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Wellington embraces talents, culture, and passion of international students
While they love the great arts and culture vibe, fabulous food, and easy access to parks and hills, they choose Wellington principally for its world-class educational opportunities and diverse career prospects.
In a city where 23 percent of people are studying, international students quickly feel a sense of belonging as they are welcomed into a well-connected community of learners and achievers. As the capital city, Wellington offers sophisticated collaboration between education providers, research institutions, the business community, and Government.
Innovative programmes build long-term relationships with international students
Study in Wellington, a specialist team within economic development agency WellingtonNZ, promotes the region as a great place to study and enter the workforce, and recognises that international students have much to offer the city both during their stay, and after they have finished studying.
“International students bring their culture and their talents,” says programme lead Sarah Grant. “They bring determination, skill, and passion to our community. And they also bring a good work ethic with them.
Study in Wellington is focused on building-long-term relationships with students and alumni and has developed an innovative range of programmes tailored to each stage of an international student’s journey, and to provide channels for future collaboration.
Networking programmes key to “amazing” experience
For 25-year-old Shamanthi Jayawardena, leaving her home in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to study overseas in 2019 was a big decision and there were plenty of options. In the end she chose Wellington, saying the “cool city vibe” and reputation for safety attracted her, along with the quality of the courses available at Victoria University.
Returning home 15 months later, having completed her Master’s in Global Marketing, she reflects on an “amazing” experience in Wellington and says much of it was down to her involvement in the programmes offered by Study in Wellington, including Work Ready in Wellington, Alumni Connect and Employer Connect.
She says there’s no doubt a highlight was being involved in Employer Connect, which builds up the networking skills of graduating students and connects them with employers.
“As a project coordinator facilitator, I got the chance to meet people from diverse backgrounds, understand their needs and help design a programme that benefits both the international students and the community of local organisations.”
So successful was Shamanthi’s networking that she landed a contract role with Wellington design and digital agency Obvious and continues to work for them remotely from Sri Lanka.
The opportunity to succeed is there for all international students, Shamanthi says.
“You need to be open-minded, connect with the programmes available to you, and put yourself out there. It’s a great place to follow your passion.”
Wellington proud of its international student community
Grant is proud of the way Wellington embraces its international student community, even with closed borders.
“We are ready to welcome back students when we can and believe that we do provide a unique experience and the opportunity to really get connected with the local community, businesses, and institutions.
“In return, the students make Wellington a more dynamic and interesting city.”
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Winds of Change students team up to tackle shared climate challenges
While world leaders continue to discuss how to best tackle global warming, an inspiring group of students is stepping up collaboration between New Zealand and Chile to better understand the problems both countries face, share knowledge, and identify solutions.
The Winds of Change programme, funded by the Latin America Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (LatAm CAPE) and hosted by Otago University, is taking a broad approach by drawing in post-graduate students from a range of backgrounds including natural, physical or social science, business, finance, science communication, and humanities.
They are motivated to tackle climate change by developing sustainable strategies in land management, business, and policy-making. Supporting them is a team of talented academics from both countries whose insight and expertise are helping to create impact.
“The Winds of Change participants are extraordinary leaders from diverse backgrounds with a passion for making a difference,” says lead Otago academic Associate Professor Chris Moy.
“Their collaborative work will help inspire communities and drive change.”
Joining forces to reach common goals
Project manager Hélène Eunson says the multi-disciplinary approach is vital. “It is one of the key features and strengths of the programme. We need people who bring a range of perspectives in addressing climate change issues,” she says.
“We have come to realise that the scientists want to learn more about business and policy-making, and the policy-makers want to learn more about the science. We are trying to join forces to reach our common goals.”
Now in its second year, Ms Eunson says there has been huge interest in the six-month programme, which seeks to attract 30 students in each cohort - 10 New Zealanders based in New Zealand, 10 Chilean students based in New Zealand (“Chiwis”), and 10 Chileans based in Chile.
“These young leaders have a real drive to make a change. They volunteer their time and do not earn credits towards their degrees.”
The participants work in small groups on projects based on common interest, to investigate an aspect of climate change, its impact on the environment and communities, and to identify solutions. Their findings are presented at an annual symposium attended by key industry players, researchers, embassy representatives, and past participants.
