Relief at early return to NZ of international students

Education providers and business advocates in Hawke’s Bay are welcoming the Government’s decision to bring forward the date international students can enrol to study in New Zealand.

Last week, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced international students will be able to enrol at schools and tertiary institutions from July 31 — two months earlier than the previous October date.

Hipkins also confirmed that international students under Year 9 can continue to enrol at New Zealand schools — following an industry consultation that found the benefits for both domestic and international students under Year 9.

Learning Hawke’s Bay regional manager Wenhua Yang said the news is a “double win” for the local sector.

Learning Hawke’s Bay is a membership organisation made up of 18 schools and EIT.

“These government decisions provide certainty to Hawke’s Bay’s schools, tertiary providers and their prospective students; the earlier timing opens up more opportunity for the sector,” Yang said.

Before the pandemic, international education was New Zealand’s fifth largest export industry, contributing around $5 billion annually to the national economy.

In 2019, Hawke’s Bay had about 1300 international students — about 40 per cent of them in schools and 60 per cent in tertiary education. These students supported 730 jobs and contributed about $60 million to the local economy.

“We don’t expect enrolment numbers and economic contribution to suddenly return to pre-Covid levels any time soon, but to be able to finally fully reopen our education offering to the world is a major step forward for our wider education industry.”

Puketapu School principal and Learning Hawke’s Bay board director Chris Fox is one of several local primary and intermediate schools applauding the Under Year 9 review outcome.

“Being able to enrol international students again is hugely exciting for our school and the region’s broader school community,” Fox said.