A/HRC/45/14/Add.2 community, with only 29 per cent of domestic and family violence and only 6 per cent of sexual violence reported to the police.24 C. Education, training and lifelong learning 33. New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to lifelong learning. 25 Older persons are part of the student population in the tertiary education sector, which includes higher education and vocational training. Older students are more likely to study at sub-degree level, with over four out of five older students enrolled in sub-degree level certificates and diplomas in 2005. They represent nearly three quarters of the total equivalent full-time students enrolled in 2005. There are reports, however, that older persons wanting to enrol in tertiary education are unable to access government-funded living costs or course-related costs.26 34. In addition to formal education courses, many universities and community providers offer adult and community education courses, which cover a wide range of topics from languages to computer courses. Few of these have so far been available to older persons. D. Adequate standard of living 35. Old-age poverty is below the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average.27 Nevertheless, as the basic pension remains very close to the poverty threshold and house prices rise, there are still concerns about poverty among older persons. A large group of older persons, around 60 per cent of singles and 40 per cent of couples, 28 have little or no additional income apart from the New Zealand Superannuation, which makes them very vulnerable to any changes in policy or economic circumstances. Moreover, the Superannuation is based on the assumption of mortgage-free homeownership for older persons. As private rental housing is becoming unaffordable under this regime and in view of the ongoing changes of tenure patterns, the number of older persons facing material hardship will increase and many of them will be in rental accommodation. The homeownership rate for older Māori in 2018 was 48 per cent, compared to 58 per cent of older persons of European descent. 36. There is also considerable variation by age group, with a much higher poverty rate for persons aged 75 or more. 29 There are also important disparities for older persons living in rural areas, including higher levels of poverty. 30 37. The population of New Zealand in smaller towns and rural regions is ageing at a faster rate than in larger urban centres, and the disparities have the potential to increase in the future. In the most disadvantaged rural areas, there is a high concentration of Māori. Many older persons living in remote and rural areas have problems accessing health services, and those who require specialist care are likely to have to travel long distances for appointments and procedures. Older persons encounter difficulties in accessing regular transport, including public transportation and paid services such as taxis and buses. This leaves them isolated from services and social interactions.31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 8 New Zealand, Ministry of Justice, New Zealand Crime and Victims survey – Key findings, cycle 2 (October 2018–September 2019): Descriptive statistics (Wellington, 2020). See http://uil.unesco.org/fileadmin/keydocuments/LifelongLearning/en/UIL_Global_Inventory_of_NQFs _New_Zealand.pdf. See www.studylink.govt.nz/products/a-z-products/student-loan/living-costs.html#null. See www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/New%20Zealand_eng_final.pdf. New Zealand, Ministry of Social Development, “Household incomes in New Zealand: short summary 2019”, p. 9. Available at www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publicationsresources/monitoring/household-incomes/household-incomes-1982-to-2018.html. See www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/New%20Zealand_eng_final.pdf. CEDAW/C/NZL/CO/8, para. 41. Office for Senior Citizens, 2014 Report on the Positive Ageing Strategy (Wellington, 2015).