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PM mission advances New Zealand and China education relationship
The New Zealand Education Connect event on 20 June at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing brought together leading Chinese government representatives, institutional partners, education agents, and alumni to strengthen people-to-people links and celebrate collaboration.
The event programme was packed, with nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between New Zealand and Chinese counterparts, and another MoU signed between Victoria University of Wellington and Fudan University on 19 June.
Providers from across the tertiary education sector signed the MoUs – with Victoria University of Wellington, Unitec, NMIT and UP Education’s University of Auckland International College and New Zealand Tertiary College formalising partnerships.
These agreements cover a mix of in-market delivery, joint programmes, and initiatives to grow student mobility between New Zealand and China.
This builds on the now over 60 approved joint education programmes and institutes recognised by the China Ministry of Education between New Zealand and Chinese institutions, and other education partnerships across early childhood education, vocational training, higher education, and research areas.
The New Zealand Education Connect event had senior leaders officially launching New Zealand’s Country of Honour campaign for the upcoming China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE), China's largest platform for international education, due to take place in October this year.
ENZ’s Chief Executive, Amanda Malu, launches the Country of Honour campaign for New Zealand at CACIE alongside Prime Minister Luxon and CEAIE’s Secretary General Jun Yang.
ENZ Chief Executive, Amanda Malu, said it’s exciting to see advancement of the partnerships New Zealand providers have built with their Chinese counterparts.
“We’re eager to see the outcomes of the new agreements formalised at New Zealand Education Connect and look forward to deepening our bilateral ties by leading a delegation to CACIE later this year,” she said.
Information on the registration process for New Zealand education providers to join the New Zealand Country of Honour events in October will be shared next month on ENZ’s event page.
The Country of Honour promotional video is available with Chinese subtitles on The Brand Lab.
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Driving student interest in Indonesia through strategic co-funded initiatives
ENZ and SUN Education delivered a jam-packed programme of student recruitment events in Surabaya and Jakarta in late May to drive student interest and connect New Zealand providers with potential partners for academic collaboration.
Surabaya
The activity began with an introductory meeting between Universitas Airlangga’s International Office and visiting New Zealand providers to explore opportunities for academic collaboration between our two countries.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, the New Zealand Honorary Consulate in Surabaya and SUN Education.
Discussions centred on potential areas of partnership, including articulation pathways, staff exchanges, guest lectures, and joint research initiatives.
The following day, providers met with prospective students at the Study in New Zealand Exhibition in Surabaya.
The exhibition featured the University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, University of Waikato, UP Education, University of Otago, Le Cordon Bleu, the Southern Institute of Technology and Lincoln University.
The event attracted around 200 students and their parents.
Study in New Zealand exhibition attendees learning about tertiary education options in New Zealand.
Jakarta
Over to Jakarta, ENZ organised an exhibition featuring a strong line-up of New Zealand institutions, comprised of all eight of New Zealand’s universities alongside the Southern Institute of Technology, Le Cordon Bleu, University of Canterbury International College and UP Education.
The fair attracted approximately 250 students and parents, all eager to explore the diverse study options and world-class education opportunities that New Zealand has to offer.
To close off a busy student recruitment period, a mini exhibition was hosted at Universitas Indonesia, the top-ranked university in Indonesia.
The exhibition was specifically for LPDP Affirmative Scholars and students interested in postgraduate-level study.
As part of the event, ENZ Market Manager, Naluri Bella, delivered a ‘Study in New Zealand’ session, which attracted around 100 enthusiastic attendees.
The session provided insights into New Zealand’s high-quality education system and scholarship opportunities, helping to raise awareness and inspire future postgraduate study pathways.
ENZ’s Regional Director (Asia) Ben Burrowes said the activities were designed enhance agents’ and students' awareness of New Zealand’s world-class education offering.
“These collaborations help position New Zealand as a competitive and credible choice for Indonesian students,” he added.
