A trip to a Hawke’s Bay winery with his wine-loving father was enough to convince Kevin Wang to enrol in the Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science at EIT.

A Sri Lankan chartered accountant, who enrolled in EIT’s Master of Applied Management programme to further her education, has not only graduated and found a job locally, but has also integrated into the Hawke’s Bay community.

Education providers and business advocates across Hawke’s Bay are welcoming the Government’s decision to bring forward the date international students can enrol to study in New Zealand.

The past couple of years have undoubtedly been tough. Despite this, we’ve worked together to provide additional support for current students, diversify programmes and services, strengthen relationships, build social licence, and maintain a presence in our key markets.

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s exciting that we are about to open the doors to our international students again, and all the benefits they bring to our local economy and community.

But the Covid-19 pandemic has made them even more complicated for Hawke’s Bay’s international students, some of whom now haven’t been back home in more than two years.

About 50-60 international students in our Hawke’s Bay schools have stayed here for over two years since the Covid-19 outbreak, without being able to go home to see their families and friends.

The 17-year-old from New Caledonia is one of 12 international students from Lindisfarne College in Hastings who’ve played a fundamental role in maintaining the grounds of Women’s Refuge safe houses in Hastings and Napier

The Year 12 Taradale High School student was among a five-strong team of New Zealand High School students who have won a major prize for coming up with an innovative way to tackle mental health in the country

Hundreds of international students who chose to stay in Hawke’s Bay during the COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown will celebrate the beginning of their studies a little differently this year.