The school takes its name from the suburb Mairehau having been adopted in 1916 as a compliment to Mrs Mairehau Hutton whose father, Arthur Gravenor Rhodes, owned considerable property in the area and was a notable benefactor to the district.

[3] The school is located at the northeast end of the suburb, near to Shirley, thus forming a coeducation alternative to Shirley Boys' High School, and Avonside Girls' High School.

Mairehau High School opened on 1 February 1961, having been constructed on the advice of the Department of Statistics.

Mairehau uses waka groups in place of school houses.

[4] The names and colours of the Mairehau waka groups are: Media related to Mairehau High School at Wikimedia Commons