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Coronavirus update for ENZ stakeholders
We’re writing today to provide you with a further update on the coronavirus and its impact on the education sector.
National response
Education New Zealand is taking its lead from the Ministry of Health, who is monitoring the situation closely and will advise if any public health measures become necessary.
At this time, the Ministry of Health has publicly advised the likelihood of an imported case in New Zealand is high, but the likelihood of an ongoing outbreak remains low. However, we recommend that you follow the below advice to keep your students and staff safe and well.
ENZ update
ENZ is working closely with Government agencies to inform and share the advice being developed.
Please find below two updates on ENZ-led programmes based in China.
Prime Minister’s Scholarship (PMS) recipients in China
- The safety and wellbeing of New Zealand students in China is paramount. ENZ is contacting PMS recipients in China to check whether they’d like to come home or are comfortable staying in the current environment. ENZ will support their early return.
- We’re reminding students already in China to follow SafeTravel guidelines. We’re also providing individuals and groups of students scheduled to travel to China with the latest advice.
- ENZ is offering Prime Minister’s scholars who were planning to travel to China in the next three months the opportunity to defer their travel at this time.
- We have been working closely with tertiary education providers as we work through these options.
ENZ events in Asia
- ENZ is reviewing the agent seminars scheduled to go ahead in China this March. We expect to be able to share our decision with the sector shortly.
- Finally ENZ has set up an email address to receive sector feedback, questions and concerns – please email response@enz.govt.nz.
Advice from the Ministry of Education
- The Ministry of Education has released advice for principals, early learning services, tertiary and parents on keeping staff and students safe.
- The Ministry is advising providers to err on the side of caution. Staff and students who are arriving from China, have recently travelled there, or feel they may have been exposed to coronavirus are to take the voluntary precaution of staying at home for up to 14 days. This would take effect from their last date of exposure or from the time they arrived in the country if they are unsure.
- It is important to remember the safety and wellbeing of all students is of paramount importance during this period of uncertainty. As international education providers are aware, they have an important responsibility to ensure that students are well-informed, safe and properly cared for. For further information, see the Ministry of Health’s advice to principals or NZQA information.
- For further guidance, including for homestay, hostel and other accommodation providers, see the Ministry of Education's information for the education sector, caregivers and whānau of learners.
Health and travel advice
- Keep yourself safe by following the World Health Organisation’s standard recommendations to prevent infections:
- Wash your hands regularly
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
- Thoroughly cook meat and eggs
- Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness.
Key sources of information are:
- MFAT’s Safetravel website As of yesterday, it advises New Zealanders do not travel to Hubei province due to the coronavirus and the associated travel restrictions imposed by the Chinese authorities.
- Ministry of Health’s webpage on the Coronavirus. In addition:
  - The Ministry has released information for travellers arriving to New Zealand in English, traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese.
  - The Ministry encourages travellers who become sick within a month of their arrival to seek medical advice and contact Healthline (0800 611 116) or a doctor. It is important to mention recent travel to Wuhan and any known contact with someone with severe acute respiratory illness who has been in Wuhan.
  - The Ministry is also publishing border advisories on this page which it shares with border stakeholders.
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) is providing situation reports, travel advice and advises on measures to protect yourself.
Please contact us if you have any issues or concerns - response@enz.govt.nz.

Thank you for all the applications we have received.

The Fund has now been allocated and we are no longer able to accept applications.

The Government has established a $1M hardship fund for international students to address urgent, temporary needs, for example temporary inability to access cash or because of reduced part-time employment.

Criteria

We welcome applications from education providers and organisations to apply for grants of up to $20,000 (GST not to be included) to enable you to provide eligible international students with direct financial relief or other support, including food parcels and support towards living costs.

Organisations can apply for grants up to $20,000.

Applications can be made from 21 May until funding has been allocated.

Which organisations are eligible to apply to ENZ for grants?

Education providers who are signatories to the Code of Practice
Community groups
Peak bodies, or
Other organisations who currently work with international students and have the mechanisms and experience to support international students with hardship requests.

