International students are welcome in
Christchurch. Recent news items have discussed the challenges around visas for
international students in other parts of New Zealand. It is timely therefore,
to reinforce and recognise the contributions they make to our city and our
region.
In 2015 we had 11,542 students come to
Christchurch to study. They were in primary and secondary schools and
universities, The Ara institute and private training establishments. They
contributed $311m to our local economy. The Canterbury International Education
Leadership Accord, that includes the institutions that provide international
education services to students, is working to grow our student visitors to
25,580 by 2025. The contribution they
will make to our city and region will be $937m. As valued visitors to
Canterbury, they will spend on average $37,300 each on hospitality, activities
and accommodation.
The Government, through Education NZ,
supports the work of the Accord and recognises that these students and their
families who visit Canterbury, return to their countries as ambassadors for us,
and encourage many others to visit, study, work and play in our beautiful city.
As Christchurch expands and changes
after the 2011 earthquakes, we know that we need to attract and retain skilled
workers in our technology, business, and agricultural sectors to contribute to
economic growth. Almost half of our new residents, who decide to stay in
Canterbury and make it their home, first visited Christchurch on a student
visa. We want these talented and energetic visitors to stay in Christchurch and
make it their home.
Many agencies, including the Canterbury
Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, The Canterbury Development Corporation,
Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism, Christchurch International Airport and
our City Council, know that these visitors support economic growth and make our
city a cosmopolitan and exciting place to live and work. Our city, on the
whole, welcomes these students.
However, we need to ensure we offer a
consistent quality of service and experience that matches the level of commitment
our visitors have made in choosing to come to Christchurch. They have made a
courageous decision to come to our country and city, and from time-to-time they
may feel isolated and homesick. How we welcome them and look after them is an
important way for us to say thank you, but also to demonstrate to them that
they are a valued part of our community.
If we look at the likely 25,580
students who will be living and studying in Christchurch by 2025, there are
some other less obvious opportunities for us to consider. Our students can be
one of the catalysts for reinvigorating our central city with new places to
stay and play – they will need somewhere live and recreate. The opportunity for
carefully planned and exciting approaches to new urban development, and
hospitality and activities in central Christchurch are perhaps one of the most
significant opportunities. Imagine 25,000 new residents living in town and the
stimulus they will provide for businesses and developers to create a new
vibrant centre for Christchurch.
All of us who are charged with the
stewardship of our city and call it home, can make a contribution to be even
more welcoming and supportive of our student visitors and their families. As
employers we have the opportunity to access new talent, new ideas and new
investment that is stimulated by international students and we all have an
opportunity to make Christchurch an even better place to live study work and
play.
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