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Around the world in five
Canada
Canada considers study permit cap tweaks as job losses mount
Despite possible adjustments to come, experts are warning of deepening financial and educational fallout from Canada's study permit caps.
Global
University impact rankings expand but remain volatile
Designed to showcase how institutions are working towards addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, this year’s Times Higher Education Impact Rankings edition is the biggest yet.
Asia
"Asian tigers" ramp up internationalisation amid big four woes
Territories and countries like South Korea and Hong Kong, part of the so-called “Asian Tigers” alongside Singapore and Taiwan, now view international students and intra-East Asian mobility as critical to sustaining economic growth in the region.
United Kingdom
Over 50 UK universities have dropped in the latest QS World University Rankings, with funding concerns emerging as a key factor behind the decline.
The United States of America
Can the US afford to lose its 1.1 million international students?
International students contributed $43.8bn to the US economy last year and created 378,175 jobs nationwide.
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Support for Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America recipients to continue to June 2026
The Prime Minister’s Scholarships programme was discontinued, and its funding reprioritised in the latest Government Budget 2025.
The decision to discontinue the programme is in line with the Government’s priority to deliver effective and fiscally sustainable public services and the need to focus on core activities in the current constrained fiscal environment.
The change takes effect from 1 July 2025. The decision will not impact any of the scholarships’ current recipients or recipients of the final group round, who were confirmed in June.
ENZ will continue to support current recipients, including those who are yet to travel overseas to 30 June 2026.
Since their inception in 2013 and 2016, respectively, the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America have been among ENZ’s significant, transformative and impactful programmes of work. To date, the programme has awarded 3,991 scholarships that have helped New Zealanders not only deepen their understanding of different cultures and languages but also enrich appreciation for their own culture and place in the world.
ENZ’s Group General Manager, International Marketing, Brand and Scholarships, Anna Gestro, said the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America have had a truly positive impact for building New Zealand’s connections in two key global regions.
“To date, the programme has awarded 3,991 scholarships that have helped New Zealanders deepen their understanding of new cultures and languages and enriched appreciation for their own culture and place in the world.
“The programme leaves a rich legacy through its rich and diverse alumni, who will continue to be global citizens in the way they nourish the connections and learnings picked up from their life-changing experiences from the scholarships,” Anna said.
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New Zealand’s EdTech at centre-stage of International Education
Export digital products and services have long been an important element of New Zealand’s international education sector, but they have largely flown under the public radar. Overnight, the needs of learners changed, and education providers found themselves in uncharted territory.
New Zealand companies with an established reputation delivering digital educational programmes quickly stepped up both the range and reach of their products. This, combined with Aotearoa’s reputation for creativity and innovation, and more than a little manaakitanga, has resulted in the phenomenal growth of some of our best-known EdTech brands over the past year.
Kami is helping Schools Globally
At digital online learning platform Kami, the goal is success for every student, regardless of ability, by providing inclusive and intuitive tools that support any learning style. They include text-to-speech, voice-typing, freehand drawing, and audio and video commenting.
Many of the schools which closed globally adopted Kami’s digital classroom technology. The company has grown from 8 million to 27 million users in 180 countries over the past year, adding one million new users in one week alone.
Code Avengers taps into the popularity of Gaming
Code Avengers takes a left-field approach to engaging learners by tapping into the popularity of gaming and uses those concepts to captivate students and build their digital capability. The platform was only founded in 2012 and is now being used in 15,000 schools in 14 countries.
“Our goal is to prepare teachers and students, from all backgrounds, for the current reality of the job market, and the jobs of tomorrow,” says Code Avengers CEO Hamish Day.
“We want to help give people confidence and an opportunity to learn the skills that industry tells us it needs.”Education Perfect are inspiring the next Generation of Changemakers
EdTech providers also have the power to engage students on social issues and challenge them to think critically. Key market player Education Perfect, which reaches more than one million students in 1800 schools globally, is finding new ways to inspire the next generation of changemakers.
