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Leadership team changes at ENZ
Regional Directors join ENZ’s Executive Team
ENZ’s three Regional Directors – Alex Grace for China and North Asia; John Laxon for South and South East Asia and Middle East; and Lisa Futschek for Europe and Americas – have been appointed to ENZ’s Executive Team. This will ensure that international market conditions and issues have greater visibility in our discussions and decisions.
Incoming Regional Director, China and North Asia
Adele Bryant is preparing to take over the role of Regional Director, China and North Asia from Alex Grace who leaves ENZ in June. Adele brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role including her significant achievements with the universities sector, and her international experience with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade before joining ENZ. Amongst her MFAT roles directly relevant to the ENZ Regional Director role, Adele worked as Head of the China Unit, was Consul General in Hong Kong and was Deputy Director APEC. Adele will move to Beijing shortly.New GM Strategy and Insight
Clive Jones is our new GM Strategy and Insight. This is a new role with an important mission to lead and coordinate ENZ’s strategic thinking, priority projects and major initiatives. He’ll be focusing on some key initiatives that have the potential to make a big difference for the future of international education. Clive was previously ENZ’s GM Business Development.Successor to GM Industry Development
Greg Scott has been promoted to replace Clive as GM Industry Development. Greg was previously ENZ’s South Island Business Development Manager and led our Regional Partnership Programme. In his new role, Greg will lead ENZ’s team of business development and project managers, based in our four New Zealand offices, who are tasked with supporting international education providers to achieve sustainable industry growth across New Zealand.Student Marketing expands focus
As part of ENZ’s recently expanded focus on the entire ‘student journey’ – from ‘prospective student’ to ‘student experience’ to ‘alumni and advocate’, we have refocused our Student Marketing team around five areas: student acquisition; events and agents; student engagement; student experience; and student scholarships.
Internal promotions
Kaylee Butters has been promoted to Director, Student Engagement, and Euan Howden is promoted to Director, Student Acquisition.
New Director, Student Experience
Hayley Shields has joined ENZ as Director of Student Experience. Hayley recently led international marketing and business development for the University of Auckland. She has had an extensive career in international education in Australia and New Zealand, including with University of New South Wales, University of Melbourne and CPA Australia. Based in Auckland, she will work with industry stakeholders, government and community agencies and students to deliver a shared vision of a unique and quality student experience for all international students. This work will be informed by the International Student Wellbeing Strategy, the development of which has been led by the Ministry of Education. -
Education New Zealand welcomes urgent changes to pastoral care for domestic students
ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson says, “The New Zealand education sector has long been recognised as leading the way in providing great pastoral care for international students, and we welcome the news that a code for domestic tertiary students will be introduced next year.”
New Zealand has had a compulsory Code of Pastoral Care for International Students since 2002. The Code provides an additional duty of care to provide assurance about the quality of the New Zealand system to prospective students and their families.
International students already have strong protections in place in the existing Code of Pastoral Care for International Students, including safety, wellbeing and accommodation and they will continue to be well supported to have an excellent experience while studying during 2020.
McPherson says international providers need to be aware of one important change that affects them. New offences and penalties introduced today will also apply to institutions enrolling international students. These offences and penalties are for severe breaches of the Code.
The interim domestic tertiary code will be in place from 1 January 2020 until 1 January 2021. Next year, the Government will develop a permanent Code of Practice with significant sector engagement to ensure it is enduring. This will provide an opportunity to address any gaps in the current Code of Pastoral Care for International Students, in time for 2021.
“Education New Zealand welcomes any initiative that ensures all students receive a high-quality education and a positive experience that supports their educational achievement.”
Further information:
- Minister’s media release
- Cabinet paper
- The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 is administered by NZQA who can, with the Minister’s permission, delegate administration functions to Universities NZ
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PIF Recipient: Tokona te Raki
Tokona te Raki has already led some brave pioneering work, such as challenging streaming in schools based on evidence it has a largely negative impact on Māori students, more often perpetuating inequity, rather than reducing it. They are working on indigenous youth pathways into digital futures, understanding future tribal skill needs and honing tribal innovation models.
With global challenges like climate change, shifting population demographics and the impact of technology all combining to create both uncertainty and opportunity, the future is there for the taking – or rather the shaping.
