Cities bid international students haere mai

Students from all over the world who are taking the first steps in their New Zealand education journey were extended a warm haere mai in Christchurch and Wellington recently.

A warm Wellington welcome

Around 600 new international students were welcomed to Wellington on Wednesday 16 March at a lively event at Pipitea Marae.

While the weather was cool, the Ngāti Pōneke pōwhiri was warm.  The students – some wearing their national dress – were treated to a rousing kapa haka performance followed by a traditional Kiwi barbeque, and were given the chance to capture the moment in a Wellington-themed photo booth and take part in poi lessons.  

The Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown, welcomed the international students to the creative capital and promoted the opportunities for both study and work in the city.

The arrival of this most recent cohort boosts the international student population in Wellington to more than 5,600, injects an estimated additional $17 million in to the Wellington region’s economy and brings enormous cultural and social benefits to the region’s education institutions and communities.

A colourful Christchurch greeting

 

Students who have chosen Christchurch as their education destination were embraced in a similar style, at an event hosted by Christchurch Educated on Thursday 7 April.

A pōwhiri at the Te Puna Wānaka marae at Ara Institute of Canterbury set the warm and welcoming scene and was followed up by a greeting from Mayor Lianne Dalziel. During her address, Ms Dalziel acknowledged the important role played by Christchurch’s International Student Ambassadors; and referred to success of the Indian Skills Scholarships.

As in Wellington, the international students had the opportunity to pick up some kapa haka and poi skills.

Canterbury welcomes more than 9,500 international students each year, contributing an estimated $253 million to the regional economy.