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From one earthquake-prone country to another, engineer Ankeeta Karmakar has left behind her life in India to study Earthquake Engineering at the University of Auckland.  

Saving lives “greatest motivation” for earthquake engineer  

Maria Jose (MJ) Alvarez is invested in science in more ways than one.  

MJ’s mission to take deep-tech start-ups to the world 

Tsewang Nuru Sherpa is fearless about speaking out on critical environmental issues, and that’s because he needs to be. 

Aotearoa sharpens Sherpa’s ambitions on conservation in Nepal  

Aotearoa New Zealand’s position in the world, on the shakey edge of the Pacific Rim, is a real drawcard for students of Earth Sciences. Whether it’s Geology, Volcanology, Seismology, or Glaciology, they’re at the heart of the action.  

PhD just tip of the iceberg for glaciologist Lauren Vargo 

Kylie Jackson is from a small town in rural Virginia and is the first in her family to attend university, which is a big deal. What’s even bigger is that she is currently studying in New Zealand, an experience she could not have imagined was possible when she was growing up.  

Gilman Scholarship a ‘mind-blowing’ opportunity for US student 

A chance encounter on a bus ride in the mountains of Colombia eight years ago put New Zealand on the map for Andres Ardila. It was the start of his love affair with Aotearoa and an impactful involvement in international education, both as a student and an advocate.   

Ticket to ride brought Andres all the way to New Zealand 

As the world warms and pressure mounts to transition away from fossil fuels, Wellington-based scientist Shalini Divya is leading the drive to produce a long-lasting and sustainable battery which could transform renewable energy options.

Battery research breakthrough powers success for international student

There are employers in New Zealand who have long been savvy to the benefits of having international student graduates in their workplaces.  

Employers embrace influence of international students  

Last year, Tauranga Boys’ College international student Michael Ren was named Supreme Winner of the Young Innovator Awards for an app he developed to help students and parents easily track academic progress.  

Award-winning app designer eyes a future in tech 

Henry Nguyen always had an entrepreneurial streak, but it took a move to New Zealand as an international student to open up the opportunity to pursue his business ambitions.  

Henry finds New Zealand a land of opportunity for innovators 

Caroline Su arrived in Christchurch in 2013, only two years after the devastating earthquake there. Aged 15 at the time, she could not have imagined that in her twenties she would be playing her part in the rebuild of the city she calls home. 

Caroline plays her part in Christchurch rebuild 

In 2020 Juan Pablo Grijalva was appointed New Zealand’s first Honorary Consul in Ecuador, tangible recognition of the enduring relationship he has built with Aotearoa since arriving as an international student more than 30 years ago.  

Former international student represents Aotearoa in Ecuador 

Mia Birkenfeld and her dad Gero exemplify the long-term connections built through international education.  

Mia follows in her father’s footsteps as an international student  

Fulbright Scholar Octavius Jones chose Aotearoa for his PhD studies because he wanted to better understand the way the natural world is viewed through the lens of te ao Māori for his thesis focusing on Indigenous relationships to moana (the ocean). 

Opportunity to work with Māori draws Octavius to Aotearoa 

As an anthropology student and a seasoned traveller, Lea Kilgenstein combined the best of both worlds by writing a thesis on the role Māori culture plays in New Zealand tourism and travelling to Aotearoa to complete it.  

Lea leaps into adventure of a lifetime 

Andrey Sukhomlinov left an extraordinarily remote corner of the world at the age of 17 to study in New Zealand, with little English and little knowledge of the country he was coming to, but with boundless optimism and enthusiasm.

From Russia to New Zealand: "I've lived two different lives"

Langchao “Super” Zhang really does have a role tailor-made to her background and experience as a former international student to New Zealand.

Super by name, Super by nature 

Vanessa Simbiken came to study in New Zealand driven by determination to use her digital skills to bring about real change back home in Papua New Guinea.

Vanessa builds digital skills to help drive change in PNG

Dara Sam came to New Zealand from Cambodia to advance his English language teaching skills but ended up on a life-changing journey of personal discovery. 

Dara Sam’s journey of learning and personal discovery

With the world focused on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s easy to overlook the research being undertaken on other long-established diseases killing thousands of people globally every day. 

Htin’s “calling” to tackle TB in vulnerable communities

Ash Muralidhar loves the New Zealand bush. It is a place she feels confident and connected. It’s also an environment she is passionate about protecting.

India to Aotearoa: Ash’s passion for conservation finds a new home 

A serious encounter with Ménière’s disease partway through his PhD studies was a life-changing event in more ways than one for Arash Tayebi. 

Signing up to a bright future for the Deaf community

When Dinusha Jayathilake decided to come to New Zealand from Sri Lanka to study for her PhD in marine science, she never dreamed it would lead to her research gaining global recognition.

Climate Change report gives Dinusha’s maps real global impact 

Putting a healthy smile on the dial of children from Fiji is what motivates paediatric dentist and former Manaaki scholar Jason Nath, but he has ambitious plans to raise the bar on dental care for all young people in the South Pacific region.

