Search

Showing 10 of 7339 results

November update from Immigration New Zealand
Update on Student Visa processing* 
Since New Zealand’s international borders reopened in August 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 12,259 student visa applications from international students outside New Zealand. We have decided 7,731 of these applications, with more than half of our decisions made in under four weeks and almost all decisions (95%) made within eight weeks.  
*Figures current as at 10pm on 19 November 2022. 
Help us process student visa applications quickly
There are common mistakes which can slow down student visa processing. Please make sure applicants supply all required documents when they submit their online visa applications. Checklists on the INZ website the INZ website can help students gather all the information they need for their application.
All documents should be:
- clear scans (not blurry or missing text)
- uploaded separately and under the correct category.
Also, a reminder that overseas applicants do not need to use the Approval in Principle process. Their applications are processed faster if they pay their tuition fees upfront and include the provider’s receipt with their applications.
Contacting us
Our immigration officers are processing visa applications as quickly as possible. Students and their representatives should only contact individual immigration officers when their application is being assessed and pending a decision.
For any questions not about a specific in progress application, there are other ways to find the information you are looking for. Check the INZ website first as it has a lot of useful information, including the student checklists. Education providers and licensed immigration advisors can also contact INZ through their established email channels.
Pathway visas
An increasing number of people are incorrectly applying for Pathway Student Visas, which can cause processing delays.
A Pathway Student Visa is for international students who want to study up to three consecutive programmes of study with pathway visa approved education providers on a single visa, or they wish to study a multi-year programme with a pathway visa approved education provider.
Students should only apply for a Pathway Visa if they:
- have a letter of support from a Pathway education provider (or joint letter if their study is with more than one provider) stating they support the student’s pathway application
- have an offer of place for each programme of study, and
- can demonstrate they have sufficient and readily available maintenance funds for their first year on the intended pathway and that they can fund any further years of study as per their intended study path; and
- have paid (or have sufficient funds to pay) for a minimum of the first year or first programme tuition fees, whichever is applicable.
Applicants should only answer ‘Yes’ to the online student visa application form question “Are you applying for a Pathway Student Visa?” if they meet the criteria for a Pathway Student Visa. If they are unsure whether a course meets these requirements, they should talk to their education provider(s).
A screenshot of the student visa application form Pathway Student Visa question

If students apply for a Pathway Student Visa incorrectly, their applications will take longer to process as there will be additional tasks for the immigration officer assessing their application.
Pathway visas | Immigration New Zealand
Family travelling with a student
If family members (such as parents) intend to visit New Zealand briefly to help a student settle into their life and study here, they may need to apply for an NZeTA (if from a visa waiver country) or a General Visitor Visa (if they are from a visa required country).
Currently there is high demand for General Visitor Visas to travel to New Zealand. If a General Visitor Visa is needed for travel in early 2023, we encourage people to apply for this as soon as possible. Applicants should state in the “Purpose of visit” section of their application that they wish to travel with the student to New Zealand and include the name of the student.
Visit New Zealand | Immigration New Zealand

Our next E-News update from INZ will be in 2023, we wish everyone a happy holiday season.
Innovation at Mission New Zealand
With support from the product and service diversification pilot funding round led by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), the new platform is being developed and managed by The Mind Lab.
Mission New Zealand offers a fully immersive and distinctively New Zealand experience. It focuses on the key differences that New Zealand offers and the benefits of being part of a movement for positive change. A range of shorter learning opportunities are grouped under four themes that reflect New Zealand’s progressiveness and values: culture, tech innovation, creativity and sustainability.
Visitors to the site will be greeted by the world’s first 360° virtual pōwhiri, starting at the gates of Ngāti Whātua Orākei Marae in Auckland. They will experience being called onto the marae with a karanga and stepping onto the grounds to be welcomed by members of Ngāti Whātua.