The Winds of Change programme includes a series of workshops hosted by a range of expert speakers from both countries including business owners, industry experts, and academics studying climate change.
Pacific partners help shape future solutions
By studying the common climate change impacts that New Zealand and Chile are facing, the students are not only helping to shape future solutions, but also to build relationships with a key Pacific partner and enhance economic and social wellbeing in both countries.
Projects undertaken by the participants have tackled wide-ranging issues including wetland restoration, wildfires, water scarcity, rising sea levels, diversity in agriculture, and renewable energies.
Ms Eunson says the concept of global citizenship is a strong theme which runs through the programme. “The participants share experiences from their own countries and help to create bonds with each other by bringing their different perspectives to the table.”
Being involved in the programme has been a profound experience for many of the participants.
“Often, if you think as an individual about environmental issues, you don’t feel as though you can achieve much, but when you see all these people together with the same objective, you feel really powerful to make change,” says Julia Harvey, who grew up in Invercargill.
“Meeting people from different backgrounds with a common interest has provided a unique opportunity to learn about sustainability in both countries,” says Javiera Otero, originally from Villa Alemana, Chile, but currently living in Napier.
“This experience has given me hope for the future, as there are people out there who want to make changes to live a more compatible life with the planet.”
Winds of Change programme builds credibility and impact
Winds of Change is quickly building its network and outreach. “As we build the credibility of the programme, we will start to see long-term impacts,” Ms Eunson predicts.
This new generation of leaders is already anticipating a future of global collaboration. In last year’s first post-programme survey, participants identified the most important benefits as “building networks, connections, and relationships”, and “having confidence to work in a transnational team”.
LatAm CAPE Director Matthew O’Meagher says he looks forward to the ongoing expansion of the programme to include other partners, and ideally other nations in Latin America. “In this way we can continue to provide the best opportunities for our talented young New Zealanders to engage internationally on innovative scientific, sustainable business, and policy-focused, solutions to climate change.”
Dr Moy agrees. “Our future depends on culturally-aware young leaders that can think globally and work collaboratively to tackle climate change impacts.”
Learn more about the Winds of Change programme on the LatAm CAPE website.
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International student enrolments continue upward surge
“Enrolments are steadily rising to pre-pandemic levels, with 2024 enrolments (83,425) now at 72 percent of 2019 totals (115,705).
“New Zealand reaps a broad range of economic, social and cultural benefits from having international students in our midst. International education boosts our economy, creates business opportunities, fuels innovation, and delivers essential cross-cultural skills for a more connected world.
“This sustained growth highlights the international education sector’s progress towards achieving the Government’s Going for Growth Plan goal of doubling the export revenue from international education by 2034.
“Universities and government-funded private training establishments (PTEs) are close to matching 2019 enrolment numbers. We are seeing enrolments grow across universities, schools, Te Pūkenga/NZIST, government-funded PTEs, and English language schools subsectors. In 2024, the strongest year-on-year growth was seen at government-funded PTEs (+59%) along with primary (+53%) and intermediate (+32%) schools.
“Universities saw 33,485 total enrolments, schools had 18,350 enrolments, while Te Pūkenga/NZIST and government-funded PTEs each had 10,270 and 10,185 enrolments, respectively.
“More international students are now enrolled for master’s study programmes in New Zealand. Between 2023 and 2024, there has been a 68% increase in master’s enrolments, with 14,695 international students in 2024, up from 8,740 in 2023. This is an 85% increase compared to 2019 when we had 7,945 enrolments for master’s study.
“The overall rise in enrolments at the national level is underscored by a diversity of regions leading strong growth from 2023, including Waikato (+50%), Hawke’s Bay (+44%), West Coast (+185%) and Gisborne (+156%). The Waikato region is notable in that it has seen significant growth across multiple subsectors: universities, Te Pūkenga/NZIST, government-funded PTEs and schools.
“China and India remain the top two source markets for international student enrolments with 34% and 14% enrolments respectively, followed by Japan (9%), South Korea (4%), Thailand (3%), United States of America (3%), Germany (3%), the Philippines (3%) and Sri Lanka (3%),” Malu says.
More information on enrolment numbers can be found here.
Note: All numbers are current as at 1 April 2025. Full numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. One individual may enrol more than once.
