Search

Showing 10 of 7357 results

  • 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.

  • NZ EdTech’s taking a diversified and leading message to the Australian digital education market

    ENZ had a stand at NZTE’s pavilion with six of the eight EdTech who had expressed an interest in attending EduTech as part of an ENZ delegaton, showcasing their products alongside NZTE’s five customers. The companies in the ENZ delegation included Pacific Kids' Learning, Nutriblocks, PipiLearning, Jix Reality,  PolyMath and Code Avengers and the Student Volunteer Army were also part of the wider ENZ delegation. This diverse group of technology providers from K-12 to Vocational Training and Education (VET) and Higher Education (HE) provide a range of digital education solutions including numeracy, literacy, financial literacy, STEM, programmes for neuro diverse learners, Pacific based and culturally responsive digital tools, immersive digital education experiences and health and wellbeing educational games.

    PolyMath Co-Founders Sophie and Christian Silver (second and third from left) talking with attendees at their EduTech Melbourne 2023 stand.

    ENZ’s participation supports Focus Area Two of the New Zealand International Education Strategy which is to ‘Build a new international education future’. In taking NZ EdTech offshore, ENZ’s goal is to show how Aotearoa New Zealand is leading in education innovation while also helping NZ EdTech companies explore and understand the export opportunity in Australia in a low-risk and low-cost way.

    ENZ’s Business Development Manager | Kaiwhakawhanake Pakihi, Alana Pellow, said that having a stand on NZTE’s pavilion gave ENZ’s delegation profile and extra visibility during the Expo. This included the opportunity to promote their products, a presentation slot to pitch their products, visibility of their collateral and the opportunity to engage with expo attendees over the two days of the event.

    “All six EdTechs on our stand generated a total of 80 prospective customer and partner leads, with one company signing a contract with a local university while there.

    “All met with decisions makers and government education officials, explored opportunities to partner with other NZ EdTechs and refined their thinking and business planning on the opportunities presented by the Australian market. They all referenced the significant value of being ‘in market.’”

    Nutriblocks Co-Founder Dr Claudia Leong and Tech Programme Developer Tim Kern presenting at EduTech Melbourne 2023.

    ENZ also sponsored the NZTE networking dinner for the combined 13 EdTech businesses. Invited guests included representatives from the Victorian Department of Education and Training, Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, Matterworks/Board Director and the NSW Department of Education. Both Education Departments set the scene for the education technology landscape in NSW and Victoria and the journey both states are on in digital adapting and adopting specifically in K-12. 

    ENZ also supported giving broader visibility of Aotearoa New Zealand’s expertise in digital education and secured two speaker sessions for the EduTech VET conference stream.  Norie Ape, Digital Product Manager for Te Pūkenga, presented on ‘Collaborative Innovation: Transforming Vocational Education through Technology and Work Based Learning’ while Elizabeth Asbury, Director of Pipi Learning  also spoke on ‘Cultural responsive and designed for neurodiversity in the Vocational Education and Training sector’. Both sessions were well attended and Norie and Elizabeth have been approached for further discussions involving contracting their EdTech services.

    Norie said it was a huge privilege to spend time together connecting on our shared passion for better outcomes for our learners, employers, and our colleagues.

    “We had two incredible days of meeting, learning, and collaborating in person with awesome humans using Tech 4 Good in Melbourne.  Time now to recover and setup all those post conference connections to further the new relationships forged and consider how to embed new ways of collaboration in and beyond.’’

    Norie Ape, Digital Product Manager for Te Pūkenga (second from left) with Code Avengers Founder, Hamish Day (far right) and Bradley Hansen (left) plus Karl de Borst (second from right) of Amazon Web Services.

    At the conclusion of EduTech Melbourne 2023, Alana shared here top three takeaways from the conference.  

    “Firstly, nothing beats being on the ground in market, to understand the needs of educators and the opportunity that exists. 

    “Secondly, there is power in the collective ‘we’ when Aotearoa New Zealand turns up en masse, in market. Collaborating and having deep relationships with other NZ Inc agencies adds greater support to the sector and provides one door to our government, truly putting the customer at the centre. 

    “My last takeaway is how the Australian education ecosystem is embracing all that technology offers without throwing learners or indeed educators to the kerb. We could learn more from our Australian education colleagues and how they are using digital to create competitive advantage that supports their international education success alongside building their domestic market citizens ‘fit for future’ capability”, said Alana.  

