The study, by the National Centre for Lifecourse Research, found Maori and Pacific Island graduates had rates of employment, incomes and levels of voting similar to those of other New Zealand university graduates.
Study lead author Reremoana Theodore said the study outcome was "extremely positive" and showed the wider benefits of higher education among Maori and Pacific people.
"It’s really exciting to see what they’re going to go on to achieve," she said.
The findings are from the Graduate Longitudinal Study New Zealand, a 10-year project investigating the employment, health and social outcomes of more than 8700 graduates from New Zealand’s eight universities.
Published in the international journal Higher Education Research and Development, the research also found Maori and Pacific Island university graduates were more likely than other graduates in the study to report helping friends, family and acquaintances two years after graduation. Dr Theodore, who is also the centre co-director, said the findings suggested that boosting higher education success for Maori and Pacific Island students might reduce ethnic inequalities in the labour market.
And "substantial social benefits" for graduates’ families and communities could also result.
Two years after completing their degrees, Maori and Pacific Island university graduates were more likely to participate in community groups, such as charitable organisations, or political groups than other graduates in the study.
But they were also more likely than other graduates to take out student loans, and reported worse financial strain.
Maori and Pacific Island students were under-represented in universities and the findings underscored the "importance of equity in higher education" for the country’s social and economic development, she said.