Marist College, Auckland
Marist College is an integrated Catholic girls high school located in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches from year 7 through to year 13 with an education "founded on the Catholic faith", and as of 2019 had a student roll of 760.
The college was associated with a cluster of 96 COVID-19 cases in early 2020.
Foundation
The college was founded in 1928. According to the college, it was founder by the Marist Sisters, a congregation or order of Roman Catholic women started in France during the early 19th century by Jeanne-Marie Chavoin and Jean-Claude Colin. The college was initially called Marist Sisters College; it officially changed its name to Marist College in 2000.History
COVID-19 cluster
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, a large cluster of cases was associated with the school. The school closed on 23 March 2020 after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19. It stayed shut after a Government decision to close all New Zealand schools. Marist College reopened on 18 May, at the same time as other schools; before reopening, all staff, students and families were offered free Covid-19 testing and more than 900 tests were done. There were 96 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in the Marist College cluster, making it the second-largest cluster in New Zealand. On 15 June, the Ministry of Health declared the Marist College cluster to be closed.Black Lives Matter and allegations of racism
In June 2020, teachers at Marist College tore down posters placed by students to promote the Black Lives Matter movement. The school's student cultural leader quit the role over the teachers' actions and said that the college had a systemic problem with racism against students. Further students also voiced concerns, alleging systemic racism at the school. In a statement, the school's principal, Raechelle Taulu, said that the school was aware of the students' concerns "about racism in our society and in the world" that the school rejects actions and attitudes that are racist and violent, and that it was "reviewing the issues raised". Taulu also threatened police action against the students; in a school assembly recorded by a student without her consent, Taulu said that while the cause was "amazing", the actions of some students was "non-Catholic", and said that she felt the student had defamed her character. The Catholic Diocese of Auckland, which owns Marist College, said it would mediate a meeting with students who have raised issues.On 16 June, 30 students staged a peaceful protest against alleged "systematic racism" at Marist College.
Operation and events
The whole school community, through the general school programme and its instruction and observances, exercises the right to live and teach the values of Jesus Christ. Marist College has daily prayers, regular celebrations of the sacrament of the Eucharist and formal study of a religious education programme.Each year, Marist College celebrates Marist Day, starting with Mass in the morning and a themed fun time after that. It is always on 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. In 2008, it celebrated Marist Day's 30th Anniversary, which started in 1978.
Every year, Marist College holds Family Festival, a festival for numerous cultures dances, many foods and cultural activities.
For year 7 and 8, a social is held either at Marist College, St Peters College, etc around October. The social includes dancing and formality.
According to the school, the school has four houses, named after significant members of the Marist Story:
| Name | Colour | Named after |
| Chavoin | Red | Jeanne-Marie Chavoin, founded the Marist Sisters with Jean-Claude Colin |
| Chanel | Yellow | St Peter Chanel, a Marist priest who, as a missionary in Futuna was martyred in 1841 |
| Colin | Green | Father Jean-Claude Colin, the founder of the Marist family |
| Champagnat | Blue | St Marcellin Champagnat, a Marist priest who founded the Marist Brothers |
Notable alumnae
- Lucy Lawless, an actress noted for her work as Xena in the television series ;
- Agnes Loheni, a member of parliament for the National Party;
- Sonja Yelich, a prize-winning New Zealand poet and mother of singer-songwriter, Lorde.