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• Japan and New Zealand celebrate long education partnership

  To acknowledge the 25th anniversary of the first school visits by four Japanese schools, ENZ partnered with Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand to host a reception in January, thanking the schools for their continued support of New Zealand. The event received positive media interest in Japan and resulted in almost 30 articles.

  The event was opened by a powerful kapa haka performance by local group Nga Hau E Wha to showcase Māori language and culture.

  

  Nga Hau E Wha performing a kapa haka

  Misa Pitt, ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager – Japan, said Māori language and culture has been a popular subject for school trips to New Zealand.The event was opened by a powerful kapa haka performance by local group Nga Hau E Wha to showcase Māori language and culture.

  “I learned that Yokohama Senior High School has its own kapa haka group,” she said.

  After the performance, Misa officially welcomed the guests before Stephen Payton, New Zealand Ambassador to Japan, and awarded the school representatives a certificate of appreciation, signed by ENZ CE Grant McPherson. They also received plaques and airline tickets from Clovis Peryer, General Manager of Air New Zealand Japan.

  Both Ambassador Payton and Clovis emphasised that New Zealand is a safe and welcoming environment for international students, with Misa adding that support starts from a government level.

  “I explained our code of practice for the care of international students, assuring them that New Zealand has a robust support system for the well-being of students,” said Misa.

  Ambassador Payton also noted that both the upcoming Rugby World Cup and 2020 Tokyo Olympics are opportunities to further promote an education exchange between the two countries.

  “We look forward to continue working closely with the awarded schools to promote New Zealand as a study destination,” said Misa.

  

  Ambassador Payton awarding representatives of the Japanese schools.

  The Japanese schools awarded were:

  Osaka Kunei Senior High School – 25th anniversary
  Have sent 3,800 students on an academic study programme

  Tama University Hijirigaoka High school and Junior High School – 25th anniversary
  Have sent 2,770 students on an academic study programme

  Urawa Reimei Senior High School – 20th anniversary
  Have sent 5,000 students on a school excursion

  Yokohama Senior High School – 25th anniversary
  Have sent 690 students on an academic study programme

• Sister schools go from strength to strength

  Tip Sister-school relationships are a great way to connect on a personal level as well as a professional one

  The sister-school agreement was officially signed back in 2015, and since then, the schools have alternated sending a cohort of students and staff to each campus.

  Representatives from Chaotian Elementary School, including principal Kong Hong, visited New Zealand for the first time in 2016. During their visit to Owairoa Primary School, they discussed and compared educational philosophies, school management issues, teaching strategies, curriculum and cultural differences, as well as potential synergies and future co-operation between the schools.

  Last month was Owairoa Primary School’s turn to travel to Guangzhou to share ideas with the principal and Board of Trustee members at Chaotian School. The Chaotian students were on hand to present musical numbers, martial arts, stories and art works for their guests – as well as drone acrobatics.

  Principal of Owairoa Primary School, Alan McIntyre, said the Chaotian students were proud to perform for the Kiwi visitors, and were looking forward to having their turn to go abroad again.

  “The Chaotian students couldn't contain themselves about the prospect of visiting us in New Zealand later this year – they were so excited.”

  The visit also gave Alan an opportunity to try out principal Kong’s office chair for size, and the two talked about the possibility of a school principal exchange in future.

  As part of the ongoing relationship, negotiations are currently underway to set up an Owairoa classroom at Chaotian school, and a Chaotian classroom at Owairoa school. 

  

  L-R: English Teacher/International Co-ordinator Sherry Xie, Principal Alan McIntyre, Principal Kong and Felix Ye, ENZ Education Manager Southern-Western China & Hong Kong.

  However, Alan said the key to a strong sister-school dynamic is finding lighter moments in each visit to humanise their relationship.

  “In New Zealand, we refer to a person by their first name and then surname, so in China where the names are reversed, we were addressing Principal Kong Hong as Principal Hong Kong!

  “This cultural difference allowed us the cheeky opportunity to present her with a Miss Hong Kong sash and crown. The hilarity of the moment really helped cement our schools’ friendship and did so much for China–New Zealand relations,” said Alan.

• Welcoming ENZ’s new Manager – Agents

  

  As Manager – Agents, Dan will be responsible for relaunching the ENZRA programme and engaging with agents and providers.

  Areas of focus in his role will include reviewing our online training for agents, developing ongoing communications to agents, reviewing marketing and other support provided to ENZRA agents, evaluation of agent performance, and ensuring agents are setting the right expectations for students to have a positive experience.