It is building curriculum content to include issues such as social justice, sustainability, student health and wellbeing, and indigenous issues. It recently partnered with Australian animal rights organisation Voiceless to deliver modules focused on animal welfare, including the issues of dolphins living in captivity and the export of live animals.
EP Partnerships Director Anna Redmile says that joining forces with Voiceless allows teachers and students to have conversations which promote critical thinking and better understanding of the world they live in.
Education consultant and Voiceless adviser Dr Christina Jarvis agrees. "As we help children embrace an increasingly complicated future, such skills are paramount for developing engaged citizens.”
EdTech will continue to play a key role in New Zealand’s International Education Offering
The EdTech sector was estimated to contribute $300 million to the New Zealand economy in 2017, and those figures will have ballooned with the impact of Covid.
Looking to the future, educational technology will play an increasingly key role in the diversification of New Zealand’s international education offerings. And there is no shortage of amazing and pioneering companies ready to play their part.
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Pakistani student leverages language skills to connect communities
Fluent in Punjabi, Urdu, and English, and passionate about community service, Usma soon became a key player working to support and connect ethnic communities in Christchurch.
So extensive have her achievements been, that she has been honoured by the university with a coveted Blues Award for community engagement, and by the Christchurch City Council with a Civic Award.
Usma arrived in New Zealand in late 2016 and gave birth to her third child shortly after arriving. “It gave me the time I needed to assess society here, and I realised the value that was placed on volunteer work.”
New Zealand values transferable skills
“My background was in teaching and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) instruction. I did teach here when I first arrived, but it was not fulfilling enough,” she says. “I needed to think what other skills I had to offer in an area of work I was passionate about. New Zealand is not a destination of degrees, it is a destination of skills, where whatever transferable skills you have to offer, are valued.”
She initially got involved in UC’s Pakistani Student Association, planning events which quickly extended beyond the student community. “I got great feedback from the wider community and different ethnic groups started coming along. People from these communities were looking for connectivity and involvement and it ended up being a multi-cultural hub.”
She admits it was not without challenges, but she was determined. “I was an international student, a woman, a mother of a special needs child, and I was working. But I managed my time. I enjoy doing volunteer work and it comes naturally.”
In her second year at Uni, she secured a role as a Diversity and Engagement Officer with the Ministry of Ethnic Communities and juggled both study and work. It was in this role that she became involved in the Government response following the Christchurch mosque attack in 2019.
Frontline worker following mosque attack
“I was one of the frontline workers dealing with victims and those left behind. Some of my colleagues were victims,” she says. “It was a difficult time. I had never had any exposure to such an event, or what the aftermath might be like. Hearing the stories, and being part of it, are totally different things.”
“I’m very proud of my work and found it very rewarding. I discovered my strengths and weaknesses and learned how much I had to offer. I could speak with many of the widows in the Muslim community in their own language, understand their needs, and advocate on their behalf. I learned how to deliver the key messages to the government agencies involved in the response and formed a link between the two groups.”
“The migrant communities have so much resilience and I believe that every disaster brings opportunity to come together, to heal, and to grow.”
Usma went on to become involved in Widows of Shuhada – an eight-part Plains FM/RNZ podcast documentary series which followed the journey of four widows following the attack.
Soon after, Covid-19 arrived in New Zealand and Usma worked on engagement with local ethnic communities, translating the Government’s messages and communicating them through a range of digital channels.
Tapping into the skills of international students
But she didn’t stop there. Usma was also influential in Christchurch’s Ethnic Communities Skills Build Programme, a project designed to smooth the pathway of migrants and international students into employment in New Zealand.
International students could join in workshops, meet career counsellors and job brokers from the Ministry of Social Development, reshape their CVs, and attend job fairs.
“I believe we need to tap into the high-level skills of post-graduate international students. We need to progress them in the right direction, utilising their skills in science, technology, and innovation.”
