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Hundreds of Brazilian high school students arrive at New Zealand schools

Over January and February, 200 students from Paraná and 100 from São Paulo arrived in New Zealand on a Brazilian state-funded scholarship that will have them spending a semester and term in New Zealand schools while staying with host families.

Chosen for their academic performance, attendance, and completion of an English course, these top students get a chance to immerse themselves in New Zealand's education system and culture.

New Zealand is considered a strategic partner by Paraná state and São Paulo. This programme highlights the success of increased educational cooperation between Brazil and New Zealand. In addition to improving English proficiency, the initiative also aims to develop intercultural skills.

Paraná's programme, launched in 2019, has sent 1,240 students to various countries, with more than 600 going to New Zealand.

Coordinator of the São Paulo programme, Simone Telles, said New Zealand was chosen for this programme due to our innovative education system, use of technology, the freedom given to students and the welcoming nature of New Zealanders.

Simone Telles and ENZ’s Market Development Manager, Bruna de Natale: Education partnership between São Paulo and New Zealand.

In São Paulo, ENZ Market Development Manager, Bruna de Natale, attended one of the departure days for the group traveling to New Zealand. Bruna spoke to Luciangela Fonseca, mother of one of the selected students, Juan Fonseca. Luciangela said she felt “pride mixed with fear and emotion” and that the family felt privileged to get this opportunity.

Juan Fonseca, his parents, and sister. Emotions at the departure for Auckland. 

All programme costs are funded by Brazilian states, including transportation, education, food, accommodation, and leisure activities. 

Paraná students departing in São Paulo.
International students welcomed across New Zealand
Group General Manager appointments

The appointment of three Group General Managers to ENZ’s Leadership team completes the organisation’s recent change process.

This week, ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu was pleased to confirm three new Group General Manager appointments to the ENZ Leadership team. 

As you may be aware, ENZ has recently been through an organisational change process, which is now complete with these latest appointments.  

Sahinde Pala has been appointed Group General Manager International and Sector Engagement; Julia Wootton is appointed Group General Manager, Strategy, Capability and Performance; and Anna Gestro has been appointed Group General Manager International Marketing, Brand and Scholarships.

The Group General Manager International and Sector Engagement oversees the wider International team, alongside a newly created International and Sector Engagement (ISE) team, including four new International and Sector Engagement Leads.  

The New Zealand-based ISE team is led by Director International and Sector Engagement, Sharon-May McCrostie, who has responsibility for overall engagement and relationships with peak bodies.  

The team is the sector’s primary point of contact for ENZ in New Zealand.   

The ISE team is responsible for working across sub sectors and facing into offshore markets to ensure a seamless flow of market and sector intelligence. The team is the sector’s primary point of contact for ENZ in New Zealand.   

The ISE Leads are: 

Alana Pellow – with responsibility for Americas, Europe, Korea and Japan 

Alanna Dick – with responsibility for Greater China 

Alex Glidden – with responsibility for South-East Asia (excluding Philippines) 

Andy Walker – with responsibility for India, Philippines and Sri Lanka 

Read on more about ENZ’s new Group General Manager appointments below.

Group General Manager appointments 

Sahinde Pala – Group General Manager International and Sector Engagement 

Sahinde Pala has been appointed Group General Manager International and Sector Engagement. Sahinde has been with ENZ since 2016 and has vast experience navigating international markets and developing smart strategies to boost student recruitment and sector engagement. She has also led the transition of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme. Sahinde will officially start in her new role on 17 March 2025. 

Julia Wootton – Group General Manager Strategy, Capability and Performance 

Julia Wootton comes with 10 years of senior leadership experience from Kainga Ora, the Department of Internal Affairs, and ACC. She’s an expert in strategy, performance management, and workforce reorientation, and she’s led successful transformation programmes across various Government departments. She will be joining ENZ on 14 April 2025. 

Anna Gestro – Group General Manager International Marketing, Brand and Scholarships 

Anna Gestro is currently CEO at HFC Engineering Group and has an impressive track record in global brand development, data-driven strategies, and audience engagement. Anna played a key role in transforming New Zealand Cricket into a more inclusive and purpose-led brand. Anna’s start date is still being finalised. In the meantime, Adrian Hirst will be Acting Group GM International Marketing, Brand and Scholarships. 
From the CE: Boosting global connections in education

Kia ora koutou,

In March, I spent an incredible couple of weeks in New Delhi and Mumbai as part of the Prime Minister’s Trade Mission to India, and for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) conference.