Tokona te Raki is an indigenous social innovation lab operating under the mana of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. With over 76,000 registered tribal members and a territory covering over 80 percent of New Zealand’s South Island /Te Waipounamu, Ngāi Tahu is the largest iwi / tribe in Te Waipounamu.
With Māori youth being the fastest growing sector of the Aotearoa New Zealand population, Tokona te Raki is on a mission to tackle inequities they face in their journey through education and into enterprise and employment. Through projects with whānau, communities, and external partners, rangatahi are equipped and empowered with the tools and support to shape and be inspired by their futures, succeeding as Māori.
Their latest project is an ambitious one: to reimagine international education. With support from Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) as a Tiriti partner, through the International Education Product Innovation Fund, this vision to reshape indigenous education is moving closer over the horizon with a view towards a future where youth are confident, competent, and connected both tribally and globally.
‘Indigenous Future Making’ is a pilot project to reimagine the future of international education towards an indigenous vision of a tribal and global learning network. Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and its knowledge systems create an identity unique to Aotearoa and sees the future as an opportunity rather than an inevitability.
To frame the project, Tokona te Raki has identified several ‘shifts’ that transform what international education can deliver for indigenous communities and learners. From colonial and Euro-centric to diverse, indigenous, and global; from physical, site-based delivery to place based and virtual delivery; from fixed-duration courses to lifelong learning; from rational (IQ) intelligence to emotional, cultural, and digital intelligence; and from narrow credentialling to flexible and adaptive credentialling.
Instead of framing international education through an economic lens and thinking of international learners in terms of revenue extraction, the pilot project imagines values-based value generation, a reciprocal, two-way street of learners travelling both into and out of Aotearoa New Zealand, education contributing to global challenges and collective action, and Aotearoa New Zealand being recognised for its unique value proposition: a caring, safe, secure, innovative and culturally relevant education provider.
The project will deliver an indigenous future-making framework, backed up with a toolkit and a curriculum. An online platform will be explored to serve as an indigenous knowledge exchange, facilitating the transfer of knowledge between and within Māori and other indigenous cultures.
Tokona Te Raki is among a range of pilot projects supported by ENZ’s Covid Response and Recovery Fund funded product and service diversification workstream. This New Zealand Government-funded initiative to encourages the development of new products and services in the international education sector.
The project explores how Aotearoa New Zealand can offer indigenous solutions to global challenges, such as climate change and social inequality. More than a funding contributor, ENZ is working with Tokona te Raki to explore what being a good Tiriti partnership should look like to best support and realise the full potential of an Iwi led project, leveraging each other’s networks and capabilities. The learnings from Indigenous Future Making, and the other pilots, will be shared for the benefit of Aotearoa New Zealand’s wider international education sector, encouraging other education providers and organisations to keep innovating for the future.
Learn more:
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From the CE: Global New Zealand education promotions backed by positive international student experience
Kia ora koutou,
I am delighted to share this update with you from Beijing, where I am attending the China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE), which is among the largest and most influential international education conferences in the Asia-Pacific.
New Zealand, as you know, has the proud distinction of being Country of Honour at CACIE 2025. What’s made New Zealand’s presence even more impactful is to have Hon Dr Shane Reti, the Minister for Universities and Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology join us on this visit. It is helping us raise New Zealand’s profile in education, research and innovation space during our short time in Beijing.
With over 25 tertiary education providers from around New Zealand in attendance at the conference, including universities, wānanga, polytechnics and private training establishments, we have a diverse delegation presenting a strong and unified New Zealand education brand in China.
On Wednesday, ENZ hosted the New Zealand Education Friends and Partners Reception and attended the New Zealand-China Education B2B Networking session.
While the reception was a wonderful opportunity that enabled our education providers to extend manaakitanga to their longtime Chinese partners, the B2B networking session was an important one to help them connect with new institutional partners in China.
On Thursday, I am looking forward to attending the CACIE plenary session (attracting over 3,000 people) where Minister Reti will deliver the Country of Honour address, followed by the second New Zealand-China High-Level Education Forum that will see significant government-to-government engagement in education.
I can’t wait to share some significant outcomes from this visit with you soon.
CACIE is, of course, only the latest major opportunity in what has shaped up to be an incredibly impactful promotions season for New Zealand education across the world – from China, India, Europe and Thailand to Viet Nam, Japan and Korea. I am truly proud of the huge collaborative effort that has gone into the successful delivery of these events with the sector.
