This publication contains the proceedings of a conference on the universities, labor market, the academic labor pool, and society's needs for educated workers in New Zealand. Following background information on the conference, a list of participants, and a conference program; the texts of the two keynote presentations are given including questions and following discussion. The first presentation was by Simon Upton, "The Labour Market and the Universities" and looked at the present role of higher education in New Zealand, current pressures, and changes. It proposes some principles for thinking about education and labor, discusses the pros and cons of a system driven by student choice; and looks at the merits of a purchasing agent model. The second presentation, "Educating Highly Skilled Labour: Demographic Aspects of the Contributions of the Universities," by Ian Pool and Lisa Davies, is a research-based essay on enrollment, historical, and demographic trends in higher education. Additional papers included in this publication but not formally presented include additional technical responses to the second keynote address with extensive figures and tables, "The International Market for Academics" by Ed Vos, and "A Note on Occupational Projections in the United States of America" by Dennis Rose. The final section offers commentary on the entire conference. Both keynote papers include references. (JB)