′47″S175°36′18″E / 40.3463°S 175.6051°E / -40.3463; 175.6051
Information
Type	State
Motto	Scientia est Potentia Knowledge is Power
Established	1906; 119 years ago
Ministry of Education Institution no.	201
Principal	Chris Moller
Years	7–13
Gender	Coeducational
School roll	366 [1] (July 2025)
Socio-economic decile	3G [2]
Website	qec.school.nz

Queen Elizabeth College (simply known as QEC) is a state Co-Educational secondary school for Years 7-13 in the city of Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Location

The school is located on Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North.

Enrolment

As of July 2025, Queen Elizabeth College has a roll of 366 students, of which 219 (59.8%) identify as Māori. ^[1]

As of 2025, the school has an Equity Index of 557, ^[3] placing it amongst schools whose students have the most socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 1 and 2 under the former socio-economic decile system). ^[4]

Facilities

Queen Elizabeth College has many facilities and resources for its students, such as:

• Two gyms
• A music suite
• Te Matui (Kitchens, sleeping and classroom)
• Arts suite

Archived 2007-11-20 at the Wayback Machine

QEC is the home of ACE Night School (Adult Continuing Education)

Colours

The colours of Queen Elizabeth College are black, maroon and gold.

History

Queen Elizabeth College was founded in 1906 as Palmerston North Technical School. However the school was 4 years in the making, from a public meeting held in the city in 1902, gauging public interest in technical classes. The first classes were held at the Palmerston North High School (which was also split into two single gender secondary schools) and also at Campbell Street School.

In 1903, the High School and the Technical School were separated.

In 1908, land was bought at Princess Street, when in 1909 a building was opened to house the school (this is now the main campus of UCOL).

Notable alumni

• Ria Bond, New Zealand First MP
• Jacqui Dean, former television and radio host. National MP for Otago, Waitaki.
• Nehe Milner-Skudder, rugby union player. All Black, Hurricane and Manawatu Turbo.

Notes

1. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
2. "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
3. "New Zealand Equity Index". New Zealand Ministry of Education.
4. "School Equity Index Bands and Groups". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 2025-02-06.