Preschool Education
For pre-school education, there are three kindergartens; one in Waipawa and two in Waipukurau. Waipukurau is also where you can find a variety of kindergarten and childcare services. Five Play Centres are situated throughout the area. Several community playgroups meet at weekly intervals. Central Hawke’s Bay has four Te Kohanga Reo centres.

Primary Schools

There are eighteen primary schools, urban and rural, within the Central Hawkes Bay region.  These include the total Maori immersion school, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Takapau, and the Terrace School, Waipukurau that has an attached bi-lingual unit.

All Central Hawkes Bay schools offer a variety of facilities and an extensive range of teaching resources, in a supportive and positive learning environment.

School bus services are available to transport most children, living a considerable distance from their schools.

It is suggested that visitors with school age children considering settling in the district, should visit the local primary school, preferably in school hours, to meet staff, see how the schools operate and what they are able to achieve with their pupils.

Primary level schooling in rural areas
Families considering migrating to rural areas within Central Hawkes Bay are usually interested to learn what level and quality of educational opportunity will be available for their children.  Most rural areas in Central Hawke's Bay have a free, state funded, community primary level school.  These schools frequently receive a high level of community support, and can offer the children a unique quality of educational experience in a rural environment. 

Most rural homes within Central Hawke's Bay are located either on or near to a school bus service to the nearest primary and secondary school.

Secondary Schools
Central Hawke’s Bay has two fine secondary schools. The prestigious Te Aute College was school to many influential leaders of the Young Maori Party, such as James Carroll and Apirana Ngata. It is situated on SH2, 20km north of Waipukurau.

Central Hawke’s Bay College, Waipukurau is a co-ed secondary school that offers quality all-round education to the region.

Tertiary Education
The Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) has a satellite post located in Waipukurau, with the main complex situated near the town of Taradale. The Institute provides a wide range of technical courses as well as a range of full degree courses. EIT has a conjoint relationship with Charles Sturt University Australia for the degree and diploma courses it operates in viticulture and wine making and is a leading educational institute and resource for the wine industry in New Zealand.