Death of the out-of-zone ballot? Find out which schools are accepting students in 2027

PremiumBen LeahyReporter·NZ Herald·10 Sep, 2026 05:00 PM5 mins to read‌Auckland schools released their out-of-zone ballots this week – hear from one family that struck it lucky as a number of schools close their doors. Illustration / Paul SlaterThe out-of-zone lottery that once decided the futures for thousands of Year 9 Auckland students is dying out school by school, with scores of “desperate” families turned away this week from their first-choice secondaries.

State schools across the city held their ballots on Wednesday – an annual draw that for