Agent survey highlights New Zealand's growing appeal in a changing global market

The latest Navitas Agent Perception Survey drew on responses from 870 education agents across 64 countries and provides a snapshot of the factors influencing international student decision-making. Among the survey's headline findings, New Zealand was rated most positively among major English-speaking destinations for perceptions of being both safe and stable, and open and welcoming to international students. Agents also reported stronger growth in student interest in New Zealand than in competing destinations. 

According to the survey, 88 percent of agents reported improving perceptions of New Zealand as a safe and stable destination, while 88 percent also reported improving perceptions of New Zealand as open and welcoming. New Zealand also recorded the highest level of reported growth in student interest among the destinations surveyed. 

Navitas Agent Perception Survey Summary Report July 2026

The findings suggest agents are observing students becoming more deliberate in their destination choices. The survey found that affordability, post-study work opportunities, visa certainty and future career outcomes are increasingly important factors influencing where students choose to study. Agents also reported that students are researching more destinations, comparing a wider range of options and maintaining back-up plans closer to home. 

These findings also align with broader evidence from Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ’s) market and brand research. ENZ’s brand health research consistently highlights New Zealand's strengths as a safe, welcoming and high-quality study destination in the minds of prospective students. While different studies measure different audiences and use different methodologies, the consistency across multiple sources provides added confidence in the underlying direction of travel. 

These trends are echoed in other recent agent intelligence research. Agent Intelligence: Early Signals 2026 from Ascent One also suggests agents are seeing students become more cost-conscious, risk-aware and increasingly focused on certainty and value when making study decisions. 

Agent Intelligence: Early Signals 2026

Taken together, these insights suggest agents are observing a broader shift in student behaviour. In a more uncertain global environment, factors such as safety, stability, quality and a welcoming environment appear to be playing a greater role in destination selection. Independent research suggests these are areas where New Zealand continues to perform strongly.  

The Navitas survey also serves as a reminder that education agents can provide valuable early insights into emerging market trends. Because agents work directly with prospective students throughout the decision-making process, they are often among the first to identify changes in student sentiment, priorities and behaviour before those shifts become visible in enrolment data. 

For education providers and sector stakeholders, these findings offer a timely reminder that while global competition remains intense, New Zealand's international reputation continues to provide a strong foundation for attracting students.