It’s reassuring that these strong global promotions of New Zealand’s education quality are backed by the stellar results of the 2025 New Zealand International Student Experience Survey that see 87% of international students continue to rate their New Zealand experience positively.
What’s better is that these highly positive satisfaction results come as international student enrolments in New Zealand continue to grow, with 63,610 international students enrolled in the country between January and April 2025, a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2024 (54,690).
It’s a great track for us to stay on!
Poipoia te kākano, kia pūawai
Nurture the seed and it will bloom into a flower
Ngā mihi nui,
Amanda Malu
Chief Executive
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Update from Immigration New Zealand
Update for international students: In-study work hours increasing from 3 November
From 3 November 2025, eligible international students will be able to work up to 25 hours per week during the semester - an increase from the current 20-hour limit. This change applies to all new student visas granted from that date, even if the application was submitted earlier.
If international students hold a student visa with a 20-hour work limit and want to take advantage of the new 25-hour allowance, they will need to apply for a variation of conditions (VOC) or a new student visa and pay the relevant fee
They can choose to apply now for the extra five hours or if their visa allows full-time work during summer vacation then they do not require the extra five hours and may choose to wait until later to apply for a variation. Some students will choose not to apply for a variation of conditions at all, and wait until their next student visa application
The process for applying for a variation of conditions depends on which system a visa was submitted through i.e. the old system or through enhanced Immigration Online.
For more information, visit Upcoming changes to student visa work rights: Immigration New Zealand
If they’re unsure which system their visa was issued in or which form to use, they can contact us for support before applying: Contact us: Immigration New Zealand
Update for international students: Changing your education provider or lowering your level of study from 3 November 2025
If a student visa holder is planning to change education provider or lower their level of study (for example, from a degree to a diploma), they’ll need to apply for a new student visa - not just a variation of conditions.
Upcoming changes to student visa work rights: Immigration New Zealand
This requirement ensures their visa accurately reflects the new study situation and complies with immigration requirements.
Before making any changes, students or their representatives should check the INZ website for guidance on how to apply for a new student visa on enhanced Immigration Online and ensure they apply in advance to avoid any disruption to their studies.
For more information, visit Study visas: Immigration New Zealand
Update for international students: Keep your visa photo filter free
We all like to look our best, but to avoid delays or declines, visa application photos must be a true, unedited likeness. That means students must abandon those filters and submit an accurate photo in order to avoid processing delays or declines.
Immigration New Zealand uses facial recognition, so filters, AI edits, or beauty enhancements interfere with identity checks. Photos must meet international biometric standards - natural skin tones, clear lighting, and no digital alterations.
Edited images including smoothing skin, changing eye size, reshaping facial features, or cropping your head onto a plain background will cause delays in processing and may lead to declined applications.
Key tips:
- Don’t use selfies - get someone to take your photo or use a professional.
- Tell photographers not to apply digital enhancements, like beauty filters or AI adjustments.
- Some photo apps or online tools may not be suitable for visa applications.
More information and examples of acceptable photos can be found on our website: Acceptable photos for a visa or NZeTA : Immigration New Zealand
Guardian visitor visa applications moving online from 3 November
From 3 November 2025, all Guardian Visitor Visa applications should be submitted on Immigration New Zealand’s enhanced Immigration Online system. This update is part of INZ’s broader digital transformation, aimed at improving the visa experience for families supporting international students.
While the information required remains the same, the application form may look a little different.
The enhanced system offers better application tracking and a more streamlined experience for applicants. Updated guidance and support materials are built into the form.
If you have an application in draft or submitted under the old application form, you will still be able to access or submit this application after 3 November 2025. We will notify you when the old application form is due to close.
For current visa holders, if your child is applying for a new student visa and you intend to apply for another Guardian Visitor Visa, both applications should be submitted through the enhanced system.
This change is particularly relevant for education providers, agents, and advisers supporting families of international students. Please share this update with your networks and encourage early preparation ahead of the transition.
Guardian Visitor Visa applications moving to enhanced Immigration Online: Immigration New Zealand
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SIEBA launches Schools Global Citizenship Pilot Programme
A network of 20 schools will take part, receiving professional advice and support to create, introduce and embed global citizenship strategies and initiatives across their schools.