As for her own career, Usma could not be happier. She has secured a full-time role as a policy analyst at the Ministry of Primary Industries in Wellington and has taken a step back from her volunteer work to focus on completing her PhD this year.
She is grateful for the opportunity to study in New Zealand and to bring her family with her. Her husband is working, her children are happy, and her special needs daughter has opportunities she wouldn’t have had in Pakistan.
Usma still acts as a mentor for international students and tells them if they are to make the most of their time in New Zealand, they should “think outside the box”.
“They should think about the skills they have to offer in the community, and they will be rewarded with a transformative experience. Leaving behind the social constraints of your home country can be liberating. It’s all about following your dream.”
Usma says she’s already landed her dream job, but she plans to continue her community work once she has completed her PhD.“I believe it is my contribution to this country and I love doing it. I’m not likely to stop. I’m just settling in, finishing my PhD, and getting ready for something big. I have ambitious plans.”
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Patrick Au: a champion for international students in New Zealand
Disclaimer: This story was originally published on New Look, which was also operated by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao. It has been republished here to ensure wider access and visibility.
He has spent more than two decades working with international students and Asian migrants in primary and tertiary healthcare settings, understanding their mental health needs and advocating on their behalf.
Patrick is a registered psychiatric nurse and counsellor who migrated from Hong Kong in 1991, completed his Master’s in Education in 1999, and has worked tirelessly to support Asian communities in New Zealand. He is now stepping down from his role as Asian Mental Health Coordinator for the Auckland District Health Board to commit more time to private practice.
It was Patrick’s emerging reputation for specialty expertise which led to the International Education Association ISANA asking him in 2010 to prepare a presentation to international education providers about the mental health needs of international students. This was quickly followed by a contract with the Ministry of Education to present a series of workshops nationally.
“I was overwhelmed by people calling me and asking me for advice,” Patrick says. “This is where I seriously started my work with international students.”
In more recent years, Patrick has been a key player in the Auckland Agencies Group, which brings together multiple organisations with the common goal of enhancing student wellbeing.
The issues which international students can face vary, depending on their age and stage of education. For younger school students it can be homesickness and lack of parental guidance. Older students also face settlement issues but can have the added pressure to succeed.
“People come here to study and so they need to be successful,” he says. “From an Asian perspective, we are a collectivist society. Your success is not just for yourself, the grades and glory are for your family too. If you are successful at your study you are acknowledged as a successful person, but what if you’re not able to finish your study? The pressure is on you.”
Prevention and awareness key to mental wellbeing
Patrick is a great believer in the importance of awareness and prevention when it comes to mental wellbeing and says New Zealand has made good progress with the availability of resources which students can access on campus, through workshops, and online. Support services are widely established, and the International Students Wellbeing Strategy ensures government agencies work together to support international students to feel safe, well, and welcome in New Zealand.
“Most Asian cultures believe the body and mind are not separated. So we need to address the root cause of problems in behaviourial terms - how to adapt to the new environment, how to get better sleep, how to cope with exam pressure, how to eat well, rather than talking about mental health. When they hear these two words they will withdraw from you,” he says.
“There is very limited mental health education in the students’ home countries, but with all the online resources available here students are researching the issues. There is much wider awareness, and sometimes it is friends who recognise issues and offer peer support in seeking help.”
Patrick knows that some students come up against cultural intolerance and misunderstanding but says that New Zealanders have come a long way since the early days of the international education sector in understanding the challenges which international students can face, but also the contribution they make to society here.
International students talented and motivated to contribute
“International students bring cultural diversity and increase cultural awareness among New Zealanders,” Patrick says. “The students who come here are quite talented and motivated to contribute. Once they have completed their education, they can contribute in many ways."
“International students bring cultural diversity and increase cultural awareness among New Zealanders” – Patrick Au, mental health expert and international student advocate
International students can be the bridge between their home country and New Zealand. If you want to do business in these countries, international students can play an important role as they often act as informal ambassadors for New Zealand and can open doors to business.
