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Aotearoa New Zealand reinforces strong presence at NAFSA 2026
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) participated in the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida (26-29 May), joining all eight New Zealand universities under the conference theme ‘Global by Design’.
Together, the delegation presented a unified national profile, reinforcing New Zealand’s reputation as a high-quality, innovative, and welcoming study destination.
As the world’s largest gathering of international education professionals, NAFSA brings together thousands of delegates from more than 100 countries, providing a critical platform for global engagement, partnership-building, and sector leadership.
For New Zealand, this annual presence remains essential – ensuring strong global visibility, strengthening enduring institutional relationships, and positioning the country as an active, forward-looking partner in shaping the future of international education.
Two presentations highlighted New Zealand’s leadership across key sector priorities.
Associate Professor and Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Mātauranga Māori), Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, Meegan Hall, presented ‘He Whenua Whakapiri: The Aotearoa New Zealand Model for International Student Belonging’. Her session explored how culturally grounded approaches can strengthen belonging and student success, emphasising connection, identity, and community as core to the international student experience.
“NAFSA provided a valuable space to share our distinctive Aotearoa New Zealand approach to international education, grounded in relationships and Māori values. It was a privilege to present and connect with colleagues from around the world who are committed to equitable and inclusive global engagement,” Meegan said.
In a separate session, ENZ’s Director of Engagement (North America), DuBois Jennings, represented New Zealand on a panel titled Impact of Country Partnerships on US Study Abroad Engagement alongside representatives from Germany and Portugal, exploring the US Gilman Scholarship Programme. The discussion focused on expanding access to study abroad and increasing participation from underrepresented students.
New Zealand was the first country to formally partner with the US Department of State’s Gilman Programme and will celebrate a decade of partnership in 2027 – reflecting a shared commitment to equity in international education. Jennings noted that this focus naturally aligns with New Zealand’s national approach, where inclusive pathways and tailored student support are a core priority across the sector.
Together, this collective effort marked another strong showing from New Zealand universities at NAFSA.
ENZ’s Regional Director Americas, Europe & Gulf Cooperation Council, Natalie Lulia, said New Zealand’s presence this year at NAFSA reflected the values that underpin both our society and our education system.
“Through partnership, care, and a strong sense of responsibility to our students, we’re able to achieve what is often rare at a country level. It’s this shared foundation that shapes our offering and strengthens our global voice,” Natalie said.
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Around the world in five
Australia
An IDP survey finds that reactions are varied across key student sending markets to Australia’s tighter immigration rules and higher financial requirements and visa fees. The findings suggest, however, that increased financial requirements and application fees could influence the study plans of half (or more) of prospective students
India
In its first full budget since coming to power for the third term, the Modi government has focused on some major funding allocations for different areas in India’s education sector.
Malta
International students are turning to Malta for study opportunities – in part due to a scheme that allows them to earn back the majority of their tuition fees once they start working.
Nepal
Study visa issuance to Nepalese citizens has grown in three of the top four English-speaking destinations.
United States
The Biden-Harris administration in the US has announced actions to speed up visa processing for college graduates who hold job offers, sending a positive signal for prospective international students.
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Māori and First Nations people connect during University of Toronto visit
18 indigenous students and two indigenous staff from the University of Toronto’s ‘First Nations House’ were invited to Aotearoa New Zealand for a week-long visit at Tirorangi Marae at the base of Mount Ruapehu in July.
The purpose of the visit was to enhance cross-cultural understanding between Māori and First Nations and Métis peoples and is significant as empowering iwi and hapū in the international education space is an important Te Tiriti obligation for ENZ, as an Aotearoa New Zealand government agency.
The visit took place during the time of ‘Puanga’ which is when the single star rises higher in the sky than the Matariki star cluster and is recognised by iwi and hapū that can’t see the Matariki cluster from their location.
Māori and First Nations and Métis people have ’sharing circles’ as a common way to teach and learn.
The group participated in a wide range of activities in the area while staying at the marae. They were then welcomed to Te Whanganui-a-Tara by the ENZ Wellington office, visiting Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga and and Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, before finishing their trip in Whakatū (Nelson) with some adventure tourism activities.
Indigenous students Kieren and Bailey from the University of Toronto sampling Wellington’s outdoors with ENZ's Craig Rofe.
The First Nations and Métis members of the group experienced what living on a marae was like and were also immersed in how a tribe engages with the environment, and how iwi businesses, local council and government agencies such as the Department of Conservation (DOC) operate in the field with iwi partnership.
Iwi people sharing lake Rotokura’s healing power, a wāhi tapu (sacred place) for the local tribe.
Dr Craig Rofe, ENZ’s Kaitohutohu Matua Māori – Senior Advisor Māori, said that during the visit, Māori and First Nations and Métis people were able to compare the similarities and differences of their contexts to grow understand of their respective challenges and successes.
“The First Nations people’s struggles to overcome racism and prejudice resonated with tangata whenua, in particular the intentional elimination of language and the current mechanisms of revitalisation.
“Many stories shared with together showed the everyday trauma that resides in each of us and how, as indigenous people, we try to navigate these obstacles to make a better world for the next generation”, said Dr Rofe.
The trip motivated the students to connect more with their languages and culture upon their return.
Kenzie, from the Mohawk tribe said “when we meet again, I’ll be able to talk to you in my language, I’m declaring it!”.
Katherine from the Eskasoni First Nation tribe said “My experience connecting with the Ngāti Rangi revealed the transformative power of global Indigenous connections. Participating in ceremonies such as Hautapu and visiting Mount Ruapehu was particularly moving. Listening to their stories of ancestral ties to the land and taking part in traditional ceremonies that emphasized community and connection to the environment deepened my own personal understanding. This experience inspired me to initiate conversations with elders in my own community about our traditional land management practices.”
This experience also highlights the important offerings that Māori, and indeed indigenous knowledge, has to offer to international education. In particular, and not exclusively, the deep connection that indigenous peoples have with the environment and therefore natural obligation of care.
First Nation student, Alexis, discovers the origins, medicinal, spiritual and mechanical properties of harakeke (flax).
Sustainable practices and programmes can benefit from indigenous inclusion and perspectives, especially with the large-scale impacts of global warming and general pollution in many countries. The co-governance structure that Ngāti Rangi iwi and DOC work with as part of post Te Tiriti Settlement was used as an example of decolonised solutions within our New Zealand context.
There have been discussions between ENZ, Ngāti Rangi iwi, and the University of Toronto about an ongoing relationship and considering what a reciprocal engagement might look like moving forward.
Nāku te ika i hī, nāku anō i whakatau
Ki te haere, whāia i te Pare-i-te-taitonga, tērā taku ika.
This is a Ngāti Rangi iwi reference to the Ruapehu mountain being the ‘pillar post’ of the ‘Fish’ (North Island).
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