New Zealand

Partners situated in New Zealand

None.

New Zealand in a nutshell

Location map for the New Zealand

Topographic map of New Zealand with islands and main population centres labelled

New Zealand (Maori: Aotearoa) is an geographically isolated island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island), and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing but in free association); Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica).

The population of New Zealand is around 4.1 million according to the CIA Factbook. This makes it rather similar in size to several European countries, rather larger than Lithuania, slightly smaller than Ireland and rather smaller than Norway. In UK terms, it is slightly smaller than Scotland (5.0 million) and slightly larger than Wales (3.0 million). Thus population-wise as well as politically and economically it is a good match to these countries/regions.

The indigenous Māori being the largest minority, the population is mostly of European descent. Also significant minorities are Asians and non-Māori Polynesians, especially in the urban areas. As a Commonwealth country with strong historic links with the UK in general and Scotland in particular, Elizabeth II is the Head of State. In her absence, she is represented by a non-partisan Governor-General. Actually the position of Queen Elizabeth II is essentially symbolic, and she has no real political influence. Political power is rather held by the democratically elected Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.

New Zealand education policy

In the comparison with international standards New Zealand has a well performing education system. Therefore the focus of education policy lays on consolidation of education. This consolidation is carried out by creation of required infrastructure and in building up and support by institutions of quality-assurance. This way weaknesses in the educational system are to be identified at an early stage. Furthermore is the creation of an advantageous political environment for lecturers and learners intended. Special attention is paid to investments to peform better for and with Māori learners, Pasifika learners, children with specific barriers to learning and communities in lower socioeconomic areas.

The Ministry of Education’s Statement of Intent 2008-2013 (SOI) sets out key elements of appropriate priorities for education:

• All children develop strong learning foundations

- increasing participation in high-quality early childhood education - increasing literacy and numeracy achievement in primary school - earlier identification of and intervention for children with specific barriers to learning.

• All young people participate, engage and achieve in education

- increasing engagement and achievement in secondary education so that young people stay at school longer and leave with higher-level qualifications - more successful pathways into tertiary education and work - higher levels of achievement in tertiary education by the age of 25.

• Learners have access to high-quality Māori language education that delivers positive learning and language outcomes

- increasing numbers of high-quality teachers proficient in te reo Māori - increasing effectiveness of teaching and learning in and through te reo Māori.

• The education system produces the knowledge and develops people with the skills to drive New Zealand’s future economic and social success

- building an education system for the 21st-century - increasing education’s contribution to economic transformation and innovation through new knowledge, skills and research.

• Education agencies work effectively and efficiently to achieve education outcomes

- building leadership, accountability, relationships, competence and confidence.

In previous years the Ministry of Education focused on critical drivers of presence, engagement and achievement for all learners, namely:

• the effectiveness of the relationships that underpin teaching and learning
• family and community engagement
• providers focused on the use of evidence to support learning and achievement.

New Zealand education system

New Zealand´s Education System

The New Zealand education system comprises following guiding principles: - culturally appropriate early childhood services - primary and secondary education that is free for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents - equitable and affordable access to tertiary education and quality assured and portable education qualifications - the provision of flexible pathways for study

Last item regards to the fact that students are not streamed or channeled through particular types of school from which future study options are determined.

Generally the education system in New Zealand is divided into 1. pre-school education, 2. primary education, 3. secondary education, 4. tertiary education Kindergarten education is usually run by private operators and not mandatory provided for all children. Primary school goes up to year 6, intermediate school finishes at year 8 and secondary school is the remaining five years of schooling. Between the ages of 6 and 16 Primary and Secondary education is compulsory for students.

Higher education

Universities in New Zealand

New Zealand has nine universities. Most used to be constituent colleges of the federal University of New Zealand but this was dissolved in 1961.

Universities

Table 1

Name	Location	Foundation

University of Otago	Dunedin	1869
University Canterbury	Christchurch	1873
University of Auckland	Auckland	1883
Victoria- University Wellington	Wellington	1897
Massey-University	Palmerston North, Auckland, Wellington	1927
University of Waikato	Hamilton	1964
Unitec	Auckland	1976
Lincoln University	Lincoln, Canterbury	1990
Auckland University of Technology	Auckland	2000

The total number of students at the Universities at New Zealand is about 170 000. University of Otago is deemed to be the oldest University in Country. Auckland University of Technology as the youngest University was founded in the year 2000, whose origin as technical school lies in the year 1895. At the smallest University of New Zealand – Lincoln University – are 4.100 students registered, at the largest – Massey University – study 42.000 peeople (As at 2003).

Until the year of 1961 the sole University of New Zealand (1870-1961) (Maori: Te Wananga o Aotearoa) as by law founded Organization concentrated several constituent colleges of higher education at various locations around New Zealand.

Polytechnics in New Zealand

There are also 23 polytechnics or institutes of technology in New Zealand. A useful NZQA observes:

Polytechnics have traditionally specialised in vocational training, but that role has expanded over the last decade to meet the needs of learners and the economy. Many are involved in research activities, particularly in applied and technological areas and other degrees.

Open Polytechnic

(Also say about Maori institutions.)

Higher education reform

The Bologna Process

Regardless New Zealand is not eligible to join the Bologna Process, it is engaged in these higher education reforms. The tertiary education system of New Zealand is already comparable to the Bologna ideal. Closely align with the key elements of the Bologna Process do the three-level degree structure, Register of Quality Assured Qualifications, quality assurance standards, efforts at increasing participation in tertiary education, and policies that promote institutional autonomy. Beyond that one has been undertaken further work across the tertiary education system to build on this high level of comparability. Thus New Zealand has acceded to the Lisbon Qualification Recognition Convention, is checking the introduction of an Diploma Supplement, and is verifying the comparability of the Register of Quality Assured Qualifications with Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications.

Administration and finance

Centralised, similar to England.

Quality assurance

The administration and qualitiy assurance of national qualifications in New Zealand is primary coordinated by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

NZQA: registers and monitors all national qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework runs national senior secondary school examinations registers and monitors private providers of education and training to ensure they meet quality standards administers a qualifications recognition service for overseas people wanting to live, work or study in New Zealand

New Zealand HEIs in the information society

Information society strategy

Benchmarking e-learning

New Zealand is the home of the eMM methodology, developed by Dr Stephen Marshall at the University of Wellington. He is a consultant to the UK Higher Education Academy Benchmarking Exercise. After a large amount of government-funded activity (see the 9 MB report) in 2004-2005, where nine institutions were benchmarked (six universities and three polytechnics), recently (up to summer 2007) there does not seem to be an externally funded benchmarking programme oriented to New Zealand tertiary institutions - but this situation may soon change.

References

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/PublicationsAndResources/StatementOfIntent/SOI2008.aspx

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/~/media/MinEdu/Files/EducationSectors/InternationalEducation/PolicyStrategy/NZandBologna.pdf

http://www.nzvcc.ac.nz/node/349

http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/17331/882273_MoE_State_of_Education_v7_p5.pdf

http://www.nzvcc.ac.nz/academic-quality

http://www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz/upload/Documents/Digital%20Strategy%202.0%20FINAL.pdf

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Internal evaluation New Zealand

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See also Australia.
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