A screenshot from Mission New Zealand's virtual pōwhiri

Personalised learning, with optional content and stories, insights and other material will help learners experience what makes New Zealand unique.
The new platform is designed to address the increasing global demand for connecting with a visible cause, for online learning options, and for shorter and more flexible courses.
There are still opportunities for New Zealand education providers interested in being part of this opportunity, before the marketing campaign gets underway over the next two months. The site will enable providers to test the demand for their short courses and micro-credentials in areas of New Zealand specialist expertise.
This project is part of ENZ’s programme to encourage the development of new products and services in the international education sector, supported by the COVID Response and Recovery Fund.
The Mind Lab was founded in 2013 and has a strong background in innovation, online delivery and building community connections, including relationships with iwi and Māori-led organisations.
Event registrations are open – and with a new whizz bang system!
There’s something for everyone among the agent seminars, alumni networking events, New Zealand education fairs and commercial fairs in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and Viet Nam.
Exciting news is that, in line with our new categorisation of Japan as a ‘promote’ market, we are holding our first New Zealand education fair in Japan in October. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to showcase your education offering to this important market. As well, following on from the success of the agent seminars held in Osaka and Tokyo last year we will again be holding seminars in these cities leading up to the fair.
More exciting news on the event front is that our new event registration platform makes the whole process smoother, and does away with some of the paperwork. All the information you need regarding venues, locations and hotels, as well as some facts and figures about the market are available on the registration page for that event, all making for easier trip planning.
Each event will have an app, so that all the event information will be at your fingertips as you travel.
Registrations for all events close on Wednesday 15 July so check out the event calendar, select your country or countries, and away you go!
Phase two of the event registration improvements will include a meeting planner and appointment scheduler that will enable you to make appointments with agents well ahead of time and ensure you don’t miss out on valuable one-to-one meeting opportunities.
DSC 9572 resize
Opening new doors for Chilean teachers of English
Two groups of 20 Chilean teachers of English recently spent time at two New Zealand universities, studying diversity and inclusion in the classroom and learning more about the Kiwi style of teaching.
The first cohort, from Chile’s Araucania region, went to the University of Waikato’s Institute of Professional Learning. They were the third group of teachers funded to travel here by Araucanian local government.
University of Waikato Associate Director of International Education and Development, Chris Henderson, describes their programme as “genuinely collaborative”.
“As our relationship with the Chilean Ministry of Education has developed, we progressed from delivering an off-the-shelf programme to co-creating a teacher development intitiative that is bespoke and unique to Chilean teachers’ needs,” he says.
"Our unique point of difference is our inclusion of Māori language and learning methods in mainstream classrooms. This is something our Chilean teachers aspire to achieve for their Mapuche [indigenous] learners. As such, we can inspire possibilities and introduce methodologies that will support their journey."
The second cohort spent four weeks at Massey University in Palmerston North. Funded to come here by the Chilean Ministry of Education’s Programa Ingles Abre Puertas (English Open Doors) programme, their members came from all over Chile.
This course featured classes on pedagogical innovations that promote student-centred instruction, as well as visits to local schools, practical workshops and a two-day stay on a local marae.
One student commented: “Not only this course taught us content, but also it engaged me with your culture. How am I going to learn about New Zealand education if I didn't know anything about you? I feel your culture, traditions and daily lifestyle are now part of my life; I feel I fully understand your system and how to apply it in my own reality. Thank you for making this experience as unique as I thought it would be.”
ENZ Senior Market Development Manager, Javiera Visedo, says she is delighted to continue working with the Chilean Government on teaching initiatives like these.
“Chile and New Zealand are like-minded partners and the education linkages get stronger and deeper every day,” she says. “These groups are perfect examples of the work we have been doing in Chile aligned with our International Education Strategy, and we definitely expect more to come.”
For enquiries regarding opportunities like these in Chile, contact Javiera via email: javiera.visedo@enz.govt.nz.
NZ EdTech breaks into Middle East market with ‘Play Code Learn’ teaching solution

ByteEd is a New Zealand EdTech company with a mission to empower future generations to become creators of technology rather than just users. The company started out in 2018 by teaching industry-standard programming to high school and university students to create virtual reality worlds. However, a need to start reaching a younger audience was identified due to a lack of foundational concepts.

This led Founder and CE, Peter Dong and his team, to develop a comprehensive solution for students in their early years, using ‘Play Code Learn’ hands on kits combined with augmented reality and artificial intelligence to address this gap.

It is this solution that has been adopted as a core resource by Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in the United Arab Emirates for its new Computational Thinking course. All Emirati graduates from their six colleges will learn computational thinking and then using the Play Code Learn resource will teach this in schools where they will become teachers.

Dr Robert Miles and Haya Al Nuaimi undertaking training on the Play Code Learn kits at HCT Ras Al Khaimah

Peter says that getting to this point has been the culmination of several years of hard work and relationship building, with patience and persistence being key to their success.