New Zealanders are also contributing to their success by creating a nurturing environment for them to complete their studies. Over the years we have seen lots of successful international students who have started working and contributing to the New Zealand economy after completing their education.
“If they have a positive experience, they are also instrumental in encouraging other students from their home country to come to New Zealand. I think it is a win-win situation.”
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Prime Minister's Scholarship shakes up geology student's plans
Soltice Morrison was only 15 when that earthquake happened, but she is part of a new generation of students and researchers wanting to equip themselves with the latest knowledge and technology to better understand New Zealand’s vulnerability to quakes. The best way to achieve this is through international collaboration with other countries which face the same risks.
Having already completed a BSc in Geology and Oceanography from Otago University, Rotorua-born Soltice secured a Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia during her Honours year in 2018, which allowed her to enrol in a post-graduate short course in geology at Hokkaido University in Japan and stay on to complete most of her Honours research.
Prime Minister’s Scholarship allowed joint research
Under the guidance of her supervisor, Dr Virginia Toy, she was involved in a project which studied the characteristics and behaviours of New Zealand’s Alpine Fault and Japan’s Median Tectonic Line to better understand what causes earthquakes in both countries.
"We’re both very seismically active countries but Japan is much more advanced in its use of technology. We were able to bring some of that knowledge back to New Zealand."
Soltice says that without the funding she received through the Prime Minister’s Scholarship (PMS), she would not have been able to study abroad.
The scholarship programme to Asia was established in 2013 and extended to Latin America in 2016. To date, 2400 students have been given financial support to study abroad. While currently on hold due to Covid travel restrictions, the programme is poised to restart once borders reopen.
Importance of New Zealanders studying abroad
Funded by the government and administered by Education New Zealand, the programme recognizes the importance of giving New Zealanders the opportunity to have an international education experience in countries where we have key trade and business relationships.
There are few restrictions on study options, with the programme having broad goals to enhance understanding of other cultures and business practices; establish new friendships and networks; and upskill the New Zealand workforce through overseas experience.
“It’s very important to connect with students and colleagues internationally in order to get ahead,” says Soltice. “We can get caught up thinking that the New Zealand way is the only way. Studying overseas helps you broaden your horizons, your knowledge, your understanding of different cultures, and the way things can be done.”
In geophysics, Soltice says international collaboration is essential.
“We’re able to learn a lot from Japan and the advances they have made in technology and monitoring.”
The time Soltice spent in Japan ended up taking her career in a new direction. “While I was there, I was able to understand the effects of seismic activity on buildings and how we can strengthen our cities to ensure they’re resilient, so I’ve ended up in the engineering space working for Aurecon.”
But her work also has an environmental focus and she is currently part of the multi-disciplinary team working on the Lakes 380 project, which seeks to combine best scientific thinking with mātauranga Māori (traditional wisdom and knowledge) to better understand the social, cultural, and environmental history of Aotearoa’s lakes. “It’s rewarding work and I love it.”
Reawakening of cultural identity
Soltice says her time in Japan prompted a reawakening of her own cultural identity. “I had always tried to blend in at home, but the questions I was asked about my background while I was away made me realise I was proud of my Māori ethnicity and also taught me the value of indigenous knowledge.”
Building on this confidence, she has set up a Māori strategy group with colleagues at Aurecon “looking at ways we can weave cultural understanding with scientific knowledge into the work we do.”
Soltice says she made life-long friends during her time in Japan and built a valuable network of contacts. “I work closely with the geophysicists here at Aurecon and sometimes when we have questions, I will reach out to my contacts offshore.”
Three years on, she remains a passionate advocate for Prime Minister’s Scholarship programme. “The overall experience – the research, the culture, the living situation, I would 100 percent say it was one of the best times of my life.”
