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Education New Zealand welcomes new Board member
Daniel was appointed to the Board on 13 December 2019 by Minister of Education Chris Hipkins.
ENZ Board Chair Steve Maharey says the Board is delighted to welcome him to Education New Zealand.
“Daniel comes to us from the school sector with a wide knowledge of education, experience in governance and a passion for international education. We are looking forward to his contribution at what is a challenging and exciting time,” Steve says.
Daniel began his career as a music teacher in Auckland. He has been the principal at Nayland College since 2015, where he has overseen a transformational shift in the school’s pedagogy and learning environment. His work was recognised at the 2019 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards, when the school was selected as one of four national finalists in the ‘Excellence in Leading’ category. The awards panel credited the school for initiating a “values-based learning revolution”.
Under Daniel’s leadership at Nayland College, international student enrolment has increased by 40 percent. In 2020, the school will host 80 students from around the globe.
Alongside his role at Nayland College, Daniel is also the lead principal and governance chairperson for the Top of the South Trades Academy. In his spare time, he is an accomplished brass musician, playing trombone in a variety of musical groups around Nelson and serving as president of Nelson City Brass.
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Summer down under
With COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on international travel in force, many students are choosing to stay in New Zealand over summer rather than go home because in most cases, they will not be able to return for the start of the 2022 academic year.
ENZ’s Director of Student Experience and Global Citizens, Sahinde Pala, says it will be the second unexpected summer in New Zealand for many students.
“Those international students who are still here have shown amazing resilience. We know how hard it can be to be separated from loved ones at home for so long.
“But the early results from our research suggest they have remained remarkably positive about the overall New Zealand experience, despite the challenges.”
ENZ is supporting students again this summer with information and resources on health and wellbeing, exploring the country and building their work skills.
The Summer in New Zealand section of the NauMai NZ website for international students offers information, advice and links to expert resources. These include a webinar featuring careers expert Andrew Tui to give them practical tips on how to build their professional and personal skills.
“ENZ would like to acknowledge all the work the people in the international education sector are doing to support their students over the summer, and we invite you to share our resources with your networks.
“We wish everyone a summer in New Zealand that is safe and restful,” Ms Pala says.
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NZIEC challenge speaker urges educators to embrace global citizenship
Scarlett said global citizenship is thinking more widely than just the context of your immediate community, city or country and being a person who understands the rights and responsibilities as a true citizen of the world.
Last year, Scarlett was funded by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO to travel to Canada with other young people to write the International Youth White Paper on Global Citizenship and present it at the Third UNESCO Forum for Global Citizenship Education.
The experience made her think through more complex global issues and work with young people coming from different places and perspectives.
“I care so much about this because I believe it is the best way to make the world a better place,” Scarlett said.
While it is not simple for people to become global citizens, as there is no quick fix to complex world problems, students often feel helpless and become disengaged.
This is where educators can help by being the bridge between students and global citizenship, by teaching students to understand diversity and think critically, she said.
“Your global citizenship can’t just live through young people, you need to put it into action in your own lives."
Scarlett said not only do today’s educators need to actively engage young people from a variety of backgrounds and empower and upskill students to be prepared for the world’s complexity, educators also need to hold themselves accountable and take action on global citizenship now, to shape the future for the next generation.
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World-class fusion cuisine and culinary skills at Viet Nam gala dinner
The three teams, each consisting of two Vietnamese and two New Zealand students, showcased their culinary skills on stage in front of 170 guests, including New Zealand Minister of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Steven Joyce.
The event was the outcome of two months’ hard work for the three teams, who initially worked together online to develop their menus under the guidance of culinary mentor and 2013 MasterChef New Zealand finalist, Vanessa Baxter. The teams met face-to-face in Ho Chi Minh City on 3 June, and then spent the following three days visiting Vietnamese markets to collect their fresh local produce before finalising their menus at the Caravalle Hotel kitchen.