    Next stop for NZ EdTech companies with ENZ is EduTech Asia in Singapore this November. Any NZ EdTech and Education publisher companies or education providers looking to be involved in education technology related Conferences and Expos can contact Alana Pellow on alana.pellow@enz.govt.nz    

  • 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 

     

  • Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships

  • Letter from the CE: Kia kaha te Reo Māori

    Last week, Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Māori language week, was an important reminder for us all that Te Reo Māori is a core part of who we are as New Zealanders, and what makes Aotearoa unique.  

    With this in mind, I am delighted to share Education New Zealand’s new Māori name: Manapou ki te Ao.  

    Manapou means supporting and sustaining life, which allows growth and progression, while ki te Ao means to the world. Nourishing and empowering, a New Zealand education enables students to flourish and creates the world’s next generation of problem solvers.  

    Manapou ki te Ao encompasses the Māori principles of manaakitanga (the caring and valuing of others), kaitiakitanga (carer and guardianship of the environment and resources), whakawhanaungatanga (process of establishing meaningful relationships through cultural respect, connectedness and engagement) and aroha.   

    Our new name reflects Education New Zealand’s role in growing and supporting the international education sector – ensuring all students can thrive and share their skills and knowledge with the world.  

    Many international students find their experience of Māori language and culture a highlight of their time in Aotearoa. One example is Hailey Suina, of the Cochiti Pueblo Indian Reservation in New Mexico, who won a $15,000 Education New Zealand and Go Overseas scholarship to spend a semester studying at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). 

    The name’s development has been a rewarding journey. It will become part of ENZ’s corporate logo, and you will see it more and more over the next few months. Even more importantly, it will underpin everything we do. And we want you to feel ownership of it too. Please share our new name with your whānau, colleagues and friends.  

    Ko ngā tini aho o te tukutuku whakaniko i te hinengaro  

    Me tuitui ki te tūmatakahuki mātauranga o te ao.  

    The many strands of knowledge that embellish the mind 

    are woven upon a lattice of global education.  

    - Nā Rahera Shortland 

    Other things to keep an eye out for over the next few weeks are the ENZ international events calendar for 2020, the NZeTA: a new requirement for travellers to New Zealand, and ENZ’s first global campaign following our brand refresh: 'Ask New Anything’. You can read more about the campaign in this issue of E-News.   

    Ngā mihi 

    Grant McPherson

    Kaihautū, Manapou ki te Ao 

    Chief Executive, Education New Zealand

    Grant McPherson5

  • Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Books

    New Zealand’s Guest of Honour presence at the Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE) had a strong education flavour as Education New Zealand staff and six education publishers participated alongside a cast of leading New Zealand authors and other New Zealand publishers.

    Education New Zealand contributed $100,000 to New Zealand organiser Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) to support the participation of the Wendy Pye Group, ESA Publications; MJA Publishing; Lanky Hippo Publishing; the New Zealand Council for Educational Research; and Clean Slate Press at TIBE held over 11 – 16 February 2015.

    TIBE is the largest book fair in Asia and acts as a gateway to the region. In 2014, TIBE had more than 500,000 visitors, over 1,000 events for visitors or publishers, more than 700 domestic and international reporters and 423 international publishing houses in attendance. 

    This year TIBE brought in free entry for school-aged children, which was expected to boost visitor numbers as well as providing an expanded audience for Education New Zealand’s “Study in New Zealand” messaging.

    New Zealand’s Guest of Honour status ensured that we received prime positioning within the fair venue as well as enhanced interest and attention from media; Taiwan authorities; and industry representatives seeking to buy rights. 

    A wide-ranging programme included strong publisher presence, public presentations, kapa haka performances, carving by the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Council/Ngā Kete Tuku Iho, a visiting author programme, and offsite events including an art exhibition. The eye-catching New Zealand Pavilion – in a design of three Māori tokotoko (orator’s sticks) – exemplified New Zealand’s “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Books” theme.

    “Education New Zealand has previously supported our education publishers’ attendance at such key international trade events, as it gives them the opportunity to explore new markets and opportunities in a dedicated business setting”, said ENZ’s Business Development Manager, Adele Bryant.

