Utilising buildings built for a military hospital during the Second World War, the school was opened in 1947.

Originally called the Northland Agricultural and Technical College, the school was established with a farm and forestry block to provide financial support into the future.

Like many New Zealand schools, Northland College groups students into Houses for pastoral support and internal competitions.

First names: Clendon, Hobson, Maning, Marsden, Pompallier, Williams.

In August 2015 the Ministry of Education approved a $14 million rebuild as the original school buildings had deteriorated to a considerably dilapidated state.