“We went into this process knowing that it would take time. We started with a real understanding of our customers’ needs and in particular those of HCT. HCT is a large organisation and we needed to build relationships with multiple key decision makers.

“We are so excited to have made this breakthrough into the UAE and hope it paves the way for more New Zealand EdTechs to do the same;” said Peter.

“As more educators at HCT in the UAE use our solution and collaborate with ByTeEd, then we’ll be building New Zealand’s reputation for our country’s capability in developing innovative and valuable EdTech solutions,” he added.

A student using augmented reality to program while the physical learning kit can be seen in the background.

The opportunity to work with HCT all came about from an introduction that was facilitated by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) at the New Zealand Pavilion at the Dubai World Expo in early 2022. Several New Zealand EdTech companies were invited to be part alongside other New Zealand education providers.

Dr Angela Fitzgerald, Executive Dean – Faculty of Education at HCT commented that the work that her Faculty was doing with ByteEd is powerful.

“Their approach empowers teacher educators through lived experiences of computational thinking to prepare future teachers in equally dynamic ways to equip young children with these very skills and knowledge. This will be necessary as they navigate their future worlds,” said Dr Fitzgerald.

Lecturer Jennifer Filinuk and Senior Lecturer Savita Parashar are using the hands-on learning tools to learn computational thinking before combining it with augmented reality.

When asked what advice ByteEd would give to a fellow EdTech looking to expand their business overseas, and specifically into the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Peter had some nuggets of advice.

He said that taking the first step to explore the market and gauge interest from target customers is key to gaining that initial understanding of the potential, as is gaining a clear understanding of the problem that you’re aiming to solve for this market.

“Show that you’re not just another visitor and be prepared to make multiple visits and build relationships.

“There are many opportunities in the Gulf region for New Zealand EdTech companies, with more funding available here due to a strong focus on education. The region is also one of few where the younger population is growing,” said Peter.

“There is also significant competition in this region however, so make sure to research potential competitors and consider how to position your company and product effectively”, he concluded.

For more information

ENZ, alongside EdTechNZ, recently hosted a Middle East EdTEch market deep dive with a presentation delivered by Nick Sheppard, Trade and Commercial Advisor from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise based in Dubai. Joining him in the session were the Founders of New Zealand EdTech’s ByteEd, Komodo Wellbeing and EDconnect. You can watch a recording of the presentation here with the slides available here.

If you have further questions about the support that ENZ can provide New Zealand EdTechs overseas, please contact ENZ’s Business Development Manager, Alana Pellow – alana.pellow@enz.govt.nz.
Japanese teachers tour Kiwi schools
The 10 teacher participants were carefully selected from New Zealand education seminars in 2018. It was oversubscribed, showing strong interest among Japanese teachers wanting to learn about what makes New Zealand education special.
In partnership with SIEBA and regional education bodies, the group visited four schools and enjoyed tourism activities in Hamilton, Cambridge, Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga and Auckland including Te Puia, Huka Falls and the Waitomo Caves to show what each city offers students outside of the classroom.
Misa Kitaoka, ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager for Japan, said the teachers were very interested to learn about Kiwi’s different approaches to teaching.
“A teacher from Tauranga Boys’ College showed us how Google Classroom was used in his class which was a great learning experience for the Japanese teachers as they transition from lecture style to more student-led learning,” said Misa.
“NCEA offering subjects like food technology, creative arts and performing arts was also seen as a real strength of New Zealand’s secondary school education, as it supports creativity as well as students’ wellbeing.
“The teachers were particularly impressed by the strong Māori influence in New Zealand schools.”
An English language teacher from Hiroshima Jogakuin Junior and Senior High School noted, “During this tour, I was so impressed with Māori culture and their spirituality. I would very much like my students to enjoy the lovely experience that I had there, to learn what well-being is, and to find a path they can follow.”
With Japan hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, the Japanese government will be implementing education policies to promote English education, resulting in a strong interest from schools and universities across Japan to study abroad to learn English.
“Since 2015, school teacher famils have resulted in an increase of 735 students,” said Misa.
“These famils wouldn’t have been possible without our partnership with Air New Zealand. We are very interested in replicating it in the future for the tertiary sector.”
University of Auckland tops Impact Rankings 2019
The University of Auckland (UoA) is ranked 1st overall based on its performance on four of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): partnership for the goals; good health and wellbeing; gender equality; and sustainable cities and communities.