SIEBA’s recent report on international business recovery for schools highlighted global citizenship education as one of three key areas expected to underpin business recovery and the future of international education, both within New Zealand and globally. The other two areas are sustainability/climate action, and growth in school-to-university pathways.
Global citizenship programmes contribute to a better international student experience, build understanding and support for international education, and enrich the value proposition that schools offer both domestic and international students.
Image above: Japanese and Kiwi students discovering science together at Awatapu College in Palmerston North
“Global citizenship education (GCED) has the potential to bring local and international students together through a focus on global issues, and in development of global competencies. International students and parents are increasingly looking for schools that can demonstrably deliver GCED within the educational experience," the report says.
The pilot programme will be delivered in collaboration with the Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence. The schools involved will draft Global Citizenship strategies linked to a range of programmes throughout the school, including learning content and teaching approaches, co-curricular programmes, professional learning and development, and student-led initiatives. They will examine how Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Ao Māori will underpin their global citizenship strategies. Schools will start local, this will be a multi-year journey, and the result will look different in every school.
Developing global citizens is also one of the overarching goals of the New Zealand International Education Strategy.
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Building on momentum from 2025 for steady growth in 2026
Kia ora koutou,
As 2025 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve achieved together, and to thank you for the incredible support you’ve shown to grow international education in New Zealand.
This year has been one of big wins:
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New Zealand now has 83,535 international students enrolled between January and August, a 14% increase on last year, already surpassing 2024’s total.
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Education-related travel exports hit $4.52 billion, making international education among New Zealand’s top 10 exports.
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87% of international students rated their experience in the country positively, with 77% of New Zealanders agreeing that international education benefits the country.
These results are a testament to the strength of our partnerships and the commitment of everyone in this sector. Thank you for working with us on our Go-to-Market Plans, we are excited to keep building on this momentum in 2026 as we deliver on the International Education Going for Growth Plan.
And it’s not just our sector shining, New Zealand continues to stand out globally on several counts, which make us even more appealing as a high-quality study destination.
We are globally ranked:
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fifth for overall higher education quality (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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second on the Sustainable Trade Index
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third-most peaceful country in the world (Global Peace Index 2025)
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first for work-life balance (Global Life Work Balance Index 2025)
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tenth for overall prosperity and wellbeing (Legatum Prosperity Index 2025).
Finally, I want to acknowledge Amanda’s outstanding leadership as ENZ Chief Executive. Amanda has strengthened relationships across government and the sector, represented New Zealand internationally, and delivered an organisational reset that sets ENZ up for the future.
We’re immensely grateful for her contribution and wish her every success in her next role.
The ENZ Board has started recruiting for a new Chief Executive, and we’re working closely with Amanda and the leadership team to ensure a smooth transition. In the meantime, business continues as usual, and our team remains focused on achieving the growth goals we have set for international education.
On behalf of the ENZ Board, thank you for everything you’ve done to help international education grow and thrive this year.
Wishing you a safe and happy festive season filled with relaxation, good cheer and time with loved ones. We look forward to connecting again in the New Year and continuing this important work together.
Ngā mihi nui,
Tony Gray
Chair, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao -
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Sharing our stories about international education
As we prepare for more international students to return to New Zealand, we want to ensure these important guests feel welcome and appreciated by Kiwis. Each time students arrive on our shores, we have a moment to spotlight why international education is great for our communities and the country.
We’ve recently added some new case studies to our Skills Lab website - read more about a successful storytelling example from Hawke’s Bay here.
Many great stories come from the compelling research projects being led by international students in New Zealand. These stories align with our story framework by highlighting how international education helps to shape global citizens and solve the world’s problems.
For example, Dr Htin Lin Aung, a researcher at the University of Otago, is conducting ground-breaking research on tuberculosis (TB), the world’s second-leading infectious killer after COVID-19. Read more about this case study of a newsworthy story about a scientific breakthrough here.
Stories of international education in your organisation, school or region do not have to be serious or complicated. Often, the most intriguing news stories are of everyday people doing good in their communities.
We refer to these as “soft-news” stories, as they are underpinned by a human-interest angle. You can successfully land these stories if you make sure to include the key elements that make up a news story. You can read about how Learning Hawke’s Bay landed a positive story about international education here.
Stories can often have a strong local flavour, which is appealing for local media channels.
