Building a productive and competitive economy is a Government priority and achievement in education is essential to this goal. Education helps New Zealanders develop the skills needed to reach their full potential and contribute to the economy and society.

A Level 2 qualification gives people opportunities in terms of further education and employment, contributing to better health outcomes and a better quality of life.

To boost skills and employment the Government has set a Better Public Service target that 85% of 18-year-olds will have achieved NCEA level 2 or an equivalent qualification in 2017.

Identical information is available for the region’s territorial authorities using the drop down menu above. For other territorial authorities first choose the appropriate region from the drop down menu above. This information is not available by school.

18-year-olds with a minimum of NCEA level 2 or equivalent, by the age they left school (2017)

Ethnic group	Gender	Left school at age 15		Left school at age 16		Left school at age 17		Left school at age 18 or above
		Below level 2	Level 2 or above	Below level 2	Level 2 or above	Below level 2	Level 2 or above	Below level 2	Level 2 or above
Māori	Female	32	18	33	50	19	171	18	177
Māori	Male	37	28	67	79	29	181	15	120
Māori	Total	69	46	100	129	48	352	33	297
Pacific	Female	2	2	2	5	1	16	1	11
Pacific	Male	1	2	5	4	4	12	2	13
Pacific	Total	3	4	7	9	5	28	3	24
Asian	Female	0	0	0	0	0	10	2	15
Asian	Male	0	0	0	2	0	9	0	12
Asian	Total	0	0	0	2	0	19	2	27
MELAA	Female	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6
MELAA	Male	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	4
MELAA	Total	0	0	0	1	1	1	2	10
Other	Female	0	0	0	0	1	4	1	4
Other	Male	1	0	1	1	1	3	1	2
Other	Total	1	0	1	1	2	7	2	6
European/Pākehā	Female	12	3	14	40	15	266	10	242
European/Pākehā	Male	14	10	44	73	7	213	15	171
European/Pākehā	Total	26	13	58	113	22	479	25	413
Total	Female	41	20	44	87	34	406	30	403
Total	Male	48	36	104	143	38	382	30	296
Total	Total	89	56	148	230	72	788	60	699