Figures from the Ministry of Education show parents and communities contributed $712.8 million to their children's schools in donations and revenue in 2008.
This figure includes locally-raised funds, fees from international students and investment income.
More than 150 state and integrated schools raised more than $1 million and 15 of the top 25 schools - ranked according to the amount of money each raised - were in Auckland.
Sacred Heart College topped the list with $6,377,422 raised, while seven other Auckland schools were in the top 10.
The South Island had just two schools among the top 25.
Post Primary Teachers Association president Kate Gainsford said the figures were "shocking".
She said there were high expectations from communities about what schools should be able to provide but these were not matched by government resources.
"We hear a lot of rhetoric about how it's important to invest in education but in actual fact parents are the ones who are doing that."
She said the ethos of free and fair education in New Zealand was hypocritical.
"Once upon a time we prided ourselves on saying we looked after young people in New Zealand and we didn't like the idea of privilege in your life deciding for you," she said.
"Perhaps we should be revisiting some of those basic tenets."
School Trustees Association president Lorraine Kerr said the figures were "not surprising" and schools were no longer fundraising for "nice things" but had to top up their curriculums and necessities.
"It says what we have been saying for at least the last three years, that it's time the Government stepped up and admitted schools are inadequately funded," she said.
Education Minister Anne Tolley said this year's Budget gave $300 million more to education, raising the total education spend to $10.8 billion a year.
A further $80.1 million was set aside to help schools meet pressures on their day-to-day resources by adjusting the school operational grant for inflation.
School contributions
- New Zealand top 10
Sacred Heart (Auck) $6,377,422
Bethlehem College $5,331,470
Rangitoto College $5,049,506
Avondale College $5,027,003
Auckland Grammar $4,907,426
Macleans College $4,534,045
Mt Roskill Grammar $4,192,924
Hutt Int Boys School $3,876,057
Westlake Boys High $3,855,232
Epsom Girls Grammar $3,745,071
- Top 10 South Island schools
Burnside High School $3,486,491
Christchurch Boys High $3,110,790
Nelson College For Girls $2,553,807
Greymouth High $2,442,355
Rangiora High School $2,396,941
Nelson College $2,115,038
Papanui High School $1,978,406
Shirley Boys High $1,971,084
Hagley Com College $1,958,590
Christchurch Girls High $1,949,512
- Otago-Southland schools
James Hargest $1,714,138
Mt Aspiring College $1,639,809
Logan Park High School $1,213,153
Southland Girls High $1,171,605
Kaikorai Valley College $1,064,992
Southland Boys High $1,063,964