Government-funded PTEs are PTEs that receive government student funding for learners who are defined as domestic students under the Education and Training Act 2020 (note that PhD and exchange students are defined as domestic students under the Act).
For further information:
Sai Raje | Senior Communications Advisor, Education New Zealand
+64 21 479 649
About Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ)
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is the government agency dedicated to helping New Zealand realise the social, cultural, and economic benefits of international education. Our role is to promote New Zealand as a high-quality education destination offering excellent education and student experiences.
With approximately 82 staff in 14 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector which includes schools, English language providers, Wānanga, private training establishments, New Zealand Institute of Technology/Te Pūkenga, and universities. Internationally, we work with a range of education stakeholders, including government agencies and education providers to identify and encourage sustainable growth opportunities for New Zealand’s education sector.
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Government announces International Education Going for Growth Plan
The Plan outlines an objective to double the international education sector’s economic contribution by 2034. This target has been set at $7.2 billion.
In the short term, the Plan will have Education New Zealand (ENZ) focus its promotional efforts on markets with the highest potential for growth while continuing to maintain New Zealand’s strong presence and reputation for high-quality education in other markets.
ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu says New Zealand reaps a broad range of economic, social and cultural benefits from having international students in our classrooms and communities.
“A New Zealand education experience transforms lives, creating lifelong connections between students and Aotearoa. International education fuels innovation, boosts our economy, creates business opportunities, and delivers essential cross-cultural skills for a more connected world. The International Education Going for Growth Plan brings to life a vision to grow New Zealand as the destination of choice for international students,” Ms Malu said.
The plan to grow the international student sector has three objectives:
1. raise awareness of New Zealand as a study destination from 40% in 2024, to 42% in 2027 and 44% by 2034.
2. grow student enrolments from 83,400 in 2024 to 105,000 in 2027 and 119,000 by 2034.
3. increase the proportion of prospective students rating NZ among their top three choices of study destination from 18% in 2024 to 20% in 2027 and 22% in 2034.
In November 2025, in-study work rights will increase from 20 to 25 hours per week for eligible student visa holders and in-study work rights will be extended to all tertiary students in approved exchange or Study Abroad programmes, including programmes one-semester long.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will progress work on medium-term immigration actions under the Plan - design of a new short duration visa for some sub-degree qualifications not eligible for post-study work rights and ways to make it easier for students to apply for multi-year visas. MBIE will seek input and views from key stakeholders to inform the development of this work.
You can view the International Education Going for Growth Plan document here.
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Māori cultural experience builds lasting bonds for international students
Alongside courses in Māori culture, customs and language, some educational providers in New Zealand have offered an immersive noho marae (marae stay) experience. For students a long way from home, the warmth of the welcome and the sharing of knowledge, traditions, and food, gives them a lasting sense of belonging to Aotearoa.
One of the first educators to recognise the importance of sharing Māori culture with international students is Taituwha King, Senior Lecturer in Māori and Indigenous Development at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). For almost 20 years he has been running noho marae at the beginning of each semester to give international students a comprehensive cultural introduction to their study experience.
Such was the success of noho marae that King developed a course around it, called International Noho Marae – Indigenous Encounters of a Māori Kind, in 2010. It covers basic Te Reo Māori, Māori history, waiata (songs), and cultural customs, and is capped off with a weekend marae stay. It quickly became the second most popular class for international students at AUT, after another of King’s classes – Te Ara Pou Leadership. More than 1500 students have enrolled in the courses since 2002.
“The courses put indigenous goggles on students and open them up to areas of discussion with their own indigenous people,” King says.
Immersing in Māori culture is life changing
This is certainly true for Native American student Hailey Suina, from the Pueblo of Cochiti and Navajo Nation. She travelled to New Zealand on the Education New Zealand Go Overseas scholarship, already curious to explore the cultural connections between the Māori people and the indigenous people of North America.
She describes the time she spent immersed in Māori culture as “life-changing,” and returned home determined to use her experiences to become a leader in her community.
Hailey says she was amazed by the similarities between the Cochiti Pueblo and Māori peoples, which include a collectivist rather than an individualistic culture, a sense of guardianship for nature, and strong ties with ancestors.