    “Dame Wendy Pye was busy at her stand following up leads she attributed to attendance at Frankfurt 2012 where New Zealand was also Guest of Honour and ENZ supported education publishers.”

    TIBE20Wendy20Pye

    Above: Dame Wendy Pye and a young Taiwanese student demonstrating one of Wendy’s education tools.

    While the delegation of education publishers represented a mix of experienced and new exporters, all were united in having high-quality products that represented New Zealand's reputation for innovation and quality education. 

    “ENZ support for TIBE and earlier scoping visits to Hong Kong and Seoul has helped profile our strengths in education publishing to Asian publishers. The New Zealand delegation has been able to understand how their product can better fit the market as well as meet new business leads”, said Adele.

    ENZ’s Regional Director – Greater China, Alexandra Grace, also delivered presentations profiling New Zealand as a high-quality education destination that fosters innovation and creativity in its students.

    “It was inspiring to deliver these presentations as part of New Zealand’s Guest of Honour programme”, said Alex.

    “Being part of a programme that included such creative and talented New Zealanders as Eleanor Catton, Witi Ihimaera, and Joy Cowley – not to mention our education publishers, who are seeking to inspire, delight, and educate children around the world with their innovative learning tools – was a real buzz. Their presence complemented perfectly the message I was seeking to make about New Zealand as a place where ideas and talent are nurtured and developed.”

    “I was also able to point to Eleanor Catton and Witi Ihimaera – both of whom teach at Manukau Institute of Technology – as being event-appropriate examples of how New Zealand delivers applied education in a way that is closely linked to industry.”

    Education New Zealand will continue to work with TIBE participants and other education publishers to assist them in finding opportunities to promote their products, skills and expertise offshore; as well as working to promote New Zealand as an education destination of choice to students from Taiwan.

    For further information on New Zealand’s participation at this year’s Taiwan International Book Exhibition, visit: www.publishers.org.nz

    To find out about other connections our education publishers made on their way to Taipei, read here. 

    Below: Inside the NZ pavilion ENZ Regional Director – Greater China, Alex Grace, presents on the strengths of NZ education publishing.

    TIBE20Alex20presso202a

  • More than 1,000 delegates attend NZIEC KI TUA 2022

    NZIEC at a glance   

    • 1,065: Registered delegates, making this the biggest NZIEC ever  
    • 105: Sessions delivered across the week  
    • 101: Speakers   
    • 11: MCs and facilitators  
    • 8: Time zones that ENZ’s international team members joined sessions from   
    • 3: Studios in operation, in Pōneke Wellington, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Ōtautahi Christchurch 
    • 88%: Delegate satisfaction for keynote and plenary sessions (rated good or very good).

    “This was the largest NZIEC ever held, which shows the high level of interest in rebuilding the international education sector within Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) Chief Executive Grant McPherson.

    “I’d like to thank our line-up of keynote, plenary and breakout speakers, as well as everyone who took the time to attend. I hope all of our delegates were encouraged and inspired and gained a gem or two for the rebuild journey ahead.” 

    Prime Minister and Minister address conference delegates 

    Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recorded a special message for our sector. If you missed it during the conference closing session, take a moment to view it now.

    YouTube

     

    Education Minister Chris Hipkins also addressed conference delegates and answered questions. Conference delegates can view this session on the event portal.

    New ingoa Māori  

    This year, to celebrate its 29th birthday, NZIEC was gifted a new ingoa Māori (te reo Māori name): NZIEC KI TUA. The name was inspired by the following whakataukī:  

     

    He rā ki tua.  

    Look positively toward the future,  Better times are coming.  

     

    Ki Tua is not about returning to the ‘status quo’. It’s about reconnecting to the world, finding a fresh perspective, and taking a new approach.

    “The adoption of NZIEC KI TUA reflects our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Maihi Karauna, the Crown’s Strategy for Māori Language Revitalisation,” Mr McPherson says.

    “NZIEC’s new name also reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s distinct cultural identity and the importance of continuing to develop our sector’s annual conference.” 

    Sessions are still available  

    Registered delegates can watch or re-watch conference sessions from the event portal until Friday 16 September. 

    Conference highlights 

    Recognising the challenge facing the international education sector, the conference explored the theme of Towards Recovery: Reflect, Reconnect and Renew. 

    The programme started by reflecting on the sector’s pandemic experience, including moving reflections from international students and international education practitioners. Delegates explored student experience through the pandemic.