  Dan’s new role will see him joining ENZ’s Student Marketing team in Wellington.

  Over the last two years, Dan has worked with Immigration New Zealand in India and was a key contributor to ENZ’s rebalancing the market, lifting the quality of student applications and agent performance. Dan has worked closely with ENZ’s India team, attending education fairs and other education events, and also has strong industry relationships. 

  Dan has also worked offshore for Immigration New Zealand in South Africa, Thailand and Singapore so he brings a strong understanding of a range of markets and the role of NZ Inc offshore. His in-market experience, passion for the education sector and understanding of education agents will be a huge asset to ENZ in his new role.

  Dan officially joins the team on 9 October.

• Bringing ideas to life in China

  Ideas to Life took place at the University of Auckland Innovation Institute in Hangzhou – an area known as the Silicon Valley of China for its reputation as a leading innovation and technology hub.

  The conference showcased the University of Auckland’s work in several areas relevant to the Chinese market. These included digital health, high value nutrition, light metals research, advanced materials and manufacturing, and clinical trials and drug development particularly in oncology. 

  Leading education experts from China and New Zealand also attended an education industry-specific session at the conference. Organised by the University of Auckland English Language Academy, the presentations provided an overview of international education in New Zealand, updates on programmes including customised services for groups of students, and shared expertise in academic learning and research.

  Julie Haskell, Director at the English Language Academy, said the session provided an opportunity for collaboration, networking, and knowledge sharing between academics, agencies and university officials from both countries.

  “The education day provided an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the Institute and the opportunities offered by the English Language Academy.

  “We look forward to hosting future events at the Innovation Institute in Hangzhou.”

• New Zealand education tours Latin America

  From 3-20 March, ENZ joined more than 25 New Zealand education providers and 150 agents for the 5^th annual South American Roadshow.

  The roadshow kicked off in Bogota, Colombia, with the first New Zealand Ambassador resident in Colombia, HE Lucy Duncan officially opening the New Zealand pavilion at EduExpo.

  

  ENZ’s busy welcome desk at Eduexpo Bogota

  Over two days, the pavilion had more than 12,000 visitors and was profiled on national television, proving Colombians’ growing interest in studying in New Zealand. The Bogota agent seminar attracted 120 agents.

  For the first time, the roadshow included an agent seminar in Mexico, in response to industry demand to include the Central American country. Some 19 institutions and 24 agents attended, which Javiera Visedo, ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager Colombia, said was a great start for the new market.

  “It was a perfect opportunity to start business connections, and all agents were very pleased to know more about what New Zealand can offer their clients,” she said.

  

  New Zealand Ambassador to Mexico Mark Sinclair at NZ Inc presentation in Mexico City

  Brazil was the next stop with a two-day agent seminar attended by 25 institutions and 78 agents from across Brazil followed by involvement in EduExpo Sao Paulo.

  Ana Azevedo, ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager Brazil, said the agent seminar went very well and there were several highlights.

  

  The Agent Seminar session at EduExpo Sao Paulo with New Zealand alumnus Ricardo Mendes speaking.

  Also of note was a preview presentation of the 2018 BELTA Market Survey which is co-sponsored by Education New Zealand. Among the results was this figure – 82% of agents interviewed confirmed growth in interest among Brazilian students for study in New Zealand.New Zealand Ambassador to Brazil, Caroline Bilkey, participated in all activities on the first day, and agents and institutions held an impressive 412 meetings over the two days. “The agent seminar had a New Zealand alumni panel with alumni sharing their views on New Zealand education, which was very well received,” said Ana.

  “This was extremely pleasing,” Ana said.

  The New Zealand Pavilion at EduExpo Sao Paulo attracted 9,717 visitors over the weekend, and institutions were very pleased with the quality of the visitors and are already expecting to grow their current student numbers over the next 18 months.

  The roadshow ended in Santiago, Chile with 18 agents (including two from Argentina) and 14 institutions participating in an agent seminar.

  At the networking function, Chilean-Kiwi alumni attended as did Peter Chrisp, Chief Executive of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE), who was very impressed to hear their stories and to see how proud they are of their time in New Zealand.

  Ana and Javiera said the success of the roadshow was due to participation of many NZ Inc colleagues.

  “For the first time, an NZ Inc presentation was part of the Agent Seminar, providing key insights to agents and providers of the different approaches and priorities of each New Zealand government entity present in the region.

  “In particular, we would like to thank Immigration New Zealand for allowing two immigration officers to participate in the events, providing training sessions to agents and to give advice to students during the fairs.”

