Education Minister Chris Hipkins is set to travel to North and South America to help promote New Zealand as a destination for international students.
Chris Hipkins Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
He also says the government has dropped its plans to stop primary schools enrolling foreign students.
Hipkins made the announcements at an international education conference in Auckland this morning, saying he would visit the United States, Chile and Brazil from the end of the month, with further trips on the cards over the next six months.
He said the government's reversal of its position on primary school foreign students came after consultation on enrolment.
"In the end, we decided that the benefits for both domestic and international students under Year 9 are significant and we want them to continue," Chris Hipkins said.
It follows his announcement yesterday that international students would be welcomed back from the end of July, as part of the government's wider border reopening.
"Our international education sector has done it tough for the last few years. Bringing forward our reopening to all international students shows this government's strong commitment to them, and to the rebuild of high-quality, world-class, New Zealand international education," he told the conference this morning.
However, it also includes stricter rules on residency and working rights for international students, also announced as part of the changes being promoted as a rebuild of the $5 billion-a-year international education industry.
Hipkins said providing a path for residency would no longer be central to attracting students from other countries.
Changes to international student work rights include:
- Students in non-degree level courses not getting post-study work rights except in specified shortage and skilled occupations
- Degree-level and other eligible international students' work rights last the same length as their studies. Masters and PhD students will retain the right to work in New Zealand for up to three years after their studies
- Students will also not be able to apply for a second post-study visa in New Zealand