    The programme then shifted to reconnecting with the world. Delegates heard from Minister of Education, Hon Chris Hipkins, and New Zealand’s leading trade negotiator, Vangelis Vitalis. 

    Mid-week we turned our attention to renewal, and how our industry can seize the big opportunities and overcome the big challenges it faces. We explored the intersection of te ao Māori and international education, how we can develop global citizenship, approaches to innovation and diversification, and tackling the climate challenge.  

     

    Quotes that struck a chord 

      

    • “I learned a lot about love, I think. Love and care during this pandemic”  
      - Veena TK, Masters student from Malaysia, reflects on an unexpected aspect of her pandemic experience in Aotearoa.  

      

    • “I love my school canteen. You know especially butter chicken pie, they’re $4 each. Pretty good.”  
      – Year 13 student Chad (Min-Hyeok) Kang’s favourite go-to food spot in New Zealand is close to home.  

      

    • "I do want to thank everybody for their ongoing feedback and support and for the huge amount of resilience and persistence that we have seen across the international education sector. I do think there are some very, very exciting things ahead for us."  
      – Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education, in his remarks to the international education sector.  

      

    • “Let me start first with the international context… we have war, we have plague, we have the famine and of course we have climate change as well”  
      – Vangelis Vitalis discusses contemporary challenges in the international arena. 

      

    • “Knowledge wasn’t retained for status, it wasn’t a choice. Often it was associated to the wellbeing and betterment of our people” 
      – Sharlene Maoate-Davis talks about how education is conceived and valued from a te ao Māori perspective.  

      

    • “Six months in a leaky boat has a whole new meaning to me”  
      – Abbas Nazari on his experience prior to being rescued by the MV Tampa. More seriously, he offered these remarks: “The essence of my talk is very simple… in life there are obstacles and challenges that fall across your path. Despite all these challenges, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.” 

      

    • “The weight of the past is constantly fighting with the pull of the future and the push of the present to try and kill innovation”  
      – Melissa Clarke-Reynolds on organisational immune systems’ reactions to innovation.  

      

    • “Changing your world is your critical contribution to changing the world”  
      – Dr Kennedy Graham on how you can contribute to the climate challenge.

    Stay tuned to next month’s E-News for more details on NZIEC KI TUA 2023.

  • Record numbers at Viet Nam fairs

    More than 300 students visited the fair in Hanoi and in Ho Chi Minh City attendance was up 86 per cent to more than 700 students, resulting in queues to speak to New Zealand institutions. 

    The fairs showcased 34 New Zealand education institutions from secondary schools, private English language colleges to technical colleges and tertiary institutions, all promoting their courses and campus life to Vietnamese students.

    Students and their parents also had the opportunity to learn about the various scholarships that are available from Viet Nam International Education Development and New Zealand Aid.

    Ziena Jalil, ENZ Regional Director for South and Southeast Asia said: “Viet Nam is an important market for New Zealand education institutions. With nearly 2,000 Vietnamese students already studying in New Zealand, it is the second largest source market within ASEAN for international students.

    “This year’s fairs in Viet Nam helped showcase the true spirit of New Zealand’s innovative education system and the pastoral care commitment that New Zealand institutions have for all students.”

    vietnam2

  • Strong interest in Aotearoa New Zealand from Latin America

    Students ranked New Zealand second highest as a destination of interest for a future international education programme.  The top factors influencing their decisions post-COVID-19 were visa processing, accommodation costs and the academic quality of the institution.

    The top decision-making factors for agents were course costs, border settings and airfare costs. 

    New Zealand ranked highly for competence in managing the pandemic and health control, but it ranked fourth for agents on adequate infrastructure for the reception of international students in the near future.  Both agents and students said face-to-face was the preferred mode of study. 

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao sponsored the survey run by the Brazilian Education and Language Travel Association (BELTA) across Latin America, to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international education sector.

    ENZ’s Latin America team shared the BELTA Latin America 2021 survey results with around 50 industry representatives and agents at a virtual forum in December 2021.

    The event also celebrated ENZ’s Recognised Agencies (ENZRA) for their contribution to maintaining the visibility of New Zealand’s education brand during the pandemic. 

    You can view the webinar and related materials on Intellilab here.

  • International photo round-up

What's in it for me?