Tertiary attainment

Regional differences

In 2006, the proportion of the population aged 25 to 34 with a bachelor's degree qualification or higher tended to be higher in urban than in rural areas.

T the territorial authority with the highest proportion of people aged 25 to 34 with a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification in 2006 was Wellington City (51.5 percent), followed by Auckland City (44.6 percent) and North Shore City (36.9 percent). 

The territorial authority with the lowest proportion of 25 to 34 year olds with a bachelor’s degree or higher was Kawerau District (4.9 percent), followed by Wairoa District (8.5 percent) and Kaipapa District (9.2 percent).

Number and proportion of young people aged 25 to 34 with a bachelor degree or higher, by territorial authority, 2006
Territorial Authority Number %
Far North District 546 12.4
Whangarei District 1,128 16.5
Kaipara District 141 9.2
Rodney District 1,551 19.5
North Shore City 9,564 36.9
Waitakere City 5,544 22.9
Auckland City 28,557 44.6
Manukau City 7,524 19.3
Papakura District 738 13.7
Franklin District 939 16.1
Thames-Coromandel District 291 14.3
Hauraki District 129 9.5
Waikato District 819 18.7
Matamata-Piako District 372 12.5
Hamilton City 5,280 30.0
Waipa District 882 20.6
Otorohanga District 102 10.6
South Waikato District 210 9.5
Waitomo District 129 13.7
Taupo District 537 15.7
Western Bay of Plenty District 459 14.2
Tauranga City 2,217 19.9
Rotorua District 1,191 16.2
Whakatane District 459 14.1
Kawerau District 33 4.9
Opotiki District 66 9.6
Gisborne District 678 15.3
Wairoa District 66 8.5
Hastings District 1,143 16.2
Napier City 1,098 18.6
Central Hawke's Bay District 189 15.4
New Plymouth District 1,320 18.4
Stratford District 81 9.3
South Taranaki District 327 11.5
Ruapehu District 189 13.4
Wanganui District 561 14.5
Rangitikei District 168 12.4
Manawatu District 468 16.7
Palmerston North City 2,793 28.3
Tararua District 183 10.7
Horowhenua District 255 10.3
Kapiti Coast District 711 20.6
Porirua City 1,083 19.2
Upper Hutt City 765 18.0
Lower Hutt City 2,859 23.6
Wellington City 15,789 51.5
Masterton District 315 15.4
Carterton District 108 16.7
South Wairarapa District 180 21.9
Tasman District 645 15.1
Nelson City 939 20.1
Marlborough District 717 16.7
Kaikoura District 63 17.1
Buller District 81 9.8
Grey District 189 13.2
Westland District 159 17.1
Hurunui District 168 17.4
Waimakariri District 609 15.4
Christchurch City 12,402 27.9
Selwyn District 858 23.8
Ashburton District 426 14.4
Timaru District 576 14.4
Mackenzie District 90 23.6
Waimate District 90 15.2
Chatham Islands Territory 9 11.5
Waitaki District 219 12.6
Central Otago District 312 20.0
Queenstown-Lakes District 1,257 28.0
Dunedin City 4,464 34.6
Clutha District 234 12.9
Southland District 534 16.7
Gore District 126 10.9
Invercargill City 960 16.8

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census.