Initiatives include a staff cycling scheme, changes in printing access to reduce paper waste, recycling workshops and clothing swaps. 

Two other New Zealand universities also placed well: AUT at 16th and Massey at 38th. More than 500 universities around the world submitted data for the report.

This is the first time THE has published its Impact Rankings. While most university rankings use indicators of research and teaching excellence, the Impact Rankings aim to recognise universities for their social and economic impact.

UoA Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon is delighted that UoA’s work has been acknowledged internationally and demonstrates how relevant universities are.

“Universities have an important role to play in generating the knowledge and capacity necessary to achieve the SDG objectives. Correspondingly, they are valuable to universities because they enable us to frame our research, teaching, operations, capacity building, networks and partnerships in a way that enables the contributions we make to be universally recognised and understood.”

Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas says, “The University of Auckland is to be congratulated for an outstanding performance as number one in the world. I believe that reflects well on the entire nation.

“This exercise is valuable to universities. It makes us pause and take stock of what we do, align with collaborative global goals and examine our contributions against these goals in a way that can be globally benchmarked.”

ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said the results reflected well on New Zealand.

“Their contributions on these issues are a testament to their global outlook, and reinforce New Zealand’s reputation as an advanced, progressive and innovative society. It is also what makes New Zealand an attractive study destination to many students from around the world each year.”

Click here full the full list of the THE University Impact Rankings.
Industry leaders gather for SIEBA hui
In 2016, international student enrolment numbers were 131,609. Of these, approximately 19,000 were enrolled in the New Zealand school sector: 16,390 at secondary level and 2,912 at primary. These numbers are expected to increase with a 16% growth in the primary school sector and 6% growth in secondary.
ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said the hui was a great chance to connect with the school sector, and to update attendees about what’s happening in the wider industry.
“We appreciate the hard work you’re doing on behalf of students. You’re making an important contribution not just to your organisation but also to your region and New Zealand.”
The economic value of New Zealand’s international education industry in 2016 was estimated to be $4.5 billion. The schools sector is valued at $752 million, with $142 million coming from primary schools.
“Of course, it’s not all about economic value – we also know that international students bring cultural diversity and other wider benefits to our communities, classrooms and regions,” said Grant.
The hui was also an opportunity to celebrate leadership in the school sector through SIEBA’s inaugural leadership awards. Five awards were presented and ENZ would like to congratulate and thank those recipients.
Diana Murdoch – Garin College
Diana has more than 20 years’ experience in international education working in the tertiary and school sectors. She has led the delivery of international business services to schools through her own company and has been a role model for innovation and thinking ‘outside the box’. She has presented at conferences, led workshops and mentored new directors. She remains enthusiastic and passionate about international education and continues to become involved in projects to support growth whenever she can. Diana is the SIEBA liaison for her region.
Kim Harase – Academic Colleges Group
Kim has a rich history of 33 years in international education in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. In 1999, as Associate Principal & Director of Marketing she led international marketing for a group schools. From 2006, she has focused solely on international marketing, sales and business development. Kim is a regular presenter at conferences, is a member of ATEED’s Futures Group and was a member of ENZ’s School Sector Reference Group. Kim has been a valuable resource for the school sector for many years.
Lee Simeon – Pillans Point School
Lee has been an international director for the past 8 years and is passionate about international student welfare and creating a family-like environment within the international community at her school. Lee has played a lead role in helping numerous other schools to gain signatory status and is seen as a key resource for other schools going through the application process. In 2016, Lee represented primary schools as a co-author of the school sector Code guidelines and is the SIEBA liaison for her region.
Anne Marie Biggs – Glendowie Primary School
Anne Marie is the Principal of Glendowie Primary since 1995. As well as a string of education firsts to her school’s credit, Anne Marie has built international student numbers to more than 50. The school serves as a model of success for the primary school sector and Anne Marie is the first to offer guidance and share with colleagues and other schools. She has partnered with ENZ on growth projects, is a member of Study Auckland and served as a member of the SIEBA Establishment Board.
Denise Berry – Pakuranga College
Denise is Director of International at a leading Auckland high school. She has been a key member of her cluster group since 1996. She has been a mentor for many schools and directors new to international education. She was a leading author of the Code and Guidelines 2010, and also a co-author of the School sector guidelines 2016. Denise has a wealth of knowledge and has become one of the school sector’s go-to people for support and advice.
Hon P Simmonds Photo web resize