During the trade mission, I was pleased to witness, together with Prime Ministers Christopher Luxon and Narendra Modi, the signing of a refreshed bilateral Education Cooperation Arrangement (ECA) between New Zealand and India. Education is a key feature in the New Zealand-India bilateral relationship, with India the second largest source market of international students for New Zealand.

The trade mission also served as a valuable opportunity to grow our connections with the Indian Institute of Technology New Delhi (IIT Delhi) through the New Zealand Centre, which is at the heart of our education partnerships in India.

IIT Delhi is backed by all eight New Zealand universities and is a hub for joint research and advancing India’s Digital India vision in AI, data science and advanced engineering. Prime Minister Luxon spoke at the education event which saw the announcement of several education initiatives, including a scholarship package and virtual internship programme, aimed at deepening bilateral collaboration.

There is no doubt that New Zealand has made a splash in India, and we look forward to continuing the momentum.

Last week, the Government announced its Quarter 2 Action Plan for New Zealand with 38 actions focused on economic growth. Boosting international education and export education earnings is a key action under the plan. ENZ is currently leading cross-agency work to develop an International Education Growth Plan for the Prime Minister and Ministers, and will be undertaking a series of sector engagements in the coming weeks.

It is an exciting time, and I look forward to sharing more about this work in my next column.

Ngā mihi nui, 

Amanda Malu 

Chief Executive
Immigration New Zealand update

India delegation

Alison McDonald, Head of Immigration, joined ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu as part of the Prime Minister’s official delegation to India. Celia Coombes, Director Visa at Immigration New Zealand, responsible for the student visa product, joined Amanda and Ben Burrowes in India afterwards where they supported the New Zealand delegation at the Asia Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) and met with the New Zealand Education Representatives in India (NZERI), a group of Indian education agents.

“Immigration New Zealand found the trip very valuable and insightful,” says Celia.

“Now we are working on how we can continue to support the growth of the education sector, particularly in India which is such an important market for New Zealand, and what needs to be done to support more applications being approved.”

New local points of contact in India and China

Immigration New Zealand has new Engagement Advisors appointed in New Delhi and Beijing. They will be a local point of contact and working to improve communication within both the education and tourism industry.

Visa processing

INZ is in a strong position for processing student visas, following initiatives put in place to make our processing more efficient. At the end of March 2025, international student visas were being decided in 10 days (two weeks) on average.

On average Te Pūkenga (New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology) applications are being processed within 2.5 weeks, 2 weeks for University applications, 3 weeks for Private Training Establishment applications and 1.5 weeks for school applications.

INZ have already decided more than 20,500 student visa applications so far this year, and approved around 18,000 student visa applications (from 1 Jan – 31 March 2025).

To help with faster visa processing, it is key that all the information and documents needed to decide the application is provided. All the details can be found on our information sheet for students on the INZ website: Student visa information | Immigration New Zealand.
New Zealand tertiary institutions make strong connections in Indonesia
A series of education promotion engagements in Indonesia kicked off with a co-funded activity alongside local education agency ICAN Education that ran from 13 to 18 February.

The schedule was packed with student outreach, school visits and a New Zealand Application Day in both Jakarta and Surabaya.

All eight New Zealand universities, the Southern Institute of Technology, UC International College, Waikato College, UP Education and Le Cordon Bleu were involved in the roadshow.

Jakarta

The team began with visits to two international schools in the Greater Jakarta Area — BINUS School Serpong and Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School. These sessions gave students a chance to learn about New Zealand’s tertiary education system.

On 15 February, the New Zealand Application Day in Jakarta drew a crowd of around 435 students and parents. The event created a space for prospective students to speak with universities about undergraduate study options, application processes and life in New Zealand.

Crowds gathered around university booths, eager to learn more and take their first steps towards studying abroad.

Surabaya

In Surabaya, the New Zealand Application Day took place on 16 February, the event attracted 183 attendees.

