More Tauranga students are achieving NCEA Level 2 or higher according to 2012 NCEA results released earlier this month.

In 2012, 76 per cent of 16-year-olds achieved at least NCEA Level 2 - a four per cent increase from the year before.

More Bay of Plenty students are achieving NCEA pass rates. File photo.

Final NCEA results from 2012 show 68 per cent of 16-year-olds achieved NCEA Level 2 last year – a 2 per cent increase from 2011.

Most schools in the Bay of Plenty received top NCEA marks last year some Tauranga schools taking regional honours.

Bethlehem College, Tauranga Girls' College and Mount Maunganui College all received 100 per cent at NCEA Level 2 or higher.

Year 12 students at Tauranga Girls' College and Mount Maunganui College also received a 100 per cent pass rate at NCEA Level 3. Year 13 Bethlehem College students studying Level 2 had a pass rate of 100 per cent.

Trident High School in Whakatane, a consistently top performer in NCEA in recent years, had the highest level 2 pass rate in the region at 92 per cent.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is welcoming the news.

"This is fantastic news. I want to say congratulations to all our hard working students, and thank you to all the parents, teachers, principals, and community members that helped our kids achieve this.

'We know the better the school education, the better the opportunities for further education, employment, higher wages, and a better living standard.”

Simon says that is why National set a Better Public Services target of 85 per cent of all 18-year-olds having achieved NCEA Level 2 or an equivalent qualification in 2017.

'We set it at all 18-year-olds because we want to capture everyone, including those students who gained the qualification in another learning environment.

'I believe making sure all children get a good education is the most important thing our Government can do to raise living standards and create a more competitive and productive economy for all New Zealanders – one of National's priorities this term.”