University education was established in New Zealand in 1870 and has a similar tradition to the British university system. There are eight state-funded universities in New Zealand, all of them internationally respected for their academic and research performance. In addition to a centrally co-ordinated system of quality assurance audits at both institution and programme level, each Institution undertakes internal quality checks.

All New Zealand universities offer a broad range of subject in Arts, Commerce and Science. Each has developed its own specialist subjects such as Medicine, Engineering, Veterinary Science, Computer Studies, Agriculture and Environmental Studies.

There are 8 universities and few exceptionally reputed institutes of technology, polytechnics, private institutes, namely :

1. University of Auckland
2. University of Waikato
3. Massey University
4. Victoria University of Wellington
5. Lincoln University
6. Auckland University of Technology
7. University of Canterbury
8. University of Otago
9. Manukau Institute of Technology
10. Waikato Institute of Technology
11. UNITEC
12. Wellington Institute of Technology
13. Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki
14. Eastern Institute of Technology
15. Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology
16. Otago Polytechnic
17. Pacific International Hotel Management School
18. Design and Arts College
19. Auckland Institute of Studies - St. Helens
20. Universal College of Learning
21. Academic College Group