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School Education in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2016-2031)

Mia Jeremic Mia Jeremic Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: February 2026 ANZSIC P8020NZ

Revenue

$13.3bn

2026-27

$13.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

119k

Businesses

2,663

Wages

$X.Xbn

School Education in New Zealand industry analysis

School education in New Zealand has undergone sustained regulatory and structural change in recent years as the Central Government (Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa) advances reforms across curriculum design, school governance and funding frameworks. Over the five years through 2025-26, industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 1.7% to reach $13.3 billion, supported by increased public investment. Government forecasts indicate that funding for primary and secondary education will peak in the 2026 calendar year, contributing to a 2.5% rise in revenue in 2025-26.

Trends and Insights

  • Government funding has risen alongside reforms, supporting curriculum redesign and expanded learning support. Legislative changes have given the Minister of Education greater authority over curriculum settings, teacher standards and school operations, tightening central oversight across the system.
  • New charter schools have driven an increase in secondary education facilities. The government's expansion of charter schools has resulted in a net increase in secondary schools despite some closures.
  • Private schools align closely with population density and regional wealth. Major urban centres host most private schools, reflecting demand and the capacity to pay fees.
  • Substitutes, like homeschooling and vocational training, provide alternatives to traditional schooling. While homeschooling has seen growth, it still represents a small portion of total enrolments. Vocational education offers career-oriented pathways, but mandatory schooling laws and charter schools help retain students.
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Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $13.3bn in 2026.

Trends and Insights

New charter schools have commenced teaching

  • The Central Government (Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa) has accelerated reform of New Zealand’s education system by reintroducing and expanding charter schools (kura hourua), positioning them as an alternative model within an increasingly diverse school landscape.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
School Education in New Zealand
Revenue (2016-2031)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2026-2031)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Secondary schools will need to grapple with the phase-out of NCEA

  • The Central Government (Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa) announced in August 2025 that it will phase out the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) for Years 11 to 13, introducing a new set of qualifications and a revised grading system over the next four years.

Biggest companies in the School Education in New Zealand

Company
Market Share (%)
2026
Revenue
2026

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the School Education in New Zealand industry.

Products & Services Segmentation

School Education in New Zealand
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Primary school education, Secondary school education and Combined primary and secondary school education. Primary school education is the largest segment of the School Education in New Zealand.

Trends and Insights

Primary school education is suffering as the birth rate remains low

  • Primary school is the first level of compulsory education in New Zealand.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in this industry primarily provide education to school-age children. The industry covers various school types, including state schools, state integrated schools, Maori-medium education schools, and private or independent schools. It also covers a variety of school structures, including primary schools, intermediate schools, secondary schools, composite schools and special education schools.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the School Education industry in New Zealand include Primary school education, Secondary school education, Combined primary and secondary school education, Intermediate school education and Specialist school education.

Companies

Companies covered in the School Education industry in New Zealand include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the School Education industry in New Zealand include enrolment scheme, open enrolment, retention rate, state integrated school and kura kaupapa māori.

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 8021 - School Education in New Zealand

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Government funding has risen alongside reforms, supporting curriculum redesign and expanded learning support. Legislative changes have given the Minister of Education greater...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

New charter schools have driven an increase in secondary education facilities. The government's expansion of charter schools has resulted in a net increase in secondary schoo...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2026
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2026
  • Major market segmentation in 2026

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Private schools align closely with population density and regional wealth. Major urban centres host most private schools, reflecting demand and the capacity to pay fees.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2026
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2026
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2026
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2026

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Substitutes, like homeschooling and vocational training, provide alternatives to traditional schooling. While homeschooling has seen growth, it still represents a small porti...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the School Education in New Zealand industry.

Analyst insights

There are no major players in the School Education industry. Schools tend to serve their local geographic market or community, limiting growth prospects.

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Public funding is crucial for schools' growth and sustainability. Cuts primarily affect public schools lacking private revenue streams, while additional financing boosts grow...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Operating surpluses have increased in tandem with rising public funding. Increased government investment has helped schools partly offset wage pressures, boosting their finan...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
  • Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • Average Wage (2016-2031)
  • Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
  • Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
  • Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2016-2031)
  • IVA (2016-2031)
  • Establishments (2016-2031)
  • Enterprises (2016-2031)
  • Employment (2016-2031)
  • Exports (2016-2031)
  • Imports (2016-2031)
  • Wages (2016-2031)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the School Education industry in New Zealand in 2026?

The market size of the School Education industry in New Zealand is $13.3bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the School Education industry in New Zealand in 2026?

There are 2,663 businesses in the School Education industry in New Zealand, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2021 and 2026.

How may import tariffs affect the School Education industry in New Zealand?

The School Education industry in New Zealand is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the School Education industry in New Zealand?

The School Education industry in New Zealand is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the School Education industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the School Education industry in New Zealand has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2021 and 2026.

What is the forecast growth of the School Education industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the School Education industry in New Zealand is expected to decline.

What does the School Education industry in New Zealand include?

Primary school education and Secondary school education are part of the School Education industry in New Zealand.

How competitive is the School Education industry in New Zealand?

The level of competition is low and steady in the School Education industry in New Zealand.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in New Zealand include:

  • Statistics New Zealand
  • New Zealand Company Register
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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