Pansy Wong MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman (International Education)
19 July 2006
Labour sends mixed messages to foreign students
The Government needs to explain the mixed messages it is sending to foreign fee-paying students, says National Party
Associate Education spokeswoman, Pansy Wong.
“Labour has made a big deal out of pretending to want more overseas students to study here, yet Ministers are refusing
to explain why they're slapping international students with visa fee increases of 70%, and new, over-the-top two-yearly
medical check-ups as well as requiring compulsory health insurance.”
Mrs Wong says she is dumbfounded that neither the Minister of Immigration nor the Minister for Tertiary Education have
shown any interest in concerns expressed by international students who are facing greatly increased cost and
inconvenience.
“Neither Minister has answered my written questions about the medical check-ups, and the Labour Government has denied
leave for me to table one of the postcards that Massey students are using in their campaign to highlight awareness about
this issue.
“The Government’s disregard for international students is one of the many reasons why we have seen a massive downturn in
the number of students choosing to study here.
“Not only do these students enrich our culture, they contribute financially to our schools and tertiary institutions.
“I am pursuing the Government’s lack of response through the Speaker’s office until I get a satisfactory answer for the
concerned international students and the Massey University Students’ Association.”
Attachment: Massey student postcard
ENDS