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  • ENZ introduces tā moko to young people in Japan

    Tattoos are increasingly popular among younger Japanese, so ENZ worked with BuzzFeed Japan to tell the story of the cultural importance of the traditional Māori form of the art.

    The BuzzFeed story featured ENZ Manapou ki te Ao Chief Advisor Māori, Karl Wixon of Ngāi Tahu, explaining tā moko's meaning for Māori as an expression of identity.

    "There are nearly 100 tribes in New Zealand. Tattoos symbolise your own tribe or identity to express your roots," Mr Wixon told Buzzfeed.

    "Tā moko design represents your tribal roots but can express your position in society. For instance, if you are a healer in your tribe, if you are a leader in society, that can be incorporated into the design of tā moko.”

    Mr Wixon said tā moko can also reflect things like the natural world around you and the ancestral stories you connect with.

    His tā moko is inspired by the tītī (sooty shearwater). The bird makes its home on small islands surrounding Rakiura (Stewart Island), south of Te Waipounamu (the South Island).  It is an important food source for some Ngāi Tahu and his family has been involved in the customary hunting practice for generations.

    Mr Wixon explained that while modern tattoos are done with ink, tā moko artists use natural materials including dyes made from the soils of their tribal lands, and carve them on the skin using tools made of wood and bone.

    "Tā moko is a design that’s created through kōrero (conversation). Even if you are not Māori, if you go through that process, some can take on tā moko. In fact, many tā moko artists are open to collaborating with cultures other than Māori," he said.

    BuzzFeed Japan attracts more than 35 million unique visitors a month and has a strong following among younger people. It is an arm of the global BuzzFeed media platform, which has more than 200 million users and operates in 11 countries.

    The BuzzFeed article is the latest in a series of initiatives by ENZ in Japan. In another, ENZ and the Hokkaido Board of Education have signed a partnership deal to promote cultural exchange through the shared interests of Hokkaido locals and New Zealanders, which include indigenous culture, primary industries and rugby.

    ENZ’s Director of Education in Japan, Misa Kitaoka, says it is important to recognise the links between the two cultures.

    “I look forward to introducing some other aspects of Māori culture that will resonate with young people in Japan and promoting cultural exchanges between Māori and the Ainu people of Japan,” she says.

    According to a survey by the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono, Japan is most often identified as the country that shares views and values that are culturally similar to those of Māori.  The shared aspects of culture included valuing kaumatua (elders), mahinga kai (food customs), manaakitanga (hosting guests) and whanaungatanga (valuing relationships).

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  • Hong Kong student wins Wellington award for unstinting community service

    The Year 12 student from Wellington Girls’ College has been named a winner at the annual Wellington International Student Excellence Awards for her contribution to the city’s international student community and her tireless community service.

    She was among a group of 24 high-achieving secondary and tertiary international students recognised at the event for excelling academically, in the arts, sport, community, or online.

    As the only child of a teacher and a primary school assistant, Jasmine came to New Zealand in November 2019 to complete her education. Leaving behind a competitive school environment, and a tense and complex political environment, she arrived in Wellington ready to embrace the open and culturally diverse environment she found herself in.

    Jasmine says that she had always wanted to get involved in community activities, but until arriving in New Zealand she lacked both the confidence and the opportunities.

    “As an international student here, I have been given so many opportunities. I want to treasure all of them and get involved.”

    Jasmine quickly understood the value of participation and leadership.

    “Arriving in a new country where you don’t know anyone can be a lonely experience, and it’s easy to just hang out with people from your own country, but I have made great friends, both from New Zealand and around the world, and gained support through the organisations I’m involved with.”

    From helping to reinvigorate the International Club at school, Jasmine went on to be a key player in the establishment of the Wellington International Students’ Association, which not only connects international students across city schools, but also seeks to build relationships between domestic and international students.

    Domestic and international students learn from each other

    She believes there is much that domestic students stand to learn from international students.