This case study will explain how Tauranga’s economic development agency Priority One planned three news stories within the space of a month, a strong example of how a series of stories can quickly build momentum and newsworthiness at a local level. You can read more about this case study here.
If you haven’t used Skills Lab or Brand Lab before, you can sign in through MaiENZ here.
Download Communicating the benefits of international education – a toolkit from Brand Lab.
Latest case studies on Skills Lab:
- Social Licence: Determining a link to Education New Zealand’s new social licence narrative https://skillslab.enz.govt.nz/case-studies/social-licence/
- Social Licence: Developing newsworthy stories about scientific breakthroughs https://skillslab.enz.govt.nz/case-studies/social-licence-scientific/
- Social Licence: Getting feel-good stories on the front page https://skillslab.enz.govt.nz/case-studies/social-licence-feelgood/
- Social Licence: Crafting a story that resonates at a regional level https://skillslab.enz.govt.nz/case-studies/social-licence-regional-level/
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Update from Immigration New Zealand
New Immigration New Zealand website now live
The new Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website is now live, with clearer information and guidance to help INZ customers navigate their immigration journey more easily.
The new visual design and structure makes it easier for customers to know what the visa process means for them and how to apply for a visa and comply with their visa conditions.
Visit the new INZ website.Apply early to get ahead of the student visa peak
Applying for a student visa at least three months before intended travel date gives students the best chance to have a decision made in time for their study.
The processing of student visas is a priority for INZ, particularly as it gets closer to peak times.
Immigration New Zealand is in the mid-year student visa processing peak, which is between May and August each year.
Applications take longer to be decided during this peak period, so it is important that students apply early if they want to come to New Zealand to study.
Wait times for international student visa applications are published in our visa wait times section.
Help us process applications faster
To help INZ process applications quicker and avoid unnecessary delays, students should provide full and complete applications, including all necessary documentation.
Students can use our student visa information sheets to make sure their application has all the information and documentation required.
Student visa information sheet – first-time international students
Student visa information sheet – continuing international students
If students apply late, their application may not be processed in time for their study in New Zealand.
Due to the high volume of visa applications expected, we will not contact students if documents are missing from their application. If the missing information is key to the assessment, then the application may be declined.
Student visas moving to enhanced Immigration Online
From 18 August 2025, international student visa applications are moving to Immigration New Zealand’s enhanced Immigration Online system.
The aim is a simpler, faster and more user-friendly visa application process to reduce waiting times, provide clear communication on application statuses, and increase self-service capabilities so everyone feels more informed and better supported.
How applications during this transition will be managed
As we are in a peak period for student visa applications, we encourage applicants to submit applications when they are ready, and at least 3 months ahead of the intended travel date to help avoid delays that may impact them starting their study on time.
There are some important things applicants need to know if they are submitting an international student visa application around August 2025.
If applicants start a new draft application on or before 17 August, they will be applying in our current system. They will need to submit the application by 17 September, otherwise the draft application will expire.
If they start an application on or after 18 August, they will be automatically directed to our new system.
Please read our news item for more detailed information on the visas affected and the transition process.
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Around the world in five
GLOBAL
University applicants turn away from US and UK
Canada has overtaken the UK as a preferred study destination for international university applicants, according to the 2018 QS Applicant Survey. The survey provides further evidence that international students are increasingly rejecting the UK in favour of other English-speaking destinations.
SOUTH EAST ASIA
South East and East Asia’s growing popularity with international students
South East Asia’s lower study and living costs, coupled with its offering of an ‘exciting study abroad experience not too far from home’, is attracting international students from the wider Asia-Pacific region.
UK
Take students out of migration stats, say policymakers and stakeholders
A forum about the UK’s future immigration policy included lengthy discussion about the inclusion of international students in the net migration target, with many arguing it creates the perception that the UK is unwelcoming to students.
BRAZIL
Brazil to get 'Singapore-style' education thanks to teacher training deal
More than 50,000 students in Brazil will soon be provided with a more Singaporean-style education, thanks to a memorandum of understanding with Singapore’s National Institute of Education to improve the education system in Brazil.
MALTA
Increasing international English language enrolments
More than 87,000 international students attended English language schools in Malta in 2017, seeking “a high quality of English teaching accompanied with the sun and the safety of the island.”
