Schools and Institutions Involved in Trial Chinese Student Quota

Four hundred places for Chinese students have been allocated to more than 100 New Zealand schools and tertiary institutions as part of a trial relaxation of restrictions on Chinese students, Immigration Minister Max Bradford said.

"New Zealand and its schools, polytechnics, universities and other education institutions will benefit from a relaxation in Chinese student policy. China's economy is enjoying high growth rates and New Zealand stands to gain increased revenue from the sale of educational services, trade, economic and cultural links," Mr Bradford said.

Mr Bradford said the latest figures estimated that education services earned New Zealand around $300 million a year in foreign exchange. He said the Government aimed to facilitate entry for foreign students.

People from most countries can study in New Zealand for up to three months on a visitors permit, and for longer periods a student permit can be applied for.

"In an ideal world that would apply to all countries, but the reality is we have to balance risks against benefits. Those risks include a high incidence of overstaying from some countries.

"In 1992 our Chinese student policy was tightened in response to political instability in China. However, this year - given China's increased political stability and economic growth - we agreed to relax restrictions for a trial quota of 400 Chinese students entering New Zealand.

"Huge potential exists in the Chinese market - if the risks don't outweigh the benefits."

A large number of educational institutions indicated an interest in the trial quota and places have been allocated to more than 100.

The schools involved in the trial will report to the Immigration Service which will monitor and evaluate the one-off quota of 200 tertiary students, 100 secondary school exchange students and 100 full fee paying secondary school students.

Their information will help the Government assess whether Chinese student policy should be liberalised on a permanent basis.

At present there are strict restrictions on the entry of Chinese tertiary students including that they must be 29 years old or younger, have a university degree or equivalent and have English language skills. For the trial quota of tertiary students, the age restriction is to be raised to 35 years and the requirement for an undergraduate qualification removed.

The schools, polytechnics, universities and private training institutions allocated places under the People's Republic of China Student Quota are:

Aranui High School, Christchurch - 2 places; Ashburton College, Ashburton - 2 places; Avonside Girl's High School, Christchurch - one place; Bayfield High School, Dunedin - 1; Burnside High School, Christchurch - 2; Cashmere High School, Christchurch - 2; Christchurch Boys High School - 2; Fiordland College, Te Anau - 1; Geraldine High School, Geraldine - 1; Gisborne Girls High School - 2; Hastings Boys High School - 1; Hastings Girls High School - 1; Havelock North High School - 1; Henderson High School, Auckland - 1; Heretaunga College, Upper Hutt - 1; Horowhenua College, Levin - 2; Howick College, Auckland - 3; Hutt Valley High School, Lower Hutt - 2; Karamu College, Hastings - 1; Kelston Boys High School, Auckland - 2; Kelston Girls High School, Auckland - 1; Kerikeri High School - 2; Kings High School, Dunedin - 2; Kristin School, Auckland - 2; Linwood High School, Christchurch - 2; Logan Park High School, Dunedin - 1; Lynfield College, Auckland - 2; Mahurangi College, Warkworth - 1; Marlborough Boys College, Blenheim - 1; Marlborough Girls High School, Blenheim - 1; Melville High School, Hamilton - 1; Mt Albert Grammar School, Auckland - 2; Mt Aspiring College, Wanaka - 1; Mt Maunganui College - 2; Mt Roskill Grammar School, Auckland - 2; Naenae College, Lower Hutt - 2; Napier Boys High School - 1; Nayland College, Nelson - 2; New Zealand International College, Auckland - 1; Newlands College, Wellington - 1; Orewa College, Orewa - 2; Otumoetai College, Tauranga - 2; Palmerston North Girls High School - 1; Papanui High School, Christchurch - 1; Penrose High School, Auckland - 1; Petone College, Lower Hutt - 1; Piopio College, Piopio - 1; Rangiora High School, Rangiora - 1; Riccarton High School, Christchurch - 1; Rotorua Boys High School - 1; Rutherford High School, Auckland - 2; Shirley Boys High School, Christchurch 1; South Otago High School, Invercargill - 1; Southland Girls High School, Invercargill - 1; St Andrews College, Christchurch - 2; St Dominics College, Auckland - 1; St Patrick's College, Upper Hutt - 1; St Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton - 1; St Peter's College, Auckland - 1; St Peter's School, Cambridge - 1; St Thomas of Canterbury School, Christchurch - 1; Taihape College - 1; Takapuna Grammar School, Auckland - 1; Temuka High School - 1; Upper Hutt College - 1; Verdon College, Invercargill - 1; Viard College, Porirua - 1; Waiheke High School, Waiheke island - 1; Waiuku College, Waiuku - 1; Wanganui High School - 1; Wellington College - 1; Wellington East Girls College - 1; Wellington High School - 1; Woodford House, Havelock North - 1.

University of Auckland - 32 places; University of Canterbury - 16; Massey University - 29; University of Otago - 20; Victoria University - 15; University of Waikato - 14; Aoraki Polytechnic - 2; Auckland Institute of Technology - 15; Central Institute of Technology - 3; Christchurch Polytechnic - 8; EIT Hawkes Bay - 4; Manawatu Polytechnic - 5; Southland Polytechnic - 2; Tairawhiti Polytechnic - 1; Taranaki Polytechnic - 2; UNITEC Institute of Technology - 10; Waiariki Polytechnic - 3; Wairarapa Community Polytechnic - 1; Wanganui Regional Polytechnic - 2; Whitireia Polytechnic - 3; Auckland College of Education - 4; Christchurch College of Education - 3; Adult Education Centre, New Plymouth - 1; Auckland Institute of Studies - 1; Canterbury Institute of Languages, Christchurch - 1; International Pacific College, Palmerston North - 1; Practical Education Training Centre, New Plymouth - 1; Whitecliffe College of Art and Design, Auckland - 1.