The Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to double the economic contribution of New Zealand’s international education sector to $7.2 billion by 2034, up from $3.6 billion last year.
Erica Stanford, both Minister of Education and of Immigration, said international education was not only a significant export earner but was a key driver for research, trade, and innovation.
“On average in 2024, an international student spent $45,000 across the year. That means more visits to our cafes and restaurants, more people visiting our iconic attractions and ultimately more jobs being created.”
She said the Government wanted to “supercharge” already increasing enrolments and make New Zealand “the destination of choice” for international students.
From November, the Government would increase in-study work rights from 20 to 25 hours per week and extend their eligibility to all tertiary students in approved exchange or study abroad programmes.
The introduction of a short-duration work visa of up to six months for some international graduates would be investigated, alongside updates to make it easier for students to apply for multi-year visas.
A plan, titled the International Education Going for Growth Plan, sets out the following objectives:
- Raise awareness of New Zealand as a study destination from 38% in 2024, to 42% in 2027 and 44% by 2034
- Grow student enrolments from 83,700 in 2024 to 105,000 in 2027 and 119,000 by 2034
- Increase the proportion of prospective students rating NZ among their top 3 choices of study destination from 18% in 2024 to 20% in 2027 and 22% in 2034.
In the short term, Education NZ would focus marketing on high-potential markets and promote New Zealand as a safe and welcoming place to live and study.
Stanford said the Government was taking a “considered and strategic approach” to achieve its ambitious target.
“It’s important to strike the right balance between increasing student numbers, maintaining the quality of education, and managing broader impacts on New Zealanders. Our plan will deliver that.”
