Many NZ state schools have an enrolment scheme with a "home zone" — a mapped area around the school. If you live inside a school's home zone, your child is automatically entitled to a place. If you live outside it, you can still apply, but a place is not guaranteed and depends on how many spaces remain after in-zone students enrol. Search "Find your nearest school" on education.govt.nz to check zones before you sign a lease, since your address determines your options. Source: Ministry of Education — School zones and enrolment schemes.