“From the moment I arrived, I felt a deep connection with the Māori culture. It was like stepping from one home to another.”
So strong was the concept of whānau and whakawhanaungatanga (kinship connections) for a number of King’s students, that they developed Whānau Councils as a way of staying connected and building on the bonds of their shared New Zealand experience once they returned home. With the first one established in 2010, there are now three - two in the US and one in Europe.
Pre-Covid, students in Europe would meet up annually. King and other AUT staff committed to joining them, cementing the enduring relationship and ongoing commitment of AUT to its alumni.
“Events like noho marae and the Whānau Council meet-ups also provide an opportunity for prospective international students to learn about and consider AUT as a destination to study abroad and build relationships with key employers linked to our alumni,” says King.
Europe council co-founder Anne Heimbeig says being part of the Whānau Council is “a very emotional thing”.
“I’ve met great people from different countries. Together, we’ve overcome lots of stereotypes and wrong assumptions, and brought Māori culture out into the world.”
There was a sense of home, belonging, warmth, and love on the marae, says East Coast USA council co-founder Jessica Cohen.
“Being in the Whānau Council allows us to keep that spirit alive and remember the value of our whānau even when we are far away from our beloved Aotearoa.”
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Upcoming webinar: New Zealand International Education Enrolments 2024
Webinar details
- Wednesday 30th July, 11:00am-12:00pm (UTC+12)
- Register here: New Zealand International Education Enrolments 2024
Following the recent launch of the International Education Going for Growth Plan, join this webinar with Marie Clark, Director Insights, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, to hear more about the 2024 international student enrolments.
The full-year 2024 international student enrolments saw New Zealand reach 72 percent of pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019, with most sub-sectors contributing to this growth. Primary and intermediate schools have experienced the strongest growth, and New Zealand universities and government-funded PTEs are now very close to meeting or exceeding their 2019 enrolment numbers.
During this session, Marie will take participants through the data, including total enrolment numbers by subsector, highlight emerging trends and will offer advice on how this information can be used in your organisational planning.
If you have something you would like us to specifically highlight or a question please email insights@enz.govt.nz by 5pm Monday 28 July.
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From the CE: Growth on the go
Kia ora koutou,
This month, the Government announced the International Education Going for Growth Plan – this is an exciting, positive step forward for international education as we chase a big growth target to double the value of New Zealand international education by 2034.
It’s an ambitious target. However, with the strong and steady growth we have seen in international student numbers in 2024, the Growth Plan will help us boost that growth track to make New Zealand the destination of choice for international students.
At its heart, the Growth Plan is about striking the right balance between achieving sustainable growth for the sector, while providing our international students with an excellent experience in New Zealand and enabling our communities to understand the broad benefits that international education brings.
I am pleased with the work that is underway to progress the plan’s implementation. Over July and early August, ENZ is holding a series of market focused, cross-sector sessions to share market plans for 2025-26. The sessions will provide sector representatives with a topline update on market plans, growth targets, the approach for subsectors, and market activity.
I believe these sessions will prove useful in clarifying how ENZ intends to engage with the sector to activate and deliver the plan.
And with the way our latest 2024 enrolment numbers have continued their upward surge, we are on the right track to advance towards our growth goals. Our enrolments are now at 72 percent of pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019, with most sub-sectors contributing to this growth.
We are also seeing interesting trends in these enrolment numbers across subsectors, level of study and source markets and we look forward to sharing these insights with the sector. So make sure you sign up for ENZ’s webinar on 2024 international student enrolments to learn more about emerging trends with students, and how you can use this information in your organisational planning.
Last week, we said farewell to two of ENZ’s long-serving Board members, Linda Sissons and Lyn Provost, who completed their terms, and welcomed new members Sara Brownlie and Prabha Ravi with a mihi whakatau.
Finally, this week, I will be attending The PIE Live Asia Pacific event, where I will be speaking at a ‘New Zealand: Country update and trends’ panel session alongside University of Canterbury Vice-Chancellor Cheryl de la Rey and Deputy Editor of The PIE News UK, Kimberley Martin.
The session will discuss how New Zealand is poised for sustainable growth in international education and will cover the New Zealand International Education Going for Growth Plan and its ambitious target to double the value of international education by 2034.
For those of you attending the event, I look forward to seeing you there.
Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa
Let there be closeness, not distance
Ngā mihi nui,
Amanda Malu
Chief Executive
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From Viet Nam to Aotearoa: 20 bright minds awarded school scholarships
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) proudly celebrated the achievements of 20 outstanding Vietnamese students at the New Zealand School Scholarships (NZSS) 2025 awards ceremony and pre-departure briefing, held on 22 June 2025 in Ho Chi Minh city.
The event marked a milestone for these young students and their families, as they prepare to embark on a transformative education journey in New Zealand. It also served as a valuable orientation platform, offering practical insights into studying and living in New Zealand through sharing sessions led by NZSS alumni and their parents.
Now in its fifth year, the NZSS programme continues to strengthen its footprint with a record 45 participating New Zealand high schools and 47 fully completed applications resulting in 20 winners this year.
Among the New Zealand schools that successfully secured NZSS students, one private and four public schools joined for the first time – a testament to the programme’s growing influence and effectiveness in engaging with the education market in Viet Nam.
Participation in NZSS plays a vital role in raising New Zealand schools’ profile in Viet Nam. ENZ rolled out the 2025 NZSS campaign from January to March, with additional amplification in June, generating 48 media clippings with a combined PR value of NZD 131,000 and a social media reach of over 2 million in Viet Nam.
Speaking at the ceremony, New Zealand Consul-General and Trade Commissioner in Ho Chi Minh City, Scott James, said: “You had many choices for your education, and you chose New Zealand. For that, we are truly grateful.”
The latest awardees of the New Zealand School Scholarship pictured alongside their parents and representatives from ENZ and NZ Inc.
Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, one of the 2025 awardees, shared his emotions on receiving the scholarship:
“Being selected for this scholarship is not only one of the greatest honours of my life, but a moment that reminds me that hard work, belief, and perseverance can lead to something truly life changing. The more I learned about New Zealand – its values, its education system, and its people – the more I felt a strong connection. I realised: this isn’t just a place to study, it’s a place to grow.”
ENZ Regional Director – Asia (excluding China), Ben Burrowes, said he is proud to see the tangible impact of this scholarship.
“Many NZSS alumni have already achieved great success in their study and personal development journeys. Some are now beginning their careers in New Zealand, joining our workforce and contributing meaningfully to our economy and communities,” he said.“These achievements reflect both their talent and the opportunity the NZSS programme provides, and we are confident today’s recipients will follow in their footsteps,” Ben added.
This year’s scholarship ceremony coincided with the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Viet Nam – a fitting backdrop to a programme that continues to strengthen people-to-people ties and foster future global citizens.
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You’re invited! Find out about Brazil international education trends in upcoming webinar
Join us to dive into the results of the 10th edition of the Brazilian Educational & Language Travel Association (Belta) Seal Survey, the most comprehensive study on international education trends in Brazil.
The study surveyed 586 education agencies and 1,780 students from across Brazil to understand trends, behaviours, and preferences in the international education sector, showcasing Aotearoa New Zealand as one of the fastest-growing destinations among Brazilians seeking an international education.
Hosted by ENZ, hear from Belta President, Alexandre Argenta, who will share the survey’s results and the main factors driving the choice of New Zealand as a destination for students from Brazil.
Date: Thursday 7 August
Time: 8:45am – 10:00am (NZT)
Registration link: https://enz.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Bt7353-iTJ2Ru5rj8Rqv-w
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Around the world in five
Global
The global rankings season is now in full force, with this being the first time that three major releases have occurred within 24 hours. The results highlight the transformation that is occurring across higher education worldwide.
United States of America
United States President Donald J Trump has asked Congress to cut funding for basic research by more than one-third in the budget year beginning in October, according to an analysis by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Australia
The latest data on student visa grants and applications from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs shows a decrease overall for the international education sector and ELICOS and vocational visas at record lows, following the implementation of higher visa fees and a new visa priority system.
United Kingdom
In response to the growing concerns around quality assurance, ethical practice, and accountability in recruitment, a number of destination countries are introducing formal frameworks and codes of conduct to govern the activities of education agents.
Canada
Canadian universities have welcomed the government’s planned audit of the international student programme to strengthen processes and integrity, and to reinforce public trust in the system.
