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  • Positive outcomes for education from PM’s trade mission to India

    Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon led a high-level visit to India from 16–20 March, accompanied by one of the largest New Zealand delegations to date. The delegation included representatives from the business, community, media, and government sectors, along with a cultural delegation, Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau-a-Apanui.

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) Chief Executive Amanda Malu joined the trade mission as part of the education component of the delegation – alongside University of Auckland Vice Chancellor, Dawn Freshwater; Vice Chancellor, University of Waikato, Neil Quigley; Te Pūkenga/NZIST Chief Executive, Gus Gilmore and Whitecliffe College Executive Chairman, Feroz Ali.

    The mission saw a number of key education initiatives announced that aim to strengthen New Zealand’s education ties with India, including the signing of the refreshed bilateral Education Cooperation Arrangement (ECA).

    These initiatives mark a significant step forward in deepening New Zealand’s collaboration with India around joint research, student exchanges, academic innovation and fostering long-term institutional partnerships.

    The original ECA was signed in 2010 with the objective of strengthening bilateral cooperation between New Zealand and India and fostering collaboration and the exchange of information on individual education systems.

    The ECA refresh builds on this foundation and aims to foster further cooperation in education specifically through information exchange, collaboration between institutions, and sharing best practices in curriculum development, digital transformation, and sustainability.

    A key education engagement during the mission was the ‘Shared Visions and Connected Futures’ event on 18 March, co-hosted by ENZ and New Zealand Centre partner IIT Delhi. Key education and government stakeholders were brought together to celebrate education, innovation, and the strong ties between New Zealand and India.

    Six new memoranda of understanding (MOU) were signed on the day, with an additional four signed across other events and cities. The New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) scholarships were officially launched by Prime Minister Luxon and ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu - this is a joint initiative between ENZ and all eight New Zealand universities offering a total of 29 scholarships valued at NZ $260,000.

    An exclusive virtual internship programme was also launched – this initiative will provide opportunities for 30 IITD students to intern virtually with New Zealand organisations. The event also witnessed the announcement of the inaugural New Zealand Centre Innovation Fellowship which aims to enhance collaboration between New Zealand and India in innovation and entrepreneurship by providing a two-week immersive experience in India's innovation ecosystem.

    The Prime Minister in a Fireside Chat with New Zealand alumni, Shirley Setia, University of Auckland alumni and Ashwani Batla, University of Waikato alumni.

    To round off a packed programme, the Prime Minister hosted a "Fireside Chat” with celebrity alumni from University of Auckland and the University of Waikato, where they showcased their experiences studying and living in New Zealand.

    ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu said the event was a testament to the strength of New Zealand’s educational relationship with India. 

    “India and New Zealand share a longstanding education relationship. Our collaborations bring enduring benefits to both nations. We look forward to continuing to work together to innovate, grow our skills and co-create education solutions for our future,” she said. 

    From L to R: Director of IIT Delhi, Professor Rangan Banerjee; the Prime Minister; Dean of Research and Development, Professor Naresh Bhatnagar; and Dean of International Programmes Professor James Gomes.

  • 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 

     

  • PM mission advances New Zealand and China education relationship

    The New Zealand Education Connect event on 20 June at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing brought together leading Chinese government representatives, institutional partners, education agents, and alumni to strengthen people-to-people links and celebrate collaboration.  

    The event programme was packed, with nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between New Zealand and Chinese counterparts, and another MoU signed between Victoria University of Wellington and Fudan University on 19 June. 

    Providers from across the tertiary education sector signed the MoUs – with Victoria University of Wellington, Unitec, NMIT and UP Education’s University of Auckland International College and New Zealand Tertiary College formalising partnerships. 

    These agreements cover a mix of in-market delivery, joint programmes, and initiatives to grow student mobility between New Zealand and China.  

    This builds on the now over 60 approved joint education programmes and institutes recognised by the China Ministry of Education between New Zealand and Chinese institutions, and other education partnerships across early childhood education, vocational training, higher education, and research areas.  

    The New Zealand Education Connect event had senior leaders officially launching New Zealand’s Country of Honour campaign for the upcoming China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE), China's largest platform for international education, due to take place in October this year.  

    ENZ’s Chief Executive, Amanda Malu, launches the Country of Honour campaign for New Zealand at CACIE alongside Prime Minister Luxon and CEAIE’s Secretary General Jun Yang.

    ENZ Chief Executive, Amanda Malu, said it’s exciting to see advancement of the partnerships New Zealand providers have built with their Chinese counterparts. 

    “We’re eager to see the outcomes of the new agreements formalised at New Zealand Education Connect and look forward to deepening our bilateral ties by leading a delegation to CACIE later this year,” she said. 

    Information on the registration process for New Zealand education providers to join the New Zealand Country of Honour events in October will be shared next month on ENZ’s event page.  