The next day, institutions visited students at Cita Hati West and Cita Hati East schools. Engagement focused on introducing year 10 to 12 students to the New Zealand education system, helping them visualise study pathways and what student life in New Zealand looks like.

Connecting with education agents across Indonesia

Alongside student-focused activities, ENZ organised a series of agent networking events across Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Denpasar. These sessions formed part of the Study with New Zealand roadshow, which ran from 21 to 28 February and created space for deeper engagement between New Zealand providers and Indonesian education agents.

Each event aimed to strengthen relationships, share updates, highlight New Zealand’s unique offerings, and help raise visibility for New Zealand education among prospective students.

A range of education providers participated in the networking event, including University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, Lincoln University, Massey University, University of Otago, University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington, and UP Education.

Education agents play a matching game with New Zealand tertiary providers and the regions where they are based at a networking dinner in Jakarta.

ENZ Market Manager for Indonesia, Naluri Bella, presented the latest market promotional resources available to agents, followed by interactive quiz games hosted by New Zealand providers. These sessions were attended by around 30 agencies and gave agents the tools and confidence to market New Zealand as a study destination.

Naluri said that there is an appetite in the region for high-quality international education experiences.

“New Zealand is increasingly seen as a destination that offers both academic excellence and a welcoming, supportive environment,” she said.

“Our institutions were able to showcase not only their study options, but the unique values and lifestyle that set New Zealand apart,” Naluri added.
US roadshow sparks interest in New Zealand universities

Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), together with Victoria University of Wellington, Lincoln University, the University of Auckland, and the University of Otago recently completed a successful tour of high schools across Hawaii. The aim? To inspire local students to think of New Zealand not just as a beautiful place to visit, but as a world-class place to study.

Across a week-long series of classroom presentations, university fairs, and dedicated sessions for school counsellors, the New Zealand delegation engaged directly with more than 300 students and families and connected with 25 high school counsellors.

Representatives from New Zealand universities talking to students and their parents about their study offering.

Director of College Counseling at Le Jardin Academy, Scott Liedtke, said face-to-face conversations are powerful.

“When New Zealand educators come to Hawaii, it helps demystify studying overseas. Students and families can ask questions directly about cost, safety and credit transfer, and hear answers from the source,” he said.

ENZ also partnered with the New Zealand Consulate in Hawaii to host two events for local school counsellors. A breakfast at the New Zealand Chancery and a brunch at the Consul General’s residence allowed for deeper discussions and relationship-building within the education community.

Dan Cairns, Administration Manager at the New Zealand Consulate, described the events as more than just informational.

“Each gathering was designed to reflect different kaupapa, from celebrating international education to acknowledging our shared Polynesian connections – these moments created space to build people-to-people ties that go far beyond the classroom,” he said.

The impact of the roadshow was immediate. Each of the attending universities reported that at least two students had begun applications to study in New Zealand.

Director of Engagement, North America, DuBois Jennings said for ENZ, the roadshow represents a step towards long-term engagement in a region with shared cultural values.

“The clear appetite for New Zealand study options, shows there is real value in continuing and expanding this mahi,” he said.

Scott Liedtke echoed that sentiment. “New Zealand feels like a home away from home for many of our students. With its island lifestyle, cultural familiarity, and globally recognised education, it’s a natural fit,” he said.

“Here in Hawaii, we say the ‘coconut wireless’ — word of mouth — is strong. Once a few students head to New Zealand and love it, that news spreads fast,” Scott added.

For New Zealand study providers looking to find out more about the Hawaiian market, you can contact DuBois Jennings directly via email: dubois.jennings@enz.govt.nz
Busy season for international education in India

The week after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s trade mission to India, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) hosted the New Zealand – India Education Connect 2025 and flew the flag for higher education in New Zealand at the Asia Pacific Association for International Education Conference 2025 (APAIE).

New Zealand – India Education Connect 2025

ENZ hosted the New Zealand-India Education Connect focused on NZ universities strengthening academic and research partnerships with India. The event coincided with APAIE 2025 and was designed to align with India’s National Education Policy 2020 and support the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

H.E Patrick Rata welcoming attendees of the New Zealand-India Education Connect.

The inaugural session at the Connect event served as a valuable platform to provide an update on the recent high-level bilateral engagements between New Zealand and India during the Prime Minister's visit. It also highlighted the continued prominence of education as a key theme across these discussions.

