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  • Building on momentum from 2025 for steady growth in 2026

    Kia ora koutou, 

    As 2025 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve achieved together, and to thank you for the incredible support you’ve shown to grow international education in New Zealand. 

    This year has been one of big wins: 

    • New Zealand now has 83,535 international students enrolled between January and August, a 14% increase on last year, already surpassing 2024’s total. 

    • Education-related travel exports hit $4.52 billion, making international education among New Zealand’s top 10 exports. 

    • 87% of international students rated their experience in the country positively, with 77% of New Zealanders agreeing that international education benefits the country. 

    These results are a testament to the strength of our partnerships and the commitment of everyone in this sector. Thank you for working with us on our Go-to-Market Plans, we are excited to keep building on this momentum in 2026 as we deliver on the International Education Going for Growth Plan. 

    And it’s not just our sector shining, New Zealand continues to stand out globally on several counts, which make us even more appealing as a high-quality study destination.  

    We are globally ranked: 

    • fifth for overall higher education quality (QS World University Rankings 2026) 

    • second on the Sustainable Trade Index 

    • third-most peaceful country in the world (Global Peace Index 2025) 

    • first for work-life balance (Global Life Work Balance Index 2025) 

    • tenth for overall prosperity and wellbeing (Legatum Prosperity Index 2025). 

    Finally, I want to acknowledge Amanda’s outstanding leadership as ENZ Chief Executive. Amanda has strengthened relationships across government and the sector, represented New Zealand internationally, and delivered an organisational reset that sets ENZ up for the future.  

    We’re immensely grateful for her contribution and wish her every success in her next role. 

    The ENZ Board has started recruiting for a new Chief Executive, and we’re working closely with Amanda and the leadership team to ensure a smooth transition. In the meantime, business continues as usual, and our team remains focused on achieving the growth goals we have set for international education. 

    On behalf of the ENZ Board, thank you for everything you’ve done to help international education grow and thrive this year.  

    Wishing you a safe and happy festive season filled with relaxation, good cheer and time with loved ones. We look forward to connecting again in the New Year and continuing this important work together. 

    Ngā mihi nui, 
    Tony Gray 
    Chair, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao 

     

  • 2324 048 OIA Request koha payments to ex Board Chair and correspondence queries

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  • Programme A Kiwi Experience at NAFSA 2018

  • Government delegation from South Korea visits New Zealand to reconnect with several of our education providers

    New Zealand and South Korea have strong education links and one unique partnership is the education cooperation under the Korea-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (KNZFTA) which has historically included education programmes for Korean school and tertiary students. 

    The visiting delegation included representatives from the Korea Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), the Korea Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (EPIS) and Korea Fisheries Resources Agency (FIRA), the implementing agency for the MOF-funded project. 

    The delegation was welcomed to the ENZ Wellington office with a mihi whakatau on their first day. ENZ, Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) colleagues joined together for waiata and kai with our Korean guests.

    Following a welcome and mihi whakatau in Wellington, the group travelled on to Nelson where they visited Te Pūkenga Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) and Nayland College. The visit to Nayland College was an opportunity for the Korean representatives to gain a better understanding of the pastoral care for school students and the unique offerings such as outdoor education and horticulture programmes. 

    Kay Lee, ENZ Senior Market Development Manager – Korea, said it was important for the Korean delegation to experience firsthand the welcoming and safe environment of New Zealand schools to regain confidence in the Schools Visits Programme.  

    “After the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korean Government was concerned about sending students, especially younger students, overseas to study particularly on scholarship programmes because parents wanted assurance their children will be well looked after. In the debrief with the Korean representatives, it was clear they gained confidence from speaking to the New Zealand institution representatives around the procedures and systems in place to support students.” 

    “We hope that this renewed confidence will mean that we start seeing Korean government scholarship school students studying in New Zealand again in the near future”. 

    High on the agenda during the delegation’s visit were the School Visits and Tertiary Training Programmes, both of which were affected significantly during the pandemic.  

    From 2016 –2019, the School Visits Programme provided 150 high school scholarships per year for South Korean students from rural areas to attend New Zealand schools for eight weeks. The Korean Government planned to continue the Schools Visits Programme with its own funding in 2020, however, the programme was cancelled due to travel restrictions during the pandemic.   

    An alternative programme was run by MAFRA and MOF from December 2022 which involved short-term English Language Training for school students in Korea with three New Zealand teachers travelling to Korea to teach English (Read about their experience here).The Korean organisers have decided to run the English language programme in Korea again with six New Zealand teachers traveling to Korea to teach English in January 2024. 

    Nayland College demonstrated manaakitanga by welcoming the group to rainy Nelson but provided an Asia Kiwi lunch complete with meat pies and sushi!

    Like the Schools Visits Programme, the pandemic interrupted tertiary programmes and the revised programme ran in January 2023 with short term group programmes. The site visits in November to Te Pūkenga NMIT and Lincoln University provided an opportunity to discuss the institutions’ proposals to host Korean tertiary students in January 2024.  