At the gala dinner, the guests were treated to a selection of dishes from the students’ three-course fusion menus. Meanwhile, the three official judges – Haike Manning, New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam; Le Xuan Tam, Executive Chef, Caravelle Hotel and Brendon Partridge, Executive Chef, JW Marriott Hanoi – sampled all of the student’s dishes throughout the evening.
Decision making was tough and competition was high. Team 1 narrowly missed coming first, and Team 2 won the guest vote.
Minister Joyce announced Team 3 as the overall winner. Their braised lamb shanks with pickled cabbage, potato rosti and reduced jus proved most popular. This team included Jamin Gibson (Auckland University of Technology), Emma Waser (Otago Polytechnic), Phan Văn Lâm (Viet Giao Tourism School), and Nguyễn Ngọc Quân (VATEL International Business School Hotel & Tourism Management).

“It is so amazing that we won the competition,” said Emma Waser. “We gelled so well as a team throughout the whole competition but we worked especially well together on the night.
“We had to delve into each other’s cultures and traditions to come up with our fusion menu. I have learned how important it is to mix it up – to use different flavours and borrow from other traditions and cuisines.
“It has been amazing to come to Viet Nam and see what else is out there in the world – to find out more about different cultures, different people and different food.”
Said Jamin: “I have really enjoyed the food, the friendliness of the people and their hospitality. I definitely want to return to Viet Nam with my wife.”
Nguyễn Ngọc Quân enjoyed learning how to cook lamb the Kiwi way. “I learned to cook lamb the way that is more traditional in New Zealand. Typically the Vietnamese dislike the smell of lamb but our slow cook method and flavours in the lamb shank proved really popular.
“I admired my New Zealand team mates’ techniques and knowledge as well as their ability to think innovatively and creatively,” he said.
The gala dinner was the result of the New Zealand – Viet Nam Culinary Collaboration, an initiative that came out of the New Zealand – Viet Nam Strategic Plan on Education signed in November 2015. The plan is designed to deepen the level of engagement between the two countries and enrich students’ learning.
“The New Zealand – Viet Nam Culinary Collaboration is yet another example of the growing education relationship between our two countries,” said ENZ Chief Executive, Grant McPherson.
“While it has been fantastic to see the outstanding teamwork between the students, the gala dinner was also an opportunity to showcase New Zealand institutions’ vocational expertise and our education system’s world-renowned practical application of skills which prepare students for the working world.”
Grant emphasised that everyone involved in the collaboration was a winner.

Team 1 included Ryan Prouting (Ara, Institute of Canterbury), Tuainekore Taringa (NZMA), Trịnh Xuân Hoàng (Viet Giao Tourism School), and Nguyen Thuy Tra Giang (VATEL International Business School Hotel & Tourism Management).
Team 2 included Ella Ritson-Jones (Southern Institute of Technology), Jamie Bell (Wellington Institute of Technology), Dương Nhật Huy (Viet Giao Tourism School) and Phan Trong Bao Chau (VATEL International Business School Hotel & Tourism Management).
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Palmerston North’s education connections with Viet Nam
The MoA signing is the latest development in the education relationship between Palmerston North and Ho Chi Minh City – an earlier agreement signed in 2014 had expired in 2019. Unlike the 2014 agreement, which only included a few education providers in Palmerston North, the renewed MoA captures a much broader range of institutions, from schools to tertiary providers.
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao had helped to sustain this relationship in 2020, through the NZ Global Competence Certificate initiative. The Central Economic Development Agency and the Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) teamed up with ENZ to offer scholarships for 50 secondary school students in Manawatū and Ho Chi Minh City to increase their global competency – read more here.
The new MoA was signed by Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith on behalf of PNCC and Deputy Director from Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Education and Training, Duong Tri Dung. It was witnessed by Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung, New Zealand Ambassador Tredene Dobson, and representatives of ENZ.
“Education arrangements like this help to further strengthen these ties. Building on sustained and increasing interest from New Zealand education providers to engage with institutional counterparts in Ho Chi Minh City, this will open a new chapter for collaboration and success for the respective cities,” Ms Dobson said.
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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.