    “They get to see a perspective from another part of the world. Coming here to study has allowed me to immerse myself in New Zealand's culture and learn far more about the country than I would if I was a tourist.

    “I’m sure the same applies to New Zealand students who haven’t had the opportunity for exchanges or travel. Through encouraging domestic students to get involved in our events we have built stronger connections.”

    But Jasmine hasn’t stopped there. From Mary Potter Hospice to Conservation Volunteers New Zealand to the Student Volunteer Army (SVA), she has put in the mahi. She recently earned her SVA Silver Service Award pin for clocking up more than 250 volunteer hours working to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

    Taking her community service to the next level, Jasmine has been selected to represent Wellington Girls’ College in the National Ambassador programme. She will join other like-minded students from around the country working to connect, support, and empower international students.

    All of this while juggling studies, sport, mentoring, and music. However, she insists that she has gained more from her community service than she has given.

    Volunteering builds skills and network

    “Volunteering gave me the opportunity to get out there and build a strong network with experienced people. I’ve gained important inter-personal skills like customer service and communications, and I’ve also learned a lot about New Zealand culture.”

    Jasmine says being an international student in New Zealand has also allowed her to appreciate some of the important issues which other communities, such as the LGBTQIA, face.

    “I appreciate the inclusiveness towards gender minorities here. In Asia, people are much more reserved about their beliefs and opinions but here we can have open discussions and everyone can be passionate about sharing their thoughts. It has had a powerful influence on me.”

    Global citizen skills important

    The global citizen skills acquired through international education are so important for the current generation of students heading off to Uni or into the workforce, Jasmine says.

    “It’s important to know people from other parts of the world, understand some of the issues they face, and appreciate their culture and beliefs. Building relationships in-person is so much more valuable than learning from the internet.”

    “The diversity of ethnicity and cultures, religious and political opinions here in New Zealand has really enhanced my worldview.”

    Jasmine is delighted to have been recognised for her contribution to the community, and says her parents were thrilled when her name was announced at the awards ceremony. “Not only are they proud of my own achievements, but they feel that I am representing Hong Kong well in New Zealand.”

    Jasmine’s parents were among 214 friends and family of recipients who joined the livestream of the awards ceremony from around the world.

    As for the future, Jasmine is looking forward to completing Year 13 and being a member of the student executive next year, striving for the SVA Gold Award for volunteering, being a National Student Ambassador, and ultimately heading to the US to study Computer Science.

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  • International Pathway Programme for Indonesian business students

    The partnership, named the International Pathway Programme (IPP) in Business, will allow students in Indonesia to complete their first year of study with i3L School of Business, and then progress directly into the second and third year of study under the University of Canterbury’s Bachelor of Commerce programme.

    ENZ’s Regional Director, Asia, Ben Burrowes, said the partnership marks an important milestone in New Zealand’s relationship with Indonesia in the education sector.  

    “We look forward to witnessing how the skillsets and knowledge of both student communities will merge to create a more well-rounded and enriching learning experience. We highly value our international education partners, and we hope to establish more such partnerships in Indonesia,” Mr Burrowes said.  

    i3L School of Business’s Vice Rector of Admissions, Marketing and Institutional Development, Dr Tjong Budi Santoso, said the launch of the partnership is momentous for the institution.  

    “It has always been a goal of ours to empower students by presenting them with the opportunity to further their studies in International Business in some of the world’s best universities, such as University of Canterbury. This marks the first time that we are partnering with an esteemed New Zealand university, and we look forward to building our working relationship with New Zealand and its educational institutions even further.” 

    University of Canterbury Business School’s Internationalisation Director, William Shannon, commented, “The importance of having international experience and connections is highly crucial today as more business is conducted on a global scale.  

    “We hope that both student communities will benefit greatly from this programme and can contribute even further to the future economy and society of both New Zealand and Indonesia.”  

    This education pathway to the University of Canterbury is now open for applications with the first intake starting in September 2022.

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