    Also discussed was the importance of reciprocity and it was noted that Korea is a popular destination for New Zealanders under the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia (PMSA) scheme. Since 2016, the scheme has awarded scholarships to 196 individuals or groups for study, intern or research programmes in Korea. Lincoln University, in particular, has been successful in facilitating group PMSA programmes focused on agriculture to Korea.  

    Dr Mark Burdass, Aquaculture Programme Coordinator and Tutor, introduces the hands on learning in the aquaculture programme at Te Pūkenga NMIT.

    At the conclusion of their visit, the Korean delegation expressed their gratitude to the institution hosts for making their time in New Zealand memorable and valuable through fruitful discussions. The delegation emphasised the importance of conducting these meetings in person and visiting the campuses to meet with institution staff and academics. The ENZ Manapou ki te Ao team is pleased to continue close cooperation with our Korean education partners to facilitate connections with New Zealand education providers for the education programmes. 

    If you are interested in finding out more about the education initiatives originally outlined in the KNZFTA, you can read about this in a 2016 E-News article here - New opportunities for New Zealand and Korea. 

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  • International students report high satisfaction as New Zealand sees steady recovery in enrolments

    This year, 87 percent of students gave a positive rating of their overall experience, maintaining the upward trend seen in 2024 (86%). The proportion of students who rated their experience as ‘excellent’ rose to 43 percent, a two percent increase from the previous year. 

    These strong satisfaction results come as international student enrolments in New Zealand continue to grow. Between January and April 2025, 63,610 international students were enrolled with New Zealand education providers, a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2024 (54,690), and a 49% increase on 2023 (42,700). 

    All education subsectors saw growth, with Private Training Establishments (PTEs) showing the strongest increase at +41% compared to 2024. 

    China and India remained the top source markets, followed by Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, USA, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, and Germany. Notably, Sri Lanka rose to fifth place (from ninth), and Nepal to seventh (from eleventh), reflecting shifting dynamics in student mobility. 

    What students value most  

    Students were most positive about the people and connections they made in New Zealand (92%), the quality of their education (90%), their arrival and orientation experience (89%), the ease of making study arrangements (87%), and their overall living experience (87%). 

    International students’ experiences of making study arrangements have notably improved, with 80 percent of students rating their experience with the visa application process positively (up from 78% in 2024), and 74% positively rating the time taken to get their visa (up from 64%). 

    Education New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand will continue to collaborate on provision of information to students to ensure an enhanced student experience. 

    The survey also shows an increasing proportion of international students regard New Zealand as offering good value for money, with positive perceptions rising from 65% to 76%. 

    Education New Zealand's Chief Executive, Amanda Malu, said the results reflect New Zealand’s ability to provide a high-quality education within an environment that fosters meaningful connections and relationships.

    “This is encouraging news for New Zealand. The fact that students continue to rate their experience here as excellent is a credit to our education providers and speaks to the warmth of the welcome our communities extend to international students,” she said.

    “We’re seeing a steady and encouraging recovery in international education. It’s not a boom, but a sign that our collective efforts are making a difference. What matters most is that students are not just coming to New Zealand, they’re having a high-quality experience that supports wellbeing and a sense of belonging.”

    “Under the International Education Going for Growth Plan, we’re focused on thoughtful, sustainable growth. These insights help us ensure that our progress is not just about numbers, but about delivering long-term value to students, communities, and the wider economy.”

    Education New Zealand’s Director Insights and Performance, Marie Clark, said the survey continues to be a key piece of work for ENZ and a useful tool for the international education sector. 

    “It remains the only national survey focused on international student experience in all subsectors in New Zealand. With several years of data now collected, we’re building a meaningful picture of student experience over time,” she said.  

    “The ability to break down insights by variables like country, sector, and gender makes the dataset especially useful. We expect the report and Tableau dashboards will be very practical resources for anyone working in the sector,” Clark added.  

     For further information: 

    • Sai Raje | Senior Communications Advisor, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao 
      sai.raje@enz.govt.nz | +64 21 479 649 

    Notes to Editors: 

    About the New Zealand International Student Experience Survey 2025 

    The survey aims to better understand the overall experience of international students enrolled with New Zealand education providers, as well as recent graduates. It also identifies areas for improvement to enhance the student journey. 

    Fieldwork was conducted from 28 April to 19 May 2025 with 5,420 respondents across all education subsectors and stages of study. 

     About Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao 

    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 85 staff in 13 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector which includes schools, English language providers, Private Training Establishments, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (New Zealand Institute of Skills and 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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  • Noteworthy education programme featured during Prime Minister’s Trade Mission to Japan

    Hot on the heels of the Prime Minister’s Trade Mission to Southeast Asia in April, relationships with our partner countries in the region continued to be strengthened for the benefit of the education sector during New Zealand’s most recent trade mission to Japan. This mission supported export sectors, including education, to engage with the Japan market and leverage emerging opportunities while advancing the New Zealand brand.  The inclusion of education in the high-level visit acknowledges its contribution to the government’s ambition to lift the value of exports.  