The event started with high-level bilateral updates by New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India, Patrick Rata, followed by an education overview by ENZ’s Chief Executive, Amanda Malu. Immigration New Zealand also attended and provided a market update as well as conducted a workshop with a selection of Indian education agents.

The programme was strategically designed to provide university representatives with expert intelligence and insights to support the development of their India engagement strategies, aligning with the evolving priorities and demands within the Indian context.

Panel discussions featured senior government officials and sector leaders, who shared perspectives on the increasing significance of deepening education sector collaboration between New Zealand and India. They also highlighted the opportunities presented by India’s National Education Policy 2020 to further strengthen these bilateral ties.

Following the New Zealand – India Education Connect programme and ahead of APAIE, ENZ hosted its NZ Networking Reception which was attended by more than 100 guests.

APAIE 2025

Running in tandem with New Zealand-India Education Connect, ENZ coordinated the New Zealand pavilion at the 2025 APAIE Conference, held in New Delhi from 24-28 March.

The pavilion featured 11 NZ institutions including, all eight New Zealand universities alongside representatives from the Southern Institute of Technology, Whitecliffe College, and Ignite Colleges. The pavilion also had in-attendance key representative from Immigration New Zealand to support providers and stakeholders.

This is the first time APAIE has been held in India that resulted in phenomenal engagement from Indian stakeholders, especially coinciding with this year’s theme on ‘Cultivating Global Citizens for the Future: The Higher Education Imperative in the Asia Pacific and Beyond’.  

New Zealand featured strongly across eight panels, with ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu contributing to three panel discussions on Indigenous Perspectives in the Internationalisation of Higher Education; a regional update from New Zealand and Laos; and National Strategies for International Education: Three Perspectives from Asia-Pacific. The wider New Zealand speakers led critical conversations on international collaboration, indigenous knowledge, and sustainable education practices.

Director of Engagement for India, Jugnu Roy, said the New Zealand pavilion was buzzing across the three days of the conference.

“APAIE 2025 was an incredible opportunity to connect with global colleagues, exchange ideas, and gain fresh perspectives on the future of international education. The conversations offered plenty of inspiration and practical insights to take away,” she said.

APAIE aims to advance education through enabling greater cooperation between institutions to enrich and support international programmes, activities and exchanges; and to promote the value of international education within the Asia-Pacific region.
Growing visibility of New Zealand education in Latin America
From 12 -21 March, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) held its first in-market, in-person roadshow in Latin America since before the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 18 New Zealand education providers took part in the activities held in Colombia (Bogotá), Brazil (São Paulo), and Chile (Santiago), which brought together 143 representatives from 97 education agencies.

Representatives from institutions across New Zealand’s education sector (universities, English language schools, PTEs, and secondary schools) had the opportunity to network with agents and recruit students directly, strengthening connections with strategic partners and raising the profile of New Zealand in Colombia, Brazil, and Chile.

ENZ’s Director of Engagement for Latin America, Javiera Visedo, and Brazil Market Development Manager, Bruna de Natale, led the activities in all three countries. They provided full support to the New Zealand delegation, offering strategic information to maximise the professionals' time with Latin American partners, as well as sharing insights about the New Zealand institutions with local agents.

Through institutional presentations, one-on-one meetings with agents from the three countries, and collaborative discussion panels, where all shared best practices and ideas for continuing partnerships and New Zealand institutions were able to advance their business relationships with local partners.

This was also the perfect opportunity to launch the Spanish and Portuguese versions of ENZ’s Learn New Everyday marketing campaign, that was well received by agents as it provided them new assets and videos to use in local languages.

During the South America Roadshow, some New Zealand institutions also took part in parallel events in Bogotá and Santiago, organised by ENZ in collaboration with local partners. This included a student fair and a dedicated session with private and International Baccalaureate schools, reflecting the growing interest from students and families in pursuing undergraduate studies in New Zealand.

ENZ's Director of Engagement Latin America Javiera Visedo (pictured fourth from left, bottom row) and Coordinator Simone Cocco (to Javiera's right) with roadshow participants at one of the events in Bogota.