Individual students and education agents may not apply to ENZ to access the fund.

What grants are available?

Eligible organisations may apply for grants of up to $20,000 (GST not to be included) per request to the fund.
Grants are one-off; however, the same organisation may make additional requests after using their initial funding (subject to the availability of funding).

What can grants be used for?

The grants may be used to:

scale up existing student hardship initiatives
support eligible students through:
- Direct cash grants
- The purchase of resources on behalf of international students, such as food parcels, where this is appropriate.
The maximum amount that can be applied for is up to $1,000 per international student your organisation is supporting.
Funds may not be used for:
- Salaries or staff administration costs
- Funding for flights home
- Tuition fees
- Granting individual students support of more than $1,000 in cash or kind.

Which students are eligible for support?

Grants can only be used to provide support to eligible students.
An eligible student is:
- A current fee-paying international student, or enrolled as a fee-paying international student as at 23 March
- Currently in New Zealand
- In genuine, temporary hardship^[1]
- Not eligible for other government financial support.
International PhD students paying domestic fees are eligible for the government’s domestic student hardship fund and should be encouraged to seek help from that scheme in the first instance.

Table: Summary of eligible and ineligible students

Eligible students	Ineligible students
A current fee-paying international student, or enrolled as an international student as at 23 March. In genuine, temporary hardship.	International PhD students paying domestic fees. International students who are not currently enrolled or who were not enrolled as an international student as at 23 March. International students who are eligible for other government support.

How do organisations apply?

To apply for grant funding, organisations must complete and submit an online application form to ENZ.
Organisations will need to provide the following information:
- Their strategy and approach to identifying students in need, including outreach efforts and ensuring eligibility criteria are met
- Estimated number of international students and basic demographics (e.g. age range, sector, nationalities, region)
- Total amount requested, what it will be used for, and how it has been calculated
- The organisation’s resources to ensure appropriate distribution
- Agreement to meet reporting requirements (including publication) and to repay any underspend within 12 weeks of having been granted the funds
- Invoice and bank details for payment.
Process – Applications are now closed.
Assessment of applications will be completed within five working days. Approval will be notified by email, as will confirmation of distribution of funds.
Any queries about the International Student Hardship Fund can be sent to response@enz.govt.nz or raised with Sahinde Pala, Director of Student Experience & Global Citizens at Education New Zealand.

Reporting requirements:

Organisations will need to report to ENZ on:
- The number of students assisted, and basic demographics (e.g. age range, sector, nationalities, region of New Zealand)
- The type of assistance provided
- How much was provided.
To demonstrate programme outcomes, and as part of its commitment to ensuring value for money from expenditure, ENZ will publish reports from participating organisations in whole or part.

Closing date

Applications can be made from 21 May, until funding has been allocated.

Further information

Frequently asked questions are available here.

Any queries or concerns about the International Student Hardship Fund can be sent to response@enz.govt.nz or raised with Sahinde Pala, Director of Student Experience & Global Citizens at Education New Zealand.

Thank you for your assistance in helping to support international students currently studying here during these unprecedented times.

[1] Organisations will have the discretion to determine what constitutes significant, temporary hardship in accordance with their existing policies and practices.

