Kaniere School is a 5 teacher school in a semi-rural setting 4 km east of Hokitika. 

Pupils come from Kaniere, Lake Kaniere Road, Rimu, Southside, Hokitika, Blue Spur and, north of Hokitika, 3 Mile and Stafford.

The grounds are spacious and attractive with well-established trees giving natural shade areas.  There is a large playground with soft-fall matting, a large sandpit which is shade covered, two big fields, cycle track, a hard court playing area and a  basketball half court.

The school’s three classroom blocks have big covered verandahs which are ideal for outside activities and wet lunchtimes.

Student achievement is reported and celebrated with the community, parents, and staff through the following; West-a-Maths, Kiwi Sports Days, Assemblies Fridays (week 3, 6, 10 at 9.10 am), Athletic Sports, Swimming Sports, Open Days, School End of Year Break-up and presentation, Newsletters, Interviews and Reports.

The school has previously been identified by ERO as a West Coast school implementing good practice in Literacy and mathematics and nationwide as showing good practice in our Special Needs programme.

The school is supported by an active School Board and Home and School Association.  There is a close liaison between the school and its community.

Kaniere School is a digital school.  We are part of the Toki Pounamu cluster of schools called Hokitika Hub on the West Coast. The positive benefits of being in this cluster include digital enablement and access to proven professional development  through 'Ako, Hanga, Tohatoha - Learn, Create, Share' kaupapa.

The priority goal is to raise student achievement. All students in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 are invited to purchase a device through the Toki Pounamu Trust (contact office for more details).