NZ education system overview
An overview of the governance and structure of education in New Zealand, including information on quality assurance and the international comparability of New Zealand secondary school and tertiary education qualifications.
New Zealand
New Zealand, or Aotearoa, the Mäori name for New Zealand, is situated in the South Pacific Ocean.
Most people live around New Zealand’s coastline and in the north. The capital is Wellington and the largest city is Auckland. We are a stable parliamentary democracy and a member of the Commonwealth.
New Zealand was first settled by Mäori, who voyaged from the south-east Pacific about 1,000 years ago. The first European contact occurred when Dutch navigator Abel Tasman visited in 1642 and the British explorer James Cook visited in 1769, 1773 and 1777. More organised European settlement occurred from the 1840s onwards.
New Zealand education is increasingly international in character, driven by trends which include the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) revolution, employment markets extending beyond national borders, and a well-travelled population of students, teaching staff and researchers.
Education is a critical factor in developing the skills and innovation required for New Zealand to compete globally, and it plays a significant role in New Zealand’s relationships internationally.
- Landmass – 269 thousand km squared. A similar size to the United Kingdom, Japan and California.
- Located at latitude 34 degrees south in the South Pacific.
- 4.2 million people.
- A developed nation with a high living standard, low unemployment and a diversifying economy.
- One of the world’s top 25 ‘innovator economies’ as it adds knowledge and research to its traditional primary products.
- Known for its independent position on nuclear energy, foreign policy, environmental sustainability and conservation.
- New Zealand has three official languages – Mäori which is the language of the tangata whenua, the indigenous people of the land; English; and New Zealand Sign Language.