    The strong people-to-people links between New Zealand and Japan are noteworthy with high student mobility in both directions. Japan is the third largest source of international students for New Zealand according to 2023 international student enrolment data with the school sector making up the largest proportion of enrolments. Japan is also a top destination for New Zealand scholars with many joining the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme and in the most recent Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia group announcement, three groups were awarded scholarships for programmes in Japan. 

    The international education sector was represented by two delegates nominated by ENZ to participate in the full business delegation. Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor University of Canterbury, attended as Chair of the Vice-Chancellor’s Committee on behalf of the wider university sector and John van der Zwan, Executive Director, Schools International Education Business Association (SIEBA). Unfortunately, John had to withdraw due to illness.  

    The education programme elements woven into the high-level visit included a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing, a visit by Mrs Amanda Luxon to a local Japanese school, and scholarship students participating in the New Zealand Sports and Business Leadership luncheon.  

    MoU between Massey University and a group of all-girls secondary schools  

    The Prime Minister promoted awareness of New Zealand’s world-leading universities among high schools in Japan through witnessing the signing of an MoU between Massey University and six all-girls secondary schools in Japan.  

     

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witnessed the signing of the MoU between Massey University and six all-girls secondary schools in Japan.

    The memorandum signing ceremony was held at the New Zealand Embassy in Japan on 18 June. The MoU will develop a special admission system, enabling Massey University’s foundation or bachelor’s programmes to accept outstanding students recommended by the principals of the Japanese high schools. Through this agreement, students who meet Massey University's English and academic requirements and receive a recommendation from their schools will be able to enrol in Massey University's bachelor's programmes. Students can graduate with a degree in three years from the time they start their studies.  

    Shelly Turner, Deputy Vice Chancellor represented Massey University in Tokyo at the MoU signing and said at the signing “Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University has a long-standing relationship with Japan, reflecting our commitment to fostering international education and cultural exchange, and more recently we have seen a growing interest in our full degree programmes.  

    “We are dedicated to providing comprehensive support to ensure our Japanese students thrive academically and personally. We recognise the crucial role of women and girls in tertiary education and are committed to empowering them to achieve their full potential during their studies, and transition to successful careers,” said Shelly.  

    The Japanese school Principals, including Japan Women’s University Senior High School Principal, Yumi Susuki also welcomed the new partnership.  

    “For the past 30 years, our school has deepened its understanding of New Zealand culture and society through language training programs in New Zealand. With the 2022 agreement between Education New Zealand and our school, and now the new special admission system with Massey University, we hope to build even richer relationships and empower our students to shape their future,” said Yumi.  

    The Japanese schools that signed the agreement participated in the 'New Zealand Education Familiarisation Tour,' co-hosted by ENZ and Air New Zealand in March 2024. During the tour, they found a high level of compatibility with Massey’s educational philosophy, wide range of academic options, future-oriented learning environment, and extensive support for international students. 

    Homei Elementary School 

    Mrs Luxon with teachers and students at Homei Elementary School.

    International education opportunities were also highlighted in a well-received visit Mrs Luxon made to Homei Elementary School on 19 June (affiliated to Japan Women’s University). It was Mrs Luxon's first trip to Japan and her school visit enhanced New Zealand's presence and reputation among all-girls' schools and universities in Japan.  

    In 2022, an Education Cooperation Arrangement between ENZ and Japan Women's University (JWU) and its affiliated schools including the Homei Elementary School was concluded to promote student and teacher exchange as well as gender equality and women’s empowerment.    

    From 2025, Homei Elementary School will send its first cohort of six graders (11-12 years old) to St. Margaret’s College for a short-term study and homestay experience.   

    Sports and Business Leadership Luncheon 

    The Sports and Business Leadership Luncheon held earlier in the programme on 17 June celebrated people-to-people connections and promoted New Zealand as an attractive study destination, including through the “Tobitate” scholarship programme.  

    The Tobitate programme, managed by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), sends students abroad and New Zealand has welcomed many students as part of this initiative. Ten Tobitate Alumni were invited by ENZ to attend the lunch in support of the New Zealand – Japan sporting ties and to promote education opportunities in New Zealand to the Japanese audience.  

    The Prime Minister’s remarks during the event celebrated ten years of the Game on English programme (which combines rugby and study in New Zealand for Japanese high school students), highlighted Fonterra’s contribution to its success, and announced Air New Zealand as a new sponsor.  

    Upcoming Events in Japan for NZ education providers 

    ENZ’s Acting General Manager International and Regional Director Asia (excluding China), Ben Burrowes accompanied the delegation and said he is looking forward to the upcoming ENZ events in Japan.  

    “The team is preparing to welcome providers to Japan later this year for the New Zealand Fair and Agent Seminars from 6 to 8 October.   

    “The timing of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s recent visit to Japan couldn’t have been better. We will look to further leverage this focus by continuing our work with the sector to promote New Zealand’s education offerings with prospective students, families and education stakeholders in Japan.”   

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