• Education opportunities in Europe

  Representatives of all eight New Zealand universities and three ITPs were among the 5,700 tertiary education professionals at the European Association of International Education (EAIE) conference, held in Geneva from 11-14 September.

  The EAIE conference is the second largest for international education after NAFSA in the US, with attendees from 95 countries.

  New Zealand institutions reported excellent levels of partner engagement throughout the week, boosted by the networking reception that ENZ hosted at the residence of New Zealand’s Permanent Representative to the WTO in Geneva.

  Ahead of EAIE, ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson and Regional Director Americas & Europe Lisa Futschek visited three key European markets – France, Germany and the UK – to gain deeper market insights, identify market-specific barriers and explore opportunities for growth.

  “Each market has different opportunities and challenges. Germany is New Zealand’s largest source of students in Europe, while the UK is our most important tertiary market. Student numbers from France are the second highest, with the majority of these enrolled in English language schools,” said Lisa.

  “Understanding these markets is key for New Zealand providers looking to attract international students from there but this needs to be bolstered by relationship-building with education officials and agents in the market.”

  This year, ENZ has put significant effort into opening up the French market, including hosting a reception at the New Zealand Embassy in Paris this month to raise engagement with French agents (who play a key role in the market) and to increase awareness of New Zealand education with members of the French Senate and National Assembly – critical at a time when the French Government is moving towards a more outward-looking education model.

  “At the tertiary level, French universities are interested in partnerships with New Zealand institutions in areas such as environmental management, food security, renewable energy and creative arts. There is also a growing focus on vocational training and pathways to employment – which fits well with our current "future-proof” messaging.”

  At secondary level, New Zealand institutions are encouraged to promote longer-duration high school stays.

  “French high school students tend to go to New Zealand for short stays during the European summer and aren’t invested in longer-duration visits due to a perceived lack of qualification recognition,” said Lisa.

  France’s NZQA-equivalent, the International Centre for Educational Studies, revealed that recognition of NCEA qualifications is considered on a case-by-case basis by applying the French national qualifications framework and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). 

  “This approach opens the door to promoting longer-duration high school stays until the end of Year 13, on the basis that NCEA Level 3 is comparable to the French university entrance qualification.”

  Students from Europe make up some 10% of the international student cohort in New Zealand. In 2017, 1,945 French students studied in New Zealand.

• Advertising opportunity in Japan

  ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager – Japan, Misa Kitaoka, said the annual guidebook is the only Japanese publication officially supported by the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo and ENZ.

  “With the Rugby World Cup held in Japan for the first time this year, New Zealand will have an increased presence and visibility in the public,” said Misa.

  “This guidebook is a great opportunity for regional bodies and individual providers to promote their offering. Furthermore, because destination marketing is a key part of education promotion in Japan, KBunsha is offering a separate advertising rate for regional groups.”

  To advertise, bookings must be made by 22 March 2019.

  For further details on the guidebook and pricing for regional groups, download the proposal here.

  For individual providers, download the proposal here.

• Celebrating excellence: ENZ hosts inaugural New Zealand Universities Awards in Viet Nam

  The event highlighted New Zealand’s commitment to supporting Vietnamese students and reaffirmed the strong education partnership between the two countries during the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. 

  The NZUA programme was officially announced by Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon during a visit to Viet Nam earlier this year. It is the first New Zealand Government-backed undergraduate scholarship exclusively for Vietnamese students.  

  Following a competitive selection process, eight outstanding high school students were awarded the inaugural NZUA scholarships. Each recipient distinguished themselves not only through academic excellence but also through their personal aspirations, resilience, and commitment to engaging with the world.  

  At the ceremony, the students were formally presented with their scholarship certificates by Trade Commissioner Scott James and ENZ Regional Director – Asia (excluding China), Ben Burrowes. The celebration was witnessed by families, representatives from New Zealand universities and education agencies. 

  In his address, Scott highlighted the significance of this milestone.  

  “The inaugural NZUA cohort are not only exceptional students, but also cultural and intellectual bridges between our two nations. They stand as a vivid testament to the strong and enduring educational partnership between Viet Nam and New Zealand,” he said.  

  Ben also emphasised the value of the programme. 

  “The NZUA scholarship reflects the spirit of valuing both knowledge and people – a core principle of New Zealand’s education system. 

  “We are proud to welcome the first generation of NZUA Vietnamese students to New Zealand’s leading universities, where they will grow, integrate, and contribute to the shared progress of our world,” he said. 

