Normally held inside the Community Centre in the Playgroup Room. A facilitator has now been found (July 2025) and we are awaiting for confirmation to come through on new session dates, watch this space!
WestREAP, also facilitates the following activities: Baby Place, Whanau In-Home Learning, Melody Makers, Nature Explorers.
(For pre-schoolers)
Meets twice a week Monday and Thursday 10:30am–12:30pm at the Community Centre in the Multi Purpose / Meeting Room.
We also have a range of quality toys available to hire (during session times) from our toy library.
Visitors and locals are welcome to drop in to join us.
(For pre-schoolers)
Principal: Janet Ristow
Full Primary School (Year 1-8)
Postal details: P O Box 17, Franz Josef Glacier, 7856
School telephone: 027 7520733
Email: [email protected]
Franz Josef Glacier School is a full Primary School offering education from New Entrants to Year 8.
As of Feb 2025 there are 41 pupils at the school, 1 teaching Principal, 2 full-time teachers and 1 support staff member. There is a school bus that runs north and south of the school.
If you have school aged children and are considering moving to Franz Josef feel free to drop Janet an e-mail to introduce yourself and ask any questions you may have. New enrolments need to contact the school to make an appointment to visit the school.
Franz Josef Glacier School uses Linc-Ed Hero to communicate and share student learning and progress with parents and caregivers.
The speed signs outside the school lower the speed to 60km from 8:30 to 9am and then again in the afternoon from 2:45 to 3:15pm. In NZ when passing a stationary school bus the speed limit is 20km/h.
Community use of the School Grounds
Community members can use the sports field / netball court in a way that is respectful after school hours, from 4pm on weekdays and anytime over the weekend / holidays.
Basketball hoops are always on the court. The tennis net is stored on the classroom deck under the seat and if people want to use the tennis they can put the net up and will need a screwdriver to remove the pole caps on the court.
If social sports teams want to use the school grounds we do prefer that they contact the school as a courtesy as we can arrange use of toilets etc.
South Westland Area School (SWAS) is an area school offering education from New Entrants to Year 13.
As of 2024 there are 128 pupils at the school.
New enrolments need to contact the school to make an appointment to visit the school.
A school bus runs from Franz Josef to HariHari in the mornings and back to Franz Josef again in the afternoons.
The community aims to host a few social events each year. One of the most popular events is the Christmas Market. If you would like to get involved drop the Community Development Officer (CDO) an e-mail.
Our most recent market included:
There are also some awesome prizes to be won with the raffles. In 2025 the funds raised from the raffles went to Franz Josef Civil Defence. Both the FJ PTA and Playgroup had a stall and operated the kitchen to raise funds for their groups as well.
We operate our community library in conjunction with the Westland District Library in Hokitika who we do a 3 month book swap with.
The books from Hokitika are complemented by a range of our own local books & puzzles.
Membership to the library is free and available to all community / society members.
If you would like some on line reading material check out the Westland District Library’s digital Library.
Please note that this library does not have computers available or wifi.
The Heritage Food Crops Research Trust & Community members have put together this terrific resource that is free for all community members to us in return for returning some seeds once you have harvested.
All beans and tomatoes are old Heirloom varieties.
Keen to become a Franz Josef Library Member? email us on [email protected]
The St James Church is located at the top of the village, up at the Waiho River. The church, built 1931, is a Category One Historic Church.
Services are held at 5pm on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month.
Checkout the parish web site or call Rev. Tim on 020 464 6462 to confirm the service time.
Our Lady of the Alps, is located next to the fire station.
Fr Peter Head leads Mass 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.
Sept through to May Mass is also held at 5pm and on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.
Fr Peter Head SM Email: [email protected] mobile: 021 724 323.
The Franz Josef Community Councils main mission is to make Franz a vibrant place for all to live, work and play. We do this through creating social & recreational opportunities for the villages 400 or so permanent residents.
Below are our established community groups. If you have a skill or an interest that you think others may enjoy sharing drop us a line and we will put you in touch with others that may be keen to make it happen.
We work with a range of community funding partners to make community building activities happen!
Social Sports
Squash
Why not gather some friends and hire the squash court for a fun game.
Join FB page ‘Franz Josef Squash Club’ to meet other players and arrange a time for a game.
We do not have rackets / balls available for hire.
Coins are required to operate the squash court lights. Visit the Four Square if you need change.
Badminton
The South Westland Badminton club is based at Franz Josef.
We are a bit serious about having fun and building skills that have seen our club members represent us at South Island Level.
Club night is held Tuesdays (March – November) at the Community Centre.
On Club night coaching is available for
Frisbee Golf
Franz has its own 9 net Frisbee Golf Course.
It is located opposite the Community Centre/ Fire Station. The course is continuously under development. Your donation / hire of Frisbee will help the small team of locals who are developing this community asset to achieve their goals!
Frisbee can be hired from Glacier Valley Eco Tours who are located in the Helicopter Line Building, next the Glacier Motors on the main street.
Table Tennis
We offer a range of social sporting equipment including a commercial grade Table tennis table. If you see an opportunity for us to expand the range of equipment do get in touch!
The table is available as part of a hire of the main hall.
Contact us via e-mail to confirm a time to have a game!
Seasonal sports
Seasonal sports are typically advertised on the Franz Josef Collective Facebook group or drop us an e-mail.
We have regular groups playing