Students value flexibility, networks, and personal growth
The positivity of Soltice’s experience was echoed by other scholarship recipients in a recent survey conducted by Education New Zealand. Close to 300 students participated, with 98 percent saying they would recommend PMS to others. Benefits they identified included the unique flexibility of the programme, the networks they built, the opportunity for personal and professional growth, and the chance to better understand New Zealand’s place in the world.
As for life after the programme, 57 percent said they would become involved in global causes, 50 percent would become involved in political or policy issues, and 44 percent would become involved in their local community or iwi.
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Putting a healthy smile on the dial of Fiji’s children
“I love working with children, particularly those living with disabilities and special healthcare needs who require more inclusive oral health policies and programmes.”
He spent the early years of his career working as a hospital dentist and teaching at the Fiji National University’s School of Dentistry and Oral Health but was ambitious to accomplish much more and knew he would have to study overseas to achieve his goals.
He travelled first to Portugal to enrol in a Master’s in Public Health and then to the University of Otago’s Faculty of Dentistry to undertake his Postgraduate Clinical Doctoral Degree in Paediatric Dentistry.
As a third generation Fijian of Indian descent, he describes his international education experience as “life-changing, academically and culturally fulfilling.”
But Jason says he could never have afforded to study in New Zealand without the support of a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship, funded through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The programme sets out to build future leaders in developing countries by supporting students to upskill here.
Advocating for better oral health outcomes
Improving the oral health of young people drives Jason’s clinical and research work and he knows that implementing a preventative approach to tooth decay is key to achieving sustainable outcomes.
“The mindset in the Pacific is that people mostly don’t come to the hospital clinics for dental care, they wait for pain or symptoms before seeking help,” he says. “But we need to advocate strongly for prevention which is more cost-effective and acceptable.”
Arriving at the University of Otago in 2019, Jason embarked on his thesis researching the remineralisation potential of selected peptides (one of the building blocks of protein) in preventing tooth decay.
“Dental decay is prevalent, especially among children, but it is reversible in its early stages. The mainstay of prevention has been fluoride, but we proved that the peptides do have remineralisation potential. Investigation is now under way to learn how it performs alongside fluoride.”
“I think it has huge potential for the future. The dream would be that we have the next generation of children growing up without fillings in their mouths.”
Jason says this kind of research would not have been possible in Fiji. “I was very grateful for the experience at Otago. It was an environment that was both supportive and collaborative. It opened up networking opportunities for me. And those networks still support me today.”
Jason also cared for patients at the faculty’s clinical facilities and theatre suites and provided on-call dental services for emergency patients after-hours at Dunedin Hospital, building close bonds with some of his young patients, especially those with special needs.
"The dream would be that we have the next generation of children growing up without fillings in their mouths."International education builds skills and confidence
After his graduation in December, Jason returned to FNU School of Dentistry with additional skills and new-found confidence. “I think that gaining a formal specialist qualification has given me a voice to continue to advocate for children’s oral health through dental education.”
He wants to establish preventative oral health programmes in schools and help improve the curriculum being taught to dental students in the region, integrating recent innovations and research evidence.
It’s something he has been thinking about for many years. “Hopefully now we’ll get this done.”
“I’ve expanded my knowledge, upskilled, and I think I have become more confident as an academic, and as a person. I’ve got my international education and training to thank for that.”
Manaaki scholar gives back to the community
Jason is certainly fulfilling the brief of the Manaaki Scholarship to give back to his community. He is maintaining his clinical hours, teaching the next generation of dental students, volunteering his services at an NGO-run paediatric cardiac care hospital, and mentoring students wanting follow in his footsteps by studying overseas.
“International education is very important to Fiji as a developing country,” he says. “I thought it would be valuable to be able to guide students who would benefit from international scholarships in meeting their professional goals, while building capacity in the region.”
At heart, though, he is an academic and he hopes that in the coming years he can raise the research profile of the Pacific region and build a solid database which will help to secure the funding for much-needed oral healthcare programmes.