ENZ’s WeChat mini programme supports Chinese students
There are currently more than 12,000 Chinese international students studying in New Zealand, and over 2,000 studying in China with New Zealand providers. Together, these groups make up 36 percent of NZ’s overall international student population.
NauMai NZ was launched in May 2019. Since then, the digital platform has had more than 9,000 students sign up, and it continues to support our international students as a key source of timely information during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NauMai is a valuable tool for international students, but analysing usage over the past 12 months reveals most Chinese students are not engaging with the platform. These students instead prefer to interact within WeChat, a Chinese social media platform with over a billion daily users.
To better support our international Chinese students while they are in New Zealand, ENZ has launched an alternative “mini programme” within the WeChat environment.
ENZ Student Experience Advisor Faymie Li explains how it will make it easier for Chinese students to engage with NauMai’s content. “The NauMai NZ WeChat mini programme will better serve our Chinese student population in New Zealand for two simple reasons: it’s on a platform that they are more familiar with and frequently use, and it’s in their language."
As well as providing students with useful information, the mini programme will also provide a platform for students to engage with each other. Students will be able to share their New Zealand life and study experience and provide peer support to others.
ENZ is hosting our first mini programme livestream with the theme ‘how to spend your summer in New Zealand’ on 28 October.
Know students who use WeChat? They can sign up for our first livestream and start exploring the mini programme by searching ‘新西兰留学生活指南NauMai NZ’ or by scanning the QR code below.
An update from the ENZ Global Citizens team
Introducing our Global Citizens Manager, Carla Rey Vasquez
Carla joined ENZ in the new role of Global Citizens Manager, based in Wellington, in April. As part of her role with ENZ, she is leading the co-creation and implementation of the Global Citizenship strategy as a key enabler for international education.
Prior to joining ENZ, Carla was actively engaged in cross-sector collaboration in her role at AFS, including educational institutions, experts, funders, peak bodies, and student groups – and had a focus on embedding and improving student experience and global citizenship outcomes across the AFS network for 12,000 students in over 60 organizations worldwide.
ENZ's Global Citizenship team includes Senior Global Citizens Advisor Anna Dekker in a refocused role of Scholarships and Global Citizenship, and Global Citizens Advisor Tereska Thornton, who has a wide range experience across ENZ in various roles, including Acting International Market Manager for Korea and Japan.
Over the past five months, the team have made some great strides in establishing the global citizens strategy for NZ, and some highlights from their work includes:
Global Citizenship korero
Two huis have already been held this year with educators, researchers, practitioners, change-makers and other supporters working on initiatives that promote global citizenship, and the related areas of global competence, intercultural learning, and intercultural competence.
The goals of the workshops were to:
- Map out the key players and activities within the Global Citizenship education field in Aotearoa New Zealand
- Build a comprehensive understanding of the way in which organisations discuss and measure Global Citizenship, and values and frameworks unique to Aotearoa New Zealand.
We are looking forward to our third session on 21 September. This session will be virtual due to current Alert Level restrictions but we hope to have another in-person hui before the end of the year.
Please email Carla (carla.reyvasquez@enz.govt.nz) if you wish to be involved.

Online connector event for Prime Minister’s Scholarship alumni
We are planning our first ever online connector event for Prime Minister’s Scholarship alumni in November 2021.
Building on the momentum of the recent Prime Minister’s Scholarship impact survey, the event will be run by alumni, for alumni and will focus on fostering connections within the alumni community as a basis for further activity. More details to be announced in the next E-News update so watch this space.
Prime Minister’s Scholarship Programme
The team has made the best use of the COVID-19 travel restrictions and lockdowns to undertake a Prime Minister’s scholarships improvement programme to increase access to the scholarship and streamline processes, ready for when travel is possible.
Festival for the Future
We attended the Festival for the Future from 31 July-2 August and were overwhelmed by the number of participants who were willing to take part in our survey on Global Citizenship. The analysis of responses is going a long way to helping ENZ commence on developing a framework and set of definitions on global citizenship.
We are currently working with Inspiring Stories to plan ENZ’s involvement in Festival for the Future 2022, so keep an eye out for further information.
Global citizenship is a key focus for ENZ, as ‘Global Citizens’ is one of three goals in The New Zealand Government’s International Education Strategy 2018 – 2030 (NZIES). Ultimately, we are working towards a future where:
- All students gain the knowledge, skills and capabilities they need to live, work and learn globally
- International education provides stronger global connections, research links and partnerships for New Zealand
- New Zealanders understand and embrace the benefits of international education
We will make sure to keep you updated of the work in this space.
Kōrerorero on quality education
Panellists included
- Dr Dawn Freshwater, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Auckland, who is also the first woman to hold this role
- Dr Sandra Regina Goulart Almeida, Vice-Chancellor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Brazil
- Dr Alejandro Ceballos, Vice-Chancellor at the Universidad de Caldas in Colombia.
With simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and Portuguese, the session attracted more than 100 attendees and 350 registrations from across Latin America and Aotearoa New Zealand. Panellists shared their thoughts on gender equality, integration, and inclusion, and how to achieve more equitable access to quality education. They also discussed the main priorities and focus of their institution in relation to SDG 4, and how they overcome challenges to achieve the SDG’s objectives.
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao’s Kōrerorero webinar series is intended for academics, education agents and media in Latin America and New Zealand. It has been particularly effective in maintaining awareness of a New Zealand education while our borders are closed, while also contributing to discussions on important matters related to international education. Across the six episodes since its launch in 2020, more than 1,000 people have attended, with many subsequent views on YouTube.
If you would like to watch this episode, please click here
From the Chief Executive: Stepping up the promotion of international education
We’re about to embark on education-focussed travel that will include three of our important markets for international education – the United States, Chile and Brazil. As part of the trip, the delegation led by Education Minister Chris Hipkins will attend NAFSA, the world’s biggest international education event, held in Denver, Colorado.
This trip will also feature the launch of ENZ’s amazing new global marketing campaign on 31 May 2022 at NAFSA – there’s a sneak preview in this issue of E-News.
I’m also delighted to let you know that planning is well underway for the 29th New Zealand International Education Conference (NZIEC) to be held in August. To ensure we reach the widest possible audience at a critical time for the rebuild of the industry, NZIEC 2022 will be delivered in a virtual format this year, at no cost to attendees.
Following on from the government’s announcements earlier this month on changes to immigration settings and the restart of student visa applications from 31 July 2022, there have been two further announcements that are important for the international education sector. These relate to the outcome of recent consultation on enrolling international fee-paying students under Year 9, and a refresh of the New Zealand International Education Strategy. 

International students up to Year 9 
The government has decided to make no change to the ability of international students to enrol in New Zealand primary and intermediate schools. This follows earlier consultation on possible options to restrict the enrolment of international students below Year 9, which closed in March 2022.
This announcement has been widely welcomed, and demonstrates the government listened closely to feedback received from the sector and other interested parties. It’s good news that we can resume welcoming young students and groups to New Zealand schools across all age levels as our borders reopen.   

New Zealand International Education Strategy (NZIES)
The existing NZIES dates back to 2018, and the impact of Covid-19 and the changed global education environment mean another look at the strategy is timely.  Consultation on a refreshed NZIES 2022-2030 is underway, and I encourage you to provide your views and feedback before consultation closes on 24 June 2022.
The draft refreshed NZIES 2022-2030 reflects the government’s continued commitment to international education, and the need for us to focus on building back better from the pandemic. It includes two phases. The first phase is about rebuilding and recovery – promoting New Zealand’s education brand and supporting student recruitment.  The second phase aims to build capability and investment in a more diverse and resilient international education sector.
As a package, the recent government decisions including the immigration rebalance mean we now have increased certainty about the operating environment for the international education sector. We look forward to working with you to rebuild our international education sector to be a major contributor to New Zealand. And we look forward to students from all around the world enjoying the benefits of a New Zealand education, and New Zealanders enjoying the benefits these students bring to our communities.

He rā ki tua – better times are coming. 
Grant McPherson
Innovation at Mission New Zealand
With support from the product and service diversification pilot funding round led by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), the new platform is being developed and managed by The Mind Lab.
Mission New Zealand offers a fully immersive and distinctively New Zealand experience. It focuses on the key differences that New Zealand offers and the benefits of being part of a movement for positive change. A range of shorter learning opportunities are grouped under four themes that reflect New Zealand’s progressiveness and values: culture, tech innovation, creativity and sustainability.
Visitors to the site will be greeted by the world’s first 360° virtual pōwhiri, starting at the gates of Ngāti Whātua Orākei Marae in Auckland. They will experience being called onto the marae with a karanga and stepping onto the grounds to be welcomed by members of Ngāti Whātua.

