About the Western Bay of Plenty Region

• About the Region
• Plenty of Lifestyle
• Climate
• Housing
• Education
• Health
• Art & Culture
• Sport
• Recreation
• TMIA

Education

It’s not just the great natural assets that attract people to the Western Bay. The educational opportunities and the reputation of the schools is another critical factor, and New Zealand’s education system is world-renowned. The region has 25 primary, four intermediate and eight secondary schools. The secondary schools last year achieved pass rates in bursary (university entrance) examinations of 63-86%, some of the highest in the country.

At the tertiary level there’s the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and Waikato University at Tauranga, which offer a wide range of study options. Like the city, these tertiary providers are continuing to expand to keep pace with population growth. The Polytechnic has developed a new, spacious campus at Windermere and offers national certificates and diplomas in more than 25 industry areas. Waikato University at Tauranga, located in the central business district, is run by the Hamilton-based Waikato University and has been operating since 1998. The student roll has quickly grown and over 150 papers are offered.