From the Acting CE: NZIEC KI TUA a great success

Kia ora e te whānau, 

What a few weeks it has been! The 31st New Zealand International Education Conference (NZIEC) KI TUA was the absolute highlight of the past month. It was a huge success and a huge undertaking involving all parts of the Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao.  

It was an incredible honour for Manapou ki te Ao and the international education sector to have the President of India, Honourable Smt Shrimati Droupadi Murmu, address delegates.  

In her keynote, President Murmu spoke about the strong and growing education ties between India and New Zealand and about how she saw education institutions in both countries collaborating in a number of fields, including vocational education, machine learning, AI, environmental studies, as well as cultural exchanges. She also placed great importance on the power of knowledge as an enabler of connections between our people. In closing, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to ENZ and our Government for honouring India in such a special way. 

I also attended the State banquet at Government House in honour of the Indian President and took the opportunity to brief Ministers and senior New Zealand Inc officials present on the value of the President’s attendance and words at our conference.  

Ahead of the conference, ENZ Board Chair Tracey Bridges and I were delighted to welcome Dr Fanta Aw, the Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA, and Dr LaNitra Berger, a NAFSA Board member, with a mihi whakatau at our Wellington office.  

NAFSA, which is the Association of International Educators, annually hosts the largest global professional learning and networking event for all international educators and organisations that support international education. The meeting was a welcome opportunity to connect with the leaders of this important organisation. Dr Aw’s keynote laid clear the importance of international education and the challenges it faces.  

I am incredibly proud of what was achieved collectively by ENZ and the whole sector at NZIEC KI TUA. It speaks positively of the progress made over the past two years since the borders reopened and the energy and drive we are all bringing to keeping the momentum. 

To those of you that made the time and for the many who travelled from afar to attend, thank you! It was an absolute pleasure to have you in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. 

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari kē he toa takitini  

My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, it was not individual success but the success of a collective.   

Ngā mihi  

Dr Linda Sissons 

Acting Chief Executive 

Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao