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Palmerston North goes international
Peter Brooks, Principal of Freyberg High School, sees value for both international students and locals who have the opportunity to mix with people from around the world.
“International students add another dimension to our school and the wider community. It encourages inclusiveness – something that is so important given what’s going in the world at the moment,” said Mr Brooks.
“We hope to show that New Zealand and New Zealanders are different.”
Freyberg’s international students come from China, Viet Nam, Korea, India, Chile, Thailand, Switzerland, Japan, Brazil and Germany. The school runs dozens of events throughout the year to give them a taste of the Kiwi lifestyle, and to help them feel welcome in their new environment.
“International students add another dimension to our school and the wider community."
In a first for the school, the 2016 dux prize was awarded to an international student from China. Mr Brooks said watching her journey having limited English to being named dux was a highlight for the school.
“We surprised her by secretly inviting her mother to the ceremony, all the way from China, to present her with flowers on stage. That brought the whole house down,” said Mr Brooks.
Building on Freyberg’s ‘sister school’ relationships is also an area of focus for the school. In recent years, the school has sent groups of students to Thailand, Viet Nam and China.
“Putting our students in the shoes of their international peers astounded them – classroom hours are different, expectations are different. It really opened their eyes,” said Mr Brooks.
Freyberg organises a number of trips for international students to explore New Zealand.
Tauranga family brings students to the farm
Before moving to Tauranga four years ago, Janelle and Brendan Mark operated a busy resort in the Coromandel where, for 12 years, they were surrounded by tourists from all corners of the globe.
On moving their young family to Tauranga they found they missed the daily interaction with people from different backgrounds, and in 2014 approached Aquinas College with an offer to host an international student. This offer would be the first of many.
Janelle says the excitement begins at the Tauranga Airport on ‘pick-up day’ as the couple wait alongside other families, who are also eagerly anticipating meeting their student for the first time.
“The experience of hosting is a privilege – it is a huge responsibility taking care of someone else’s child, but it’s a wonderful and rewarding experience,” said Janelle.
“Some people say we’re brave for taking on a student for a year, but the students and their families are the brave ones!”
“Aki has already taught our children some Japanese and how to make origami."
The Marks are currently hosting Aki, a 16-year-old student from Japan who will be with them for a year. Janelle and Brendan’s children, aged 8 and 12, particularly enjoy having internationals in the home.
“Hosting students has been hugely enriching to the lives of our children. Aki has already taught them some Japanese and how to make origami," said Janelle.
“Our friends and family take an interest too, and enjoy hearing about the comparisons between our two countries.”
For Aki, life on a Tauranga farm is a far cry from her apartment block in Osaka City. At her new home, Aki enjoys feeding the chickens, collecting eggs, and brushing the family’s pet steer. The Marks have also shown Aki the wider region and have been blueberry picking, paddle boarding, visited McLaren Falls and Lake Tarawera, and enjoyed quintessential Kiwi experiences such as campervan road-trips and eating ‘fish and chips’ on the beach.
“It’s been a pleasure showing Aki what the Bay of Plenty has to offer, as it helps us appreciate how much we have on our doorstep. Aki must have spoken highly of the area as her family are already planning a winter skiing holiday here,” said Janelle.
“Aki is already a big part of our family and is going to be a hard one to let go of at the airport in December. Though I have no doubt we’ll do it all again next year!”
Personal and professional insights in India
While New Zealand is well structured with standardised practices, I’ve always wanted to know how Supply Chain works in other countries.
After receiving my Graduate Diploma in Supply Chain Management and Logistics through Massey University, I was one step closer to getting my question answered. Along with nine other supply chain fanatics, I was awarded a Prime Ministers Scholarship to study supply chain management in India – an adventure beyond my imagination.
It is hard to put it in words how diverse and rich our experience has been, both personally and professionally. Our journey has taken us to a meditation experience in Aliyar, epic scenery in Kerala, bright green estates in Bangalore, a sandalwood soap factory in Mysore and warehouses in Chennai.
"I will be sad to say goodbye to India, the friends I’ve made, the cherished memories and the experiences and knowledge I’m gaining here."
The trip has given us an insight into a range of industries such as fruit juice canning, tea production, textiles and clothing, warehouse distribution centres, the health sector and more. One of the companies that stood out for us was the ITC Company, which produces paper from recycled household wastage-collection.