    The Country of Honour promotional video is available with Chinese subtitles on The Brand Lab.  

     

  • Signing up to a bright future for the Deaf community

    A serious encounter with Ménière’s disease partway through his PhD studies was a life-changing event in more ways than one for Arash Tayebi. 

    The inner ear disorder resulted in him losing the hearing in one ear and facing up to the possibility he could become deaf in the future. Studying at Auckland University, and feeling far from his home in Iran, he says the experience hit him hard.

    But Arash turned one of the biggest challenges in his life into an opportunity. He became the driving force behind Kara Technologies, an award-winning start-up using digital sign language avatars to make communications of all kinds accessible to those with hearing issues.

    His own situation made him question the noticeable lack of deaf people studying at universities, becoming entrepreneurs, and holding leadership positions in the workplace. “I asked myself if I become completely deaf will I not be able to succeed in study and work?”

    Engaging with the Deaf community he learned of the real shortage of teachers of sign language, and the complexities in resolving that. Bringing in teachers from overseas is not the answer because they do not know New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). Closed captioning, which can automatically caption speech is of limited use as young children cannot read, and existing avatars are not expressive enough for Deaf people.

    “I said let’s work together to come up with a solution.”

    Turning a vision into reality

    What started as a small project with Kelston Deaf Education Centre, now part of Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand, ultimately morphed into Kara Technologies. But it took vision, determination, and “mind-blowing” support from people he met along the start-up journey.

    "The cool thing about New Zealand is that if you have a vision nobody will call you crazy, they’re here to help and happy to take a risk. That’s fantastic."

    “There was so much I needed to learn about running a business. I wasn’t rich, so I needed funding. And as the concept was new, I needed the support of the Deaf community.”

    Arash’s first break came when Kara Technologies was named Social Enterprise winner in Auckland University’s start-up business competition Velocity $100K Challenge in 2017, giving him access to seed funding and a mentorship programme. Then there was UniServices, which helps to commercialise promising student ventures through investment, advice, and connections. And in the wider community there was GridAKL, an innovation support community with a downtown campus. “If I had a problem, I could always find someone there who was happy to offer advice,” he says.

    Estimates of NZSL users vary significantly, from about 4000 for whom it is a first language to more than 20,000 who have some knowledge of it. Arash and his team are committed to their vision of improving meaningful access to information for the Deaf community, and they are already making an impact.

    Kara Technologies has produced a diverse suite of avatars, signed children’s books and a range of videos. It has been recognised many times for its innovative work, most recently being named a 2022 finalist in the Public Good category at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards.

    Looking to the future

    The team at Kara sees a future where TV shows, bank machines, travel websites, online registration forms, live theatre, social media, gaming, and virtual reality technologies are all equipped with sign language avatars. “We want the daily life of a Deaf person to be as easy as a hearing person,” Arash says.

    The company is currently trialling emergency messaging by using a set of pre-recorded motion-captured animations, making it possible to relay time-critical information quickly.

    Kara is already attracting interest in the US and Canada, where Deaf advocates are excited by the technology. “They are impressed that a small country can make such a contribution. It makes me proud because I call New Zealand home.”

    Arash says it’s hard to believe the decision he made to come to New Zealand to study in 2013 has led to where he is now. “I thought I would probably complete my PhD and end up in an academic teaching role. But I have a company, a team, a vision, and fantastic friends. It’s all happened because of the great support I’ve received here.”

    He only wishes it was easier for innovators like him to stay on when they finished their studies. He would love New Zealand to introduce a Talent visa like Australia and Canada have. “If you have a cool project they will welcome you, but in New Zealand, you need to secure a job. I already have a job, but it is in my own company,” he says.

    “When New Zealand encourages international students to come here it needs to be able to harness their talent, nurture them, and benefit from their talent.”

    But Arash says he would always encourage students to come here. “Take yourself out of your comfort zone and you will meet amazing people. New Zealand is a crazy, creative country which could easily be your second home.”

  • New Zealand universities connect with students and government partners in Indonesia

    The programme began with a networking session for school counsellors and visiting New Zealand providers at the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta, where attendees had the opportunity make connections and meet New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia, His Excellency Philip Taula.  

    The following day, a mini fair at Global Jaya International School in Tangerang gave students and parents a chance to speak directly with university representatives about undergraduate study options in New Zealand.  

    To promote New Zealand postgraduate level study, the group then delivered information sessions at key government agencies including the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, the Indonesian Food Authority, and the Indonesian Quarantine Authority.  

    Attendees of the Indonesian Quarantine Authority information session.

    These sessions, held in Jakarta and Bogor, were attended by officials and the Manaaki Scholarships team from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and focused on postgraduate programmes and scholarship opportunities. 

    The roadshow concluded with participation in the Future Fest Expo in Jakarta and Surabaya, hosted by Mata Garuda – the alumni association of Indonesia’s government scholarship agency, LPDP.  

    Around 400 visitors visited the New Zealand booth to learn more about study and scholarship options.  

    While in Surabaya, New Zealand universities and ENZ also held a dedicated session with agent partners to share the latest updates on New Zealand’s education programmes, information resources and ENZ ‘New Zealand Taught Me’ campaign collateral to use in their promotions.  

    ENZ Market Manager Naluri Bella said the roadshow enabled New Zealand providers to engage with a broad range of stakeholders while in market.  

    “The roadshow helped connect the dots – linking student interest, agent capability, and government priorities in a way that supports long-term partnership between New Zealand providers and their partners in Indonesia,” she said.  

  • 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. 

  • Photo story – New Zealand education showcased in China

    New Zealand speakers take the stage 

     

    Minister for Universities and Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Hon Dr Shane Reti delivering welcome remarks at New Zealand-China Education B2B Session. As part of the China Annual Conference for International Education (CACIE), the B2B Session attracted over 117 visitors to engage in productive dialogues with participating New Zealand tertiary institutions aiming to build collegial partnership.   

     

    Minister for Universities and Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Hon Dr Shane Reti and REN Youqun, Vice Minister of Education of China witnessed the signing of Letter of Intent between Universities New Zealand and China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) and Education New Zealand and China Centre for International People-to-People Exchange (CCIPE) at the 2nd New Zealand High-level Education Forum. The letters of intent between Chinese and New Zealand government agencies places existing collaboration within a more formal framework, allowing both sides to work more effectively together to advance shared education cooperation goals. 

     

    Minister for Universities and Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Hon Dr Shane Reti delivering remarks at CACIE Night, a key plenary event at the conference. In his remarks, he recognised New Zealand’s role as Country of Honour at CACIE and celebrated the deep and enduring education ties between New Zealand and China. 

    ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu speaking to a packed audience at CACIE Night, highlighting the strengths of New Zealand’s education system, the unique student experience, and the values that underpin our education brand. 

    Professor Damon Salesa, Vice-Chancellor, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) provided the Academic keynote address at the CACIE Plenary event. 

    During his address, Damon said: “This year, as New Zealand was recognised as the honour country, we were invited to share our story. It is a story of a small, agile education system that is responding to global challenges with creativity, care and collaboration.” 

    “It is a story of how we are preparing our learners for a future shaped by advancement in technology, while ensuring that innovation remains human-centred and culturally grounded,” he said. 

    China Education Expo 

    The New Zealand pavilion at the China Education Expo was front and centre, attracting many of the 15,000 attendees who attended the Expo in Beijing over two days. 

    Representatives from New Zealand and China cutting the ribbon to officially open the New Zealand pavilion at CEE.  

    Te Wehi Haka, the Haka Experience, provided a Māori cultural performance that attracted students, parents, agents and partners to the New Zealand pavilion. 

    Ara Institute of Canterbury international department staff alongside Minister for Universities and Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation, Hon Dr Shane Reti (pictured centre). 

    Following the expo, 87% of those surveyed said their knowledge of New Zealand as a country to study in has improved after visiting the New Zealand pavilion  

    Additionally, 73% of those surveyed said they are more likely to consider New Zealand as a country to study in after visiting the New Zealand pavilion.  

    New Zealand education providers talking to crowds of prospective students and their parents at CEE. 

    Representatives from the New Zealand government alongside New Zealand education providers at the CEE New Zealand pavillion.  

    ENZ Agent Seminars in Beijing, Chengdu and Wuhan 

     

    Attendees of the agent seminar in Beijing.

     

    Building on the buzz of CACIE, ENZ hosted three Agent Seminars across Beijing, Chengdu and Wuhan.  

    The seminars connected over forty New Zealand education providers and around 320 visitors.

    The seminars supported New Zealand providers to build connections with Chinese education agents  

    ENZ Director of Marketing, Adrian Hirst, said the personal connections made were a highlight of the event series. 

    “Sharing dinner at an agent’s home with parents and future students was a highlight, the informal setting sparked a lively Q&A session, which reinforced the trust families place in the process and the responsibility we all carry in our roles,” Adrian said. 

    Maximising the Country of Honour opportunity 

    Being named Country of Honour at CACIE and CEE was a prime opportunity for New Zealand to showcase its world-class education to Chinese audiences. ENZ delivered a strategic, multi-phase approach that built momentum before the events, maximised on-site impact through high-profile media coverage and Ministerial presence, and amplified engagement digitally with campaigns on platforms popular in China. 

    Minister for Universities and Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Hon Dr Shane Reti being interviewed by leading state media outlet, CGTN. 

    ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu speaking to China’s largest state TV network, CCTV at the CEE New Zealand pavilion. 

    ENZ Regional Director for China, Ron Xavier reporting in from CEE, speaking to Sina Education. 

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