Key points
This indicator measures the highest level of education or qualification attained for adults (aged 15 years or over). Measuring the qualification levels of a city’s population aged 15 years and over helps to identify the job readiness of the future labour force. An educated population adds to the vibrancy and creativity of communities and is needed to remain competitive in the global economy. Higher educational attainment, in terms of recognised qualifications, is associated with a range of positive outcomes, including better income, employment, and health.
- Over the period 1996 to 2006 there was a general increase in the proportion of the adult population in the Waikato Region with post-compulsory academic qualifications, including vocational qualifications (up from 20.7% to 24.8% of adults), Bachelor degrees (up from 4.8% to 8.8%) and higher degrees (up from 2.4% to 3.5%).
- However, the Waikato Region still has a slightly below average proportion of adults with either a secondary school qualification or degree qualification.
- There is considerable variation in adult educational attainment throughout the Region. Otorohanga District has a relatively high percentage of adults with no qualifications (37.3%) compared to NZ as a whole (25.0%), and a relatively low percentage of adults with a degree (6.3% compared to the NZ average of 15.8%).
Highest qualification for census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over (%), 2006 - Waikato Region and territorial authorities
| Highest Qualification |
No Qualification |
Secondary School Qualification |
Vocational Qualification |
Degree |
Total |
| New Zealand |
25.0 |
35.0 |
24.1 |
15.8 |
100.0 |
| Waikato Region |
29.0 |
33.9 |
24.8 |
12.3 |
100.0 |
| Franklin District |
28.1 |
35.7 |
26.1 |
10.1 |
100.0 |
| Thames-Coromandel District |
31.3 |
32.8 |
27.1 |
8.7 |
100.0 |
| Hauraki District |
39.9 |
31.7 |
22.7 |
5.7 |
100.1 |
| Waikato District |
31.1 |
32.6 |
24.6 |
11.8 |
100.0 |
| Matamata-Piako District |
34.9 |
34.8 |
23.2 |
7.1 |
100.0 |
| Hamilton City |
22.2 |
35.1 |
24.1 |
18.6 |
100.0 |
| Waipa District |
28.3 |
34.0 |
26.3 |
11.4 |
100.0 |
| Otorohanga District |
37.3 |
33.5 |
22.8 |
6.3 |
100.0 |
| South Waikato District |
39.9 |
30.8 |
23.7 |
5.5 |
99.9 |
| Waitomo District |
40.2 |
31.3 |
21.4 |
7.2 |
100.0 |
| Taupo District |
28.8 |
33.9 |
28.2 |
9.2 |
100.0 |
| Rotorua District |
28.5 |
33.3 |
27.3 |
10.9 |
100.0 |
Source: Statistics New Zealand Census. Note: Denominator excludes "not elsewhere included".
What agencies are doing
Information currently being collated.
What you can do to help
Information currently being collated.
More information
More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.
What we want to achieve
The community outcomes we are seeking to achieve by improving the educational attainment of the adult population are:
- Education provides opportunities so we can reach our full potential as individuals and contribute to the well-being of the whole region.
- Maori enjoy the same quality of health, education, housing, employment and economic outcomes as non-Maori.