Dr Rajkumar, an Indian supply chain lecturer and expert, gave us an in-depth explanation of the traditional supply chains in India which was very impressive. While in New Zealand we have technology, innovation and world-class safety and health standards, seeing the traditional system of supply chain in India, you can’t help but give enormous respect to the people working hard, carrying heavy loads with smiles on their faces. It’s truly jaw dropping to see them working that way, while we tend to complain about the slightest discomforts life throws at us.
As our journey continues I am starting to have mixed feelings! While I will be excited to be back with my family, I will be sad to say goodbye to India, the friends I’ve made, the cherished memories and the experiences and knowledge I’m gaining here.
New students tour the Bay of Plenty
The region’s latest cohort of international students enjoyed a visit to the Summerhill lookout, ice-creams at Maketu and a heritage tour around the region.
Anne Young, Education Tauranga Regional Manager said the free programme is a chance to make newcomers to the region feel included and supported.
“We know that if we proactively foster an environment where newcomers feel welcomed, they are more likely to enjoy better social connections and engagement, and with this comes positive social, economic and cultural benefits for our community,” said Anne.
"It enables students and families to make those important connections with others that may not be made if they are just working directly with the school they are enrolled at."
The range of local Kiwi activities that the students and their families enjoyed also included swimming at Mount Hot Pools, a trip to Comvita, a hike to the Summerhill lookout and fish and chips on the beach at Maketu.
“It's been really neat, and it was also an opportunity for me and my staff to introduce ourselves and let them know there is someone to contact if they need to,” said Anne.
Education Tauranga has another orientation event planned for later this year.
What's new in IntelliLab
The visa dashboard has a new look, and now uses valid student visas (VSV) as the lead indicator for student numbers, as VSV is less influenced by external factors such as multiple visas for one student. First time student visas (FSV) is the other key indicator, which reveals the number of new students choosing to study in New Zealand.
More in-depth visa information is now available through IVY, the interactive visa tool. IVY is updated monthly, so users will need to download a new copy each month to access the most up-to-date information.
The interactive enrolments tool TED (The Enrolments Data) has also been updated. You may notice revised student numbers when comparing student nationalities by New Zealand region – this is due to the large number of unfunded PTE and ELS students now being assigned to regions based on their provider’s location. However, the top-line numbers, such as total number of students and students by country, remain unchanged.
We appreciate any feedback you may have – please use the ‘contact us’ button on IntelliLab.
Kiwi coaches train Tokyo students
The GOE Rugby Demo Day was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Oizumi High School. It was hosted by ENZ in partnership with Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education and Street Rugby Alliance, a foundation led by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, dedicated to the development of rugby in conjunction with Japan’s hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
Two coaches from the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union came to Tokyo to lead the rugby training: Mike Rogers, CEO of Bay of Plenty Rugby Union and Wayne Brill, International Programme Manager and Campaign Manager for the Bay of Plenty Steamers. Together, they led the enthusiastic high school players in an intensive rugby training session on the field.
The coaches also participated in a series of media interviews including a local TV station and called on government agencies such as Japan Rugby Football Union and the Sports Agency.
Misa Kitaoka, ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager – Japan, said the event was a huge success, and contributed enormously to New Zealand-Japan education relations.
“Demo Day provided an excellent opportunity for our government partners to see the actual delivery of the programme and see the quality of New Zealand’s education and sports offerings,” said Misa.
“I can definitely see the heightened interest in rugby in Japan, and it was great timing for ENZ to promote the GOE programme together with Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, an experienced rugby provider that also works closely with Education Tauranga.”
“Students were so enthusiastic that we finished the programme by high-fiving each other and saying ‘kia ora’!”
GOE Rugby was launched in 2014 in response to the Japanese government’s goal to improve the English language skills and sporting capacity of Japan’s young people, in preparation for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympics.
ENZ looks forward to promoting New Zealand’s sports and English learning package in Japan by leveraging New Zealand’s strong country branding via the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Representatives from the Sports Agency with Misa (second from left), Wayne, Roger, Ms Yoko Fujie (Japan Sports Agency Director-General) who is holding the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union T-shirt.
Around the world in five
AUSTRALIA
Sydney launches draft international education action plan
Sydney has launched a draft international education action plan, including programmes and funding to welcome international students to Sydney, promote their health and wellbeing and increase employability.
Read more

