International students bring in $50m
International students contribute $50 million to the Taranaki economy every year, a new report says.
In the 2017-18 year 641 students representing more than 50 nationalities attended school or a tertiary provider in Taranaki.
The majority of the students come from India, 255, followed by China, 113. Japan, Vietnam and Germany were well represented with about 30 students each.
New research showed the most recent annual economic value of international education nationally was $5.1 billion, making it the country’s fourth largest export, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said last week. The report, based on 2017 data, also highlights that 49,631 jobs are supported by the international education sector.
Venture Taranaki’s International Education adviser Rachael Berndt said the number of students in Taranaki from China increased 13 per cent from 100 in 2015 to 113 in 2017.
‘‘Since 2015 Taranaki has partnered with Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu¯ and Whanganui to attract Chinese students to discover regional New Zealand, and that partnership is paying off.’’
While the bulk of the economic value comes from living and tuition costs – $47m in the last financial year – the value of student tourism into Taranaki is now also being measured, contributing $3m over the last year. Nationwide, each international student contributes an average of $39,290, she said.
‘‘Success in this sector is about much more than the numbers of students and economic value,’’ Berndt said.
‘‘By welcoming international students into our communities, we’re able to build a legion of advocates for Taranaki and New Zealand, help give our students access and insight into different cultures, and build future generations of global citizens.’’ When the Labour Party had its first meeting in New Plymouth 100 years ago, items on the agenda included low wages, inequality and health.
The New Plymouth branch of the Labour Party began in November 1918. The first secretary and a force behind the movement was Walter Nash, later prime mInister of New Zealand, who lived in Taranaki for a few years and owned a tailoring company.
On November 2, 1918, Nash wrote to the Taranaki Daily News and set out what the Labour Party was all about, Labour Party stalwart Frank Gaze, 84, said.
‘‘He gives six main policy ideas: proportional representation, equality of the sexes, a national shipping line, a national health service, better education services and the rights of tenants in tenanted properties. The basic principal of the Labour Party, he said, was creation was the only claim to ownership. If you haven’t created it, you can’t own it.’’
No-one would be able to inherit any wealth because they didn’t create it, Gaze said. And no-one could own land for the same reason.
‘‘That was radical 100 years ago. And it’s still radical.’’
The New Plymouth branch of the Labour Party had its first meeting on November 8, 1918 with PB Fitzherbert being elected president and Nash was the secretary.
They began because there were a lot of issues in the community that the Labour Party was also talking about, Gaze said.
‘‘Low wages, inequality, health problems – they were at middle of the influenza epidemic – services in education.
‘‘Very much like now. They were all very interested in the education system. They were seen as very radical back then.’’
Labour’s first New Plymouth MP was Fred Frost, who was elected in 1938 and stayed in for one term.
Then came Ron Barclay – 1966 to 1975 - and Harry Duynhoven, who was MP from 1987–1990, and then from 1993–2008.
The party hasn’t given up on the New Plymouth electorate, Gaze said, but he concedes the Government’s oil and gas announcement has had an effect.
To celebrate the centenary they are going to have a party on November 10 at the Copthorne Hotel at 4pm. Tickets cost $5.