Māori and Pacific students now make up over 35% of the University of Waikato student body, the highest proportion of all New Zealand universities. Full time equivalent Māori student numbers have increased by 300, and Pacific student numbers have increased by 90, compared to the same time last year.
University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor, Professor Neil Quigley says they are proud to be attracting the largest proportion of Māori and Pacific students of any New Zealand university.
“For the last five years we have had a strategy of investment in providing an academically and culturally supportive environment, and promoting participation through schemes such as our heavily subsidised inter-regional bus transport. These strategies have ensured that regional students, many of whom are first in their family to come to university, can successfully complete degrees while commuting from their home towns,” adds Professor Quigley
Waikato Students’ Union President, Kyla Campbell-Kamariera, adds that it is positive that the University continues to attract and retain Māori and Pacific students.
The University has seen a 9.7% increase in student numbers compared to this time last year, equivalent to 736 full-time students.
University of Waikato 2021 enrolments
Total domestic Equivalent Full Time Study: 8,359
Hamilton EFTS: 7,420
Tauranga EFTS: 939
Māori EFTS: 2,218
Pacific EFTS: 723
International EFTS (on-shore): 724