ENZ's Market Development Manager Bruna de Natale (pictured second from right, bottom row), Director of Engagement Latin America Javiera Visedo (pictured fifth from left, bottom row) and Coordinator Simone Cocco (pictured second from right, bottom row) with roadshow participants at one of the events in Santiago.

Director of Engagement Latin America, Javiera Visedo, said engagement between New Zealand institutions and the Latin America market advanced significantly during the roadshow.

“There is no substitute for the connections and momentum we build when we meet face-to-face, and the trusted relationships we build,” she said.

“Engagements like these are key to ensuring the sustainable growth of students from Chile, Colombia, and Brazil to New Zealand,” Javiera added.

Feedback from education sector participants was positive. Director of Mount Maunganui Language Centre, Geoff Butler, said he wouldn’t hesitate to get involved in these events again.

“Post-pandemic, we were keen to have official events to reconnect with these markets - the events didn’t disappoint,” he said.

“There were excellent opportunities throughout each event day to engage with agents not only at our desks, but informally too,” Geoff added.

If you’re a New Zealand education provider and are interested in learning more about the Latin America market, reach out to the team via email: latinamerica@enz.govt.nz.

Attendees of the São Paulo ENZ agent event. 

Attendees of the Bogotá ENZ agent event.
Positive outcomes for education from PM’s trade mission to India
Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon led a high-level visit to India from 16–20 March, accompanied by one of the largest New Zealand delegations to date. The delegation included representatives from the business, community, media, and government sectors, along with a cultural delegation, Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau-a-Apanui.

Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) Chief Executive Amanda Malu joined the trade mission as part of the education component of the delegation – alongside University of Auckland Vice Chancellor, Dawn Freshwater; Vice Chancellor, University of Waikato, Neil Quigley; Te Pūkenga/NZIST Chief Executive, Gus Gilmore and Whitecliffe College Executive Chairman, Feroz Ali.

The mission saw a number of key education initiatives announced that aim to strengthen New Zealand’s education ties with India, including the signing of the refreshed bilateral Education Cooperation Arrangement (ECA).

These initiatives mark a significant step forward in deepening New Zealand’s collaboration with India around joint research, student exchanges, academic innovation and fostering long-term institutional partnerships.

The original ECA was signed in 2010 with the objective of strengthening bilateral cooperation between New Zealand and India and fostering collaboration and the exchange of information on individual education systems.

The ECA refresh builds on this foundation and aims to foster further cooperation in education specifically through information exchange, collaboration between institutions, and sharing best practices in curriculum development, digital transformation, and sustainability.

A key education engagement during the mission was the ‘Shared Visions and Connected Futures’ event on 18 March, co-hosted by ENZ and New Zealand Centre partner IIT Delhi. Key education and government stakeholders were brought together to celebrate education, innovation, and the strong ties between New Zealand and India.

Six new memoranda of understanding (MOU) were signed on the day, with an additional four signed across other events and cities. The New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) scholarships were officially launched by Prime Minister Luxon and ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu - this is a joint initiative between ENZ and all eight New Zealand universities offering a total of 29 scholarships valued at NZ $260,000.

An exclusive virtual internship programme was also launched – this initiative will provide opportunities for 30 IITD students to intern virtually with New Zealand organisations. The event also witnessed the announcement of the inaugural New Zealand Centre Innovation Fellowship which aims to enhance collaboration between New Zealand and India in innovation and entrepreneurship by providing a two-week immersive experience in India's innovation ecosystem.

The Prime Minister in a Fireside Chat with New Zealand alumni, Shirley Setia, University of Auckland alumni and Ashwani Batla, University of Waikato alumni.

To round off a packed programme, the Prime Minister hosted a "Fireside Chat” with celebrity alumni from University of Auckland and the University of Waikato, where they showcased their experiences studying and living in New Zealand.

ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu said the event was a testament to the strength of New Zealand’s educational relationship with India.

“India and New Zealand share a longstanding education relationship. Our collaborations bring enduring benefits to both nations. We look forward to continuing to work together to innovate, grow our skills and co-create education solutions for our future,” she said.

From L to R: Director of IIT Delhi, Professor Rangan Banerjee; the Prime Minister; Dean of Research and Development, Professor Naresh Bhatnagar; and Dean of International Programmes Professor James Gomes.