Waitākere College, named after the Waitākere Ranges, was established in 1975 due to the increasing population in West Auckland. The principal at that time, Mr Jackson, appointed Mr Borich as the very first chairman of the school. Interestingly, Mr Borich lived next door to the school. During that period, only a few vineyards were present in West Auckland, and most of the area was covered by orchards. As the city of Auckland started expanding from the centre, it required more space and schools to accommodate everyone.

The Rathgar Rd side of the school was originally Vitasovich's Ideal Vineyard, and the further land was previously an orchard and vineyard owned by the Platts. The grounds of the school used to grow grapes for wine and fruits, such as apples, for the orchard.

The school opened on February 3rd, 1975, with a roll of 183 third-form students. In October 1974, the school was informed, apologetically, that permanent buildings would not be ready for at least a year. Consequently, the school made do by using nine relocatable buildings connected by covered walkways. The old wine cellar and wine vats were still present and were put to good use: the wine cellar was converted into a gymnasium and assembly area, the wine shop became the canteen, and the old farmhouse on the land was made into the staffroom and reading room.

One of the oldest areas in the school is the C Block courtyard, which replicates a chessboard. This courtyard was where the school used to meet for assemblies during the week after the wine cellar was demolished for further building. Since the C Block courtyard is the oldest remaining part of the school, it serves as a monument to the school's history dating back to 1975.

By 1977, the school had grown to 700 students, and several modifications were made to improve the grounds and provide more facilities for students and teachers. The gym and fields were completed, and construction began on B Block.

On the last day of Term 1 in 1994, ISC Te Whare Rangiemārie opened with three students. It was the first of its kind—the only unit for physical disabilities for secondary school-aged students in West Auckland. Originally named the 'Unit for Physical Disabilities', this unit was purpose-built in the old library building with specialist staff, including a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, and a speech-language therapist. The unit began with three students and six staff members; however, by the end of 1994, there were six students, and the roll quickly grew. Today, the Inclusion Support Centre/Te Whare Rangiemārie is a bustling unit of 50 students achieving major milestones, such as gaining NCEA levels and winning medals at the Special Olympics!  

The year 2015 saw our very own Whare sitting proudly near the front of the school. Named the Whare Wānanga, Te Waipuna o te Mātauranga, its official opening and dawn blessing included performances and a breakfast for 1,000 people, ensuring it was a special day for all.

Fast forward to 2025, and we welcomed just over 2,000 students to the school!