  A particularly symbolic moment of the ceremony was the connection ritual between university representatives and the scholarship recipients. Students received congratulatory gifts and placed stars on a map of New Zealand to mark the cities and universities where they will soon study – a visual representation of the “first steps” of the NZUA generation.  

  

  Among the recipients, Do Tran Phuong Uyen said that she feels the scholarship is much more than financial support.  

  “It represents belief – belief in our potential, our dreams, and our ability to contribute to our communities and to the ongoing relationship between Viet Nam and New Zealand,” she said.  

  “It shows that young Vietnamese students can become leaders, innovators, and responsible global citizens,” Do added. 

  

  Parents also expressed their trust and confidence in New Zealand’s education system.  

  Ho Tuyen Truyen, father of recipient Ho Nhu Quynh Chi, said he places his full trust in New Zealand’s safe, high-quality education system.  

  “I believe that in this environment, my child will be nurtured with knowledge, resilience, and compassion,” he said. 

   As the first NZUA cohort prepares to begin their journeys, the scholarship stands as a powerful symbol of New Zealand’s commitment to Viet Nam’s young talent.  

  These students are poised to become influential ambassadors, helping to strengthen educational collaboration and foster deeper people-to-people connections between New Zealand and Viet Nam. 

• Report from GHEDEX 2022

  This year saw a welcome return to an in-person event, attracting good numbers of students and international education stakeholders. ENZ showcased New Zealand as an education partner for Oman during the “Quality in Higher Education” conference that took place alongside GHEDEX. While in Muscat, ENZ also hosted an event for Omani alumni of New Zealand universities. Twenty-eight attended, from seven universities, providing a useful networking opportunity.

  Officials at GHEDEX confirmed that as our border is reopening, New Zealand is included in the just-released Omani Ministry of Higher Education’s 2022/23 handbook for scholarships. Feedback from education agents suggests that fewer scholarship students overall are expected this year.

  Dr Nadia Kasto, New Zealand Academic Advisor for the Omani Consulate-General in Melbourne confirmed that from next year, all Omani scholarship students will be able to make their own decisions about the country and university that best suit their study needs.

  “All universities have to work very hard to promote themselves to Omani students in order to get as many students as they can.”

• From the CE: New Zealand higher education in the spotlight

  Kia ora koutou,  

  Over the past few weeks, I have been abroad in both China and the United States promoting New Zealand education.  

  In late May I was delighted to attend my first NAFSA conference in San Diego, California. NAFSA is the world’s largest international education conference and this year it attracted over 8,000 attendees. ENZ supported the University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, University of Waikato, Massey University, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Canterbury, University of Otago and Whitecliffe College at the New Zealand Pavilion. Our collective involvement with such a significant event provided us with a strong platform to showcase New Zealand’s unique education offering to a global audience. 

  Following NAFSA, I travelled to Connecticut to meet representatives of the Mashantucket Pequot nation, during which I had a useful exchange on indigenous-to-indigenous education and engagement. It was a genuine privilege to be hosted by this small, resilient tribe, into which my whānau has whakapapa links. 

  Last week, I joined the Prime Minister’s Trade Mission to China alongside education delegates from UP Education, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, and Victoria University of Wellington.  

  The Trade Mission was an opportunity to support the tertiary education sector’s engagement with China which is our largest source market of international students. The visit also reinforced at the Government and sector level our strong bilateral education relationship.  

  One of our key deliverables was an education event to promote New Zealand’s reputation for world-leading research and high-quality education at Fudan University in Shanghai. Fudan is one of China’s most prestigious universities and while there we took the opportunity to celebrate 20 years of the New Zealand-China Tripartite Partnership Programme. A wonderful outcome from the event was the signing of an MoU between Victoria University of Wellington and Fudan University that will see the universities resume student exchanges and pursue research cooperation in public health, biotechnology and climate science. 

  In Beijing, we hosted New Zealand Education Connect and showcased New Zealand as a study destination to our key partners, and alongside Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, we officially launched New Zealand’s Country of Honour campaign for the China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE) which will be taking place later this year. 

  Finally, this month the results of the latest QS World University Rankings 2026 were published. New Zealand ranked first in the English-speaking world and fifth globally for the overall quality of its higher education.  

  The 2026 results see New Zealand universities improve across academic reputation, citation per faculty, and international student indicators. New Zealand also ranks the highest globally in terms of employment outcomes among key English-speaking study destinations.  

  This is a fantastic result for our universities and reinforces New Zealand’s position as a high-quality and welcoming international education destination.  

  Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou 

  Seek after learning for the sake of your wellbeing 

  Ngā mihi nui, 

  Amanda Malu 
  Chief Executive