The provisional roll-based data showed NCEA level 1, 2 and 3 achievement rates rose by between 0.4 and 1.8 percentage points last year to 73.2% (level 1), 75.8% (level 2) and 62% (level 3).
Over the same period, the proportion of year 13 pupils gaining university entrance increased 1.2 percentage points to 47.3%.
Ms Parata said further increases were likely before the results were finalised, as schools updated and provided late internally assessed results, and learners applied for review and reconsideration of their results.
"The latest results are a tribute to the hard work of students, teachers, parents and wider whanau.
"Education is more important than ever before, and these results show more of our kids than ever are gaining the qualifications they need at school.''
In particular, since 2008, level 2 achievement rates had risen 15%, she said.
"That means thousands more of our young people are leaving school every year with the skills and qualifications they need to succeed.
"We have challenged all those involved in education to continue to lift their game and they have responded in spectacular fashion.
"However, there is more to be done. We will not be satisfied until all our students are receiving the education they need,'' she said.
Otago's provisional NCEA data is not yet available to media, but Otago Secondary Principals' Association secretary Gordon Wilson said he had seen it and found the percentages of achievement in the region were even higher than the national data.
"I'm pleased to see that Otago statistics are again ahead of the national statistics, and I'm particularly pleased with the increase in scholarships in the Dunedin area.''