Putting a healthy smile on the dial of Fiji’s children

New Zealand and Chile are distant neighbours in the Southern Ocean and have much in common – not only rugged geography, ecosystems, and industries, but also a shared vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.  



Winds of Change students team up to tackle shared climate challenges 

Wafa Al Yamani has the honour of being Massey University’s first PhD graduate from the United Arab Emirates, and her success puts a whole new spin on the concept of distance learning. 

Graduate’s Kiwi know-how helps reduce water use in UAE desert

As the world warms and the impact of humans on the planet is undeniable, a new generation of students is seeking to shape a more sustainable future.  

New Zealand ready to lead students to a more sustainable future 

International students who have an amazing experience in New Zealand, develop a life-long bond with the country and often go on to become some of our most enthusiastic advocates on the world stage. 

International education drives soft power in offshore markets 

A huge eye-catching new mural at the end of Queen Street reminds passers-by that a diverse population, including international students, has contributed greatly to Auckland’s vitality, wellbeing, and global connectivity. International students worked with iwi on mural celebrating culture and diversity.

International students cap off education experience with Mural

While learners might be missing the company of international students in their classrooms, students both here and offshore are embracing the opportunity to connect online and learn from each other through New Zealand’s Global Competence Certificate programme.

New Zealand Global Competence Certificate programme proves a hit

Before the pandemic, New Zealand was a temporary home for over 100,000 international students – global citizens who bring their knowledge, experiences, culture and diversity with them.

The global citizens helping connect New Zealand with the world

Karan Titus is a man on a mission. He wants to make meaningful change in addressing the climate crisis and believes he could be well on the way with innovative geothermal technology he is working on in New Zealand. 

Carbon-negative technology could remove a million tonnes of CO2 a year

It is more than 30 years since Felix Loh came to study in New Zealand, but the successful Singaporean executive says the experience has been a powerful influence in his personal and professional life ever since.

Felix Loh: kūwaha a symbol of enduring ties to New Zealand

It would take someone with scientific skill, entrepreneurial flair, and a vision for change to pursue the notion that mushrooms could be the answer to our plastic packaging crisis.

Green packaging guru sees future in fungi

When international student Charan Sivakumar left Lincoln University for a five-month exchange at the beginning of 2020, little did he know it would be two years before he could return.  

Charan overcomes obstacles to finally return to New Zealand study 

Being introduced to the natural world through the lens of Māori beliefs was a moment of real awakening for Brazilian landscape photographer Marcos Mortensen Steagall. 

Brazilian champions Māori world view to design students globally 

For Ninitha Koya, education is all about conversations. Listening and learning from other people’s life journeys.  

Classroom conversations creating cultural competency 

Enormous food waste in a world where there is not enough food to go around is a crisis which needs to be addressed with both determination and innovation.  

Fermented flour a food waste breakthrough

With cybersecurity threats on the rise, Taiwanese national Eric Wang is working hard to protect New Zealand companies from the threat of ransomware, phishing, and denial of service attacks.

International graduate helps strengthen New Zealand’s cyber-security

Mental health clinician Patrick Au is one of the quiet heroes of the international education sector in New Zealand.

Patrick Au: a champion for international students in New Zealand

Energy poverty in Africa impacts the lives of millions of people every day, but Aminat Razaq is determined to use her New Zealand education experience to bring about positive change through renewable energy innovation.

Aminat chases sustainable energy dream for Nigeria 

International student Andy (Minhong) Park, from South Korea, is developing a wallboard which has the potential to become a key component in New Zealand’s drive to create more sustainable and affordable housing.  

Student’s seaweed wallboard reduces carbon footprint 

Dayanne Almeida is living her best life in New Zealand, and it’s sheep farming that brought her here.

Sheep Nutter chooses New Zealand to learn from the best

Mother-of-three Usma Azhar came to the University of Canterbury (UC) from Pakistan to study for her PhD in linguistics but never expected her language skills could become such a unifying force in local ethnic communities. 

Pakistani student leverages language skills to connect communities 

A former international student to New Zealand, astrophysicist Dr Mazlan Othman, has received a top honour from the Malaysian king in recognition of her lifetime service to the space industry. 

New Zealand-trained astrophysicist receives top honour in Malaysia 

An enthusiastic group of international students from the University of Canterbury (UC) spent the early weeks of their summer break teaming up with local businesses looking to expand into Asian markets. 

International students provide Asia perspective for Canterbury businesses 

Not so long ago it would have been the stuff of sci-fi fantasies, but Massey University PhD student Muhammad Rehan is confident the pill-sized robotic capsule he has helped to create will unlock secrets of the human gut and lead to life-saving outcomes.  

Massey student’s robotic gut capsule could be a game-changer 

Being a homestay host to international students opened a rewarding world of international connection for single West Auckland mum Anne Gilchrist. 

Homestay host grateful for her international student whānau 

Brazilian Airton Spies is in his sixties now but remembers his international education experience in New Zealand almost three decades ago as a pivotal event in his life.  

New Zealand study experience helps transform Brazilian agribusiness 

Kazi Talaska knew from an early age that she would leave her home in Indonesia and study overseas. She just wasn’t quite sure what or where.  

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