China leads growth in foreign student numbers in New Zealand

The number of foreign students studying in New Zealand from January to August 2014 was up by 12 percent year on year, led by rising numbers of Chinese students, according to a government report out Wednesday.

The report from the Education New Zealand agency showed 93,137 international students were enrolled in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions during that period.

Over the same period, the value of New Zealand's international education industry rose by 258 million NZ dollars (197.55 million U.S. dollars) to 2.85 billion NZ dollars (2.18 billion U.S. dollars), said the report.

Notable growth came from China, India and Indonesia, with China being the single biggest market.

Student enrollments from China were up by 2,978, or 12 percent, while 29.1 percent of international student spending came from China.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce said international student numbers were at their highest in four years and the industry was supporting more than 30,000 jobs in New Zealand.

"It's particularly pleasing to see a big lift in higher-level study, with a 41 percent increase in the number of students studying for postgraduate level qualifications," Joyce said in a statement.

"International education continues to be a very important export earner for New Zealand. International students also help to build our country's links with our trading partners and they enrich the communities in which they live and study," Joyce said.