“My message is that there is no general health without oral health. It’s not going to be easy, but we need to start somewhere to get a voice for children and for the profession.”
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Signing up to a bright future for the Deaf community
A serious encounter with Ménière’s disease partway through his PhD studies was a life-changing event in more ways than one for Arash Tayebi.
The inner ear disorder resulted in him losing the hearing in one ear and facing up to the possibility he could become deaf in the future. Studying at Auckland University, and feeling far from his home in Iran, he says the experience hit him hard.
But Arash turned one of the biggest challenges in his life into an opportunity. He became the driving force behind Kara Technologies, an award-winning start-up using digital sign language avatars to make communications of all kinds accessible to those with hearing issues.
His own situation made him question the noticeable lack of deaf people studying at universities, becoming entrepreneurs, and holding leadership positions in the workplace. “I asked myself if I become completely deaf will I not be able to succeed in study and work?”
Engaging with the Deaf community he learned of the real shortage of teachers of sign language, and the complexities in resolving that. Bringing in teachers from overseas is not the answer because they do not know New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). Closed captioning, which can automatically caption speech is of limited use as young children cannot read, and existing avatars are not expressive enough for Deaf people.
“I said let’s work together to come up with a solution.”
Turning a vision into reality
What started as a small project with Kelston Deaf Education Centre, now part of Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand, ultimately morphed into Kara Technologies. But it took vision, determination, and “mind-blowing” support from people he met along the start-up journey.
"The cool thing about New Zealand is that if you have a vision nobody will call you crazy, they’re here to help and happy to take a risk. That’s fantastic."
“There was so much I needed to learn about running a business. I wasn’t rich, so I needed funding. And as the concept was new, I needed the support of the Deaf community.”
Arash’s first break came when Kara Technologies was named Social Enterprise winner in Auckland University’s start-up business competition Velocity $100K Challenge in 2017, giving him access to seed funding and a mentorship programme. Then there was UniServices, which helps to commercialise promising student ventures through investment, advice, and connections. And in the wider community there was GridAKL, an innovation support community with a downtown campus. “If I had a problem, I could always find someone there who was happy to offer advice,” he says.
Estimates of NZSL users vary significantly, from about 4000 for whom it is a first language to more than 20,000 who have some knowledge of it. Arash and his team are committed to their vision of improving meaningful access to information for the Deaf community, and they are already making an impact.
Kara Technologies has produced a diverse suite of avatars, signed children’s books and a range of videos. It has been recognised many times for its innovative work, most recently being named a 2022 finalist in the Public Good category at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards.
Looking to the future
The team at Kara sees a future where TV shows, bank machines, travel websites, online registration forms, live theatre, social media, gaming, and virtual reality technologies are all equipped with sign language avatars. “We want the daily life of a Deaf person to be as easy as a hearing person,” Arash says.
The company is currently trialling emergency messaging by using a set of pre-recorded motion-captured animations, making it possible to relay time-critical information quickly.
Kara is already attracting interest in the US and Canada, where Deaf advocates are excited by the technology. “They are impressed that a small country can make such a contribution. It makes me proud because I call New Zealand home.”
Arash says it’s hard to believe the decision he made to come to New Zealand to study in 2013 has led to where he is now. “I thought I would probably complete my PhD and end up in an academic teaching role. But I have a company, a team, a vision, and fantastic friends. It’s all happened because of the great support I’ve received here.”
He only wishes it was easier for innovators like him to stay on when they finished their studies. He would love New Zealand to introduce a Talent visa like Australia and Canada have. “If you have a cool project they will welcome you, but in New Zealand, you need to secure a job. I already have a job, but it is in my own company,” he says.
“When New Zealand encourages international students to come here it needs to be able to harness their talent, nurture them, and benefit from their talent.”
But Arash says he would always encourage students to come here. “Take yourself out of your comfort zone and you will meet amazing people. New Zealand is a crazy, creative country which could easily be your second home.”