A screenshot from Mission New Zealand's virtual pōwhiri

Personalised learning, with optional content and stories, insights and other material will help learners experience what makes New Zealand unique.
The new platform is designed to address the increasing global demand for connecting with a visible cause, for online learning options, and for shorter and more flexible courses.
There are still opportunities for New Zealand education providers interested in being part of this opportunity, before the marketing campaign gets underway over the next two months. The site will enable providers to test the demand for their short courses and micro-credentials in areas of New Zealand specialist expertise.
This project is part of ENZ’s programme to encourage the development of new products and services in the international education sector, supported by the COVID Response and Recovery Fund.
The Mind Lab was founded in 2013 and has a strong background in innovation, online delivery and building community connections, including relationships with iwi and Māori-led organisations.
New Zealand – Korea digital student exchange
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) again worked in partnership with two education organisations in South Korea – Gangwon International Education Institute and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education – as well as with NZ-based Learn English Live, to deliver the programme.
The programme offers opportunities for Korean 12–14-year-olds, and for New Zealand students, many from low-decile schools, to develop their language skills and engage in cross-cultural relationships with their international peers. This is done through Zoom sessions using quizzes and other interactive activities, where students can share aspects of their life. Facilitated, student-led discussions in small groups are another key feature of the programme.
In all, 654 students from 12 New Zealand schools and 16 South Korean schools participated in the programme, attending sessions once a week for seven weeks – 102 sessions in total.
Students who participated in the programme represented the following schools across New Zealand:
Sylvia Park School, Rotorua Intermediate, Raumati Beach School, Finlayson Park School, Tauranga Boys College, Taupo Intermediate, Cambridge High School, Waimea Intermediate, Tokoroa Intermediate, Solway College, Rowandale Intermediate, Auckland Grammar.
Each school assigned at least one of their classes to take part in this programme, with teachers recommending the initiative to their colleagues for future sessions.
Within the Seoul and Gangwon regions in South Korea the following schools took part:
Seoul Schools: Dongguk Middle School, Wonmyoung Elementary School, Nonhyun Elementary School, Sinseo Middle School, Soongeui Elementary School, Topsan Elementary School, Gajaeul Elementary School, Seoul Kyodong Elementary School, Hansan Elementary School, Seoul Anpyeong Elementary School, Singa Elementary School, Buksung Elementary School, Songwon Elementary School.
Gangwon Schools: Gangreung Haeram Middle School Buron Middle School Namchuncheon Girls' Middle School.
A total of 339 children from South Korea were digitally connected with children in New Zealand.
The 2022 programme has provided many positive benefits for schools, teachers, children, and the wider community both in New Zealand and South Korea. In a world where in-person exchange and cultural opportunities remain constrained, the programme has continued to enable school children to connect with their international peers and develop long-term connections.
Feedback from teachers in New Zealand highlighted the enthusiasm that children in the classroom showed towards the programme.
The incorporation of a hybrid STEM-based and cultural-based exchange model was especially welcomed and enabled the promotion of unique aspects of Māori culture, in a modern format, on the international education stage.
New Zealand teachers also gave the programme the thumbs up. Given their high workloads, they appreciated that they did not have to organise the content or facilitate the sessions, as this was taken care of by the Learn English Live (LEL) team.
The programme provided the opportunity to indirectly promote a New Zealand school education to a South Korean audience. Students there were reported to be highly engaged throughout the exchange. The ENZ team will give a presentation on the programme at the Australia International Education Conference (AIEC) in October 2022: The session will explain the programme evaluation and survey methodology and how the results are being used by ENZ and LEL to continue to enhance the digital exchange to benefit students. The presenters will also discuss how they overcame challenges relating to language barriers, as one of the main goals of the exchange is to support Korean students with learning and practising English.
Contacts for more information
New Zealand representatives attending AIEC can attend the ENZ session or contact our South Korea team to receive a copy of the presentation slides after the conference (Alanna Dick).
Know of a New Zealand school interested in the next round of NZ-Korea digital student exchange? Please contact Learn English Live (William Clarke).
2026 New Zealand School Scholarships launched in Viet Nam
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) launched the New Zealand Schools Scholarships (NZSS) 2026 programme, recording the highest level of participation since the programme’s inception in 2019.

