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The facilities at the New Zealand schools we visited in the 1980s and 90s seemed comparable to those at Canadian, English, and United States schools. There were, however, some differences. Cafeterias, libraries, and sports facilities are all facilities that can be quite different. One difference is that most New Zealands schools do not have cafeterias. This is probably due in part to the mild New Zealand climate. Students usually bring their lunches and eat outside. This is possible even in the winter. Certainly finances were another matter. The size of the school was another factor. Most schools also have snack shops where the children can buy sandwiches and other snacks. New Zealand schools often have excellent libraries, here they seem more similar to American than British schools. While most American schools have good libraries, this is not always the case in Britain. Many British private schools in particular had very limited libraries. We saw many preparatory schools with very limited libraries. They also tend to have excellent sports facilities, although not the large stadiums for spectator sports found at many American high schools. Other facilities seem quite similar.
One difference is that most New Zealands schools do not have cafeterias. This is probably due in part to the mild New Zealand climate. New Zealand students usually bring their lunches and eat outside on the school grounds. This is possible even in the winter because of the climate. Certainly finances were another matter as cafeterias are expensive to build and operate. The size of the school is another factor. Smaller schools are less capable of maintaining cafeterias. Most New Zealand schools also have snack shops where the children can buy sandwiches and other snacks. There are varied facilities where the children can eath their lunch outside. On rainy day the children may eat in their classrooms. Schools differ as to the rules during the lunch period.
New Zealand schools often have excellent libraries, here they seem more similar to American than British schools. While most American schools have good libraries, this is not always the case in Britain. Many British private schools in particular had very limited libraries. We saw many preparatory schools with very limited libraries.
They also tend to have excellent sports facilities, although not the large stadiums for spectator sports found at many American high schools. A major aspect of the sports program at New Zealand schools was participation rather than the more narrowly focused programs at American schools which often focus on a smaller number of particularly capable students. Thus in New Zealand large sadiums are less important and more important are fields that can be used by a larger number of teams.