GLOBAL
International students’ tuition fees are a double-edged sword
Tuition fees are among the most hotly debated issues in higher education policy discussions. At least 10 OECD countries have implemented reforms in this area since 2010, as evidence suggests foreign students are less willing to select a host country with high tuition fees.
Read more

MIDDLE EAST
Jordan to recognise overseas degrees
To help Jordian students understand foreign accreditations and encourage them to choose reputable institutions when studying abroad, Jordan is set to recognise degrees earned at universities overseas.
Read more

GLOBAL
Era of internationalisation of higher education coming to an end?
The growth of internationalisation – including massive global student mobility, the expansion of branch campuses, joint degrees, the use of English as a language for teaching and research – appears to have come to an end in Europe and North America.
Read more

INDIA
Web portal for students to combat fraudulent agents and bogus courses
The Indian government is launching a web portal to protect its international students from getting duped by fraudulent agents and bogus courses. The website will list accredited universities and supply verified information on visa norms in a range of countries favoured by Indian students.
Read more
US students arrive in New Zealand
Amy Rutherford, ENZ’s Director of Education, North America, said studying in New Zealand will be a life-changing experience for these students, and will hopefully create more Kiwi ambassadors in the US.
“We’re working hard in the US to raise the profile of New Zealand as a high-quality education destination, and authentic stories from students who have studied in New Zealand are a great way to do that,” said Amy.
“We also want to see a more diverse group of US students having overseas experiences, and these scholarships are an excellent first step.”
Taylor Weckstein, one of the recipients of the GSA Awards, is studying at the University of Otago. She chose New Zealand as a way to follow in her grandfather’s tracks – literally. After learning about the great hikes he did in New Zealand many years ago, she wanted to share the experience.
US student Josh Golden, the recipient of the Go Overseas New Zealand scholarship, has also begun his semester at the University of Canterbury. As a marine science major with biology and environmental science minors, he wants to explore the geography and wildlife of New Zealand.
“I am simultaneously excited and nervous. I expect to be mesmerized by New Zealand’s natural beauty and culture. I can’t wait to live as a Kiwi this semester!”
Gilman Scholar Angel Geller has also arrived in New Zealand. Her scholarship came from a partnership between ENZ and the US Department of State, which is aimed at diversifying the kinds of students studying internationally.
Angel will explore Māori culture and tribal politics at the University of Waikato and compare them with her experience growing up with UmonHon, her indigenous tribe in Nebraska.
“I did extensive research to find a host site with indigenous-relevant classes on topics from history to language. The University of Waikato has this, as well as resources on how to connect with community members, and a significant Māori student population who I will have as my peers,” said Angel.
You can follow the study adventures of our Kiwi Ambassadors on the Study in New Zealand Instagram, YouTube and Blog.
For more information on scholarships for US students please contact ENZ’s US team, Amy Rutherford or Alanna Dick.
New assets on the Brand Lab
Want to share scholarship information with your US partners? Visit the Brand Lab and search under "USA" and "Study Abroad" keywords to find two scholarship flyers and education and lifestyle PDFs designed for US students and advisors.
Share your student stories
Do you have interesting student stories or scholarship winners on your campus? ENZ is always looking for student profiles to share through our social and marketing platforms. Please contact Lucy Johnston, ENZ Senior Communications Advisor.
International students welcomed to the capital
More than 300 students from over 20 countries attended the official welcome to New Zealand’s coolest little capital last week.
The event was held at the Michael Fowler Centre and organised by WREDA (Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency).
Wellington City Mayor Justin Lester was on hand to give the students a warm welcome alongside current international student Khang (Kyle) Phan from Massey University.
The students learned about Kiwi culture through a series of interactive and fun activities. Students were introduced to Māori culture with a Kapa Haka performance from local Wellington group, Te Kapa Haka o Pukehuia. They also had a chance to cuddle puppies and bunnies with SPCA staff, learn juggling and tricks from the Circus Hub, try on police vests and hats and have a go at rugby alongside a few Hurricanes players.
As well as celebrating Kiwi culture, the event was a chance to celebrate students’ own cultural backgrounds. Many prizes were given out on the day including a free helicopter tour to the student who was judged best dressed in the traditional clothes of their home country.
Chloe Kincaid, WREDA Project Coordinator for the event said that international students are an important part of the Wellington community.
“Each year, thousands of international students find a second home in Wellington, bringing a rich cultural diversity to our schools and community,” said Chloe.
“This event is another way for Wellington to welcome and celebrate all of our wonderful international students.”
Letter from the Acting CE: the power of being good hosts
Sophie Iwakiri, a Japanese student in Katikati, arrived in New Zealand with limited English skills and low confidence. With the support and encouragement of her host family and her teachers at Katikati College, Sophie graduated in the top five percent of her class.
“The teachers are so great here, they build relationships with you, they motivate you,” she said.
“If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I feel like I have everything I need here. My host Mum and my host Dad support me completely.”
Sophie’s story reflects the great work happening in schools and tertiary institutions around New Zealand. We all want to ensure Sophie’s experience is the case for every student. Government agencies have come together in this mission, and the work is gaining momentum.
Welcoming students is really putting into practice Manaakitanga – the Māori value of hospitality, kindness, support, respect and care for others. At the end of the day, people are what make or break a student’s experience studying in our country.
Every day, international education opens us up to the rest of the world and makes our country a better place. In return for the wonderful social, cultural and economic benefits international students bring us, we have a responsibility to work together to ensure their experience here is positive – that they feel a sense of inclusion, that they find it easy to make friends and have access to a wide range of support services.
It is a privilege to host students here in New Zealand. In the spirit of Manaakitanga, let’s start off their experience with a warm welcome.

John Goulter
Acting Chief Executive