The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs says improvements in the education of people from Pacific Island backgrounds are not happening fast enough.
The ministry has issued a report on the education of Pacific peoples, showing under-achievement compared with national averages at all levels of the education system.
It cites lower participation rates in early childhood education, poor school performance and poor completion rates in tertiary education.
Chief executive Colin Tukuitonga says children from Pacific backgrounds will account for 20% of school children in New Zealand by 2050.
Dr Tukuitonga says that means improvements in their education outcomes are critical to the future of New Zealand.