A total of 56 New Zealand secondary schools and 55 Vietnamese education agents have participated in NZSS 2026, reflecting strong education provider and market confidence in the programme.

Launched on 5 January, the programme will have applications close on 22 March 2026, with 56 scholarships available across a diverse range of state, private, single-sex and co-educational schools, offering NCEA, Cambridge or IB curricula.

To grow awareness and interest in the scholarships and New Zealand’s school study options, ENZ delivered a series of New Zealand School Scholarships information sessions in collaboration with six education agencies and one partner school in Viet Nam. This was in addition to two public webinars livestreamed on a partner media fanpage.

ENZ also strengthened agent capability through a dedicated six-part webinar series for Vietnamese agents, delivered from 3-18 December 2025. The series featured 36 speakers from New Zealand secondary schools, NZQA and SIEBA, and focused on building agent knowledge of the New Zealand school system, regional school offerings, and NZSS promotion guidelines.

The agent webinar series attracted over 160 registrations, with 60-98 agents attending each session, indicating strong engagement across the market. The sessions were designed to equip agents with practical tools to confidently advise parents and students and to support consistent, accurate promotion of NZSS.

ENZ’s Market Manager – Viet Nam, Van Banh said these activities aim to provide prospective school students and their parents clear, consistent information about the NZSS programme and application process.

“With the programme’s record school participation this year, expanded market outreach, and a strong focus on education agent capability-building, NZSS 2026 is a significant step forward to strengthen awareness of New Zealand’s secondary education offering in Viet Nam and support its long-term, sustainable growth.

“It’s fantastic to see a sustained level of commitment and contribution from education providers for this programme, it really highlights the strategic value of the NZSS as a pathway programme to study in New Zealand and underlines the sector’s continued confidence in Viet Nam’s secondary school market,” Van said.

Above: Students from Ban Mai School (Ha Noi) attend a workshop about New Zealand education and opportunity with NZSS

Collectively, participating New Zealand schools have committed an estimated $441,702 NZD in scholarship investment, with each school offering a scholarship valued at 50 percent of the first-year tuition fee.

Since its first launch in 2019, NZSS has awarded nearly 80 scholarships, enabling Vietnamese students to access high-quality secondary education in New Zealand and progress to positive academic and career outcomes. Alumni achievements continue to reinforce NZSS’ reputation as one of the most established and impactful government-backed secondary school scholarship programmes in Viet Nam.
Advertising opportunity for NZ education providers and regional groups in Japan
The publication is the only one of its kind supported by the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo and Education New Zealand. KBUNSHA distributes 20,000 copies to Japanese schools, universities and education organisations as well as education fairs and seminars.
ENZ’s Business Development Manager – Japan, Tomomi Kontani says “New Zealand’s border is now fully open to students from Japan, and interests from students and their parents, schools, and education agents are shifting back from other options.
“This is a great opportunity for New Zealand education providers and regional groups to join forces with us to promote New Zealand education to the Japanese public. ENZ Japan is planning to host and participate in various students/business-to-business stakeholder focus events in 2023, and this guidebook will be the main information source we refer to and distribute at these events. Destination marketing plays a key role in student attraction for a market like Japan with a tourism focus and we hope regions can also participate in this special opportunity to introduce their regions and activities.”
Advertisement rates for individual providers range from $NZ2,400 to $NZ6,600 for guidebook and/or website listing. Individual providers can download the proposal here. Advertising copy can be provided in English.
For regional groups, download the proposal here for further details on the guidebook and pricing (approx. $NZ2,400 for a 2-page colour advertisement and $NZD3,600 for a 4-page colour advertisement).
Interested New Zealand education providers and regional groups should contact KBUNSHA directly for any questions (available in English). Advertisement bookings must be made by 30 June 2023.
KBUNSHA contact:
Minori Takahashi (Director)
Tel: +81-3-3234-1744
Email: minori@kbunsha.com