But another $37.6 million Programme opens on July 1
Sourced Content
Wellington, June 26, 2020
Education New Zealand (ENZ) has approved a total of 105 applications, assisting about 11,000 international students in temporary hardship.
The fund first opened for applications on May 21,2020. It was met with immediate interest by a wide variety of education institutions and community groups.
Tangible Support
A cross-ENZ team named Kāhui Oranga was charged with the Fund’s administration.
They met twice weekly to go through applications and ensure a balanced allocation of funds between regions, sectors and institutions.
Education providers and community organisations are disseminating grants from the Fund to international students in the form of cash grants, food parcels and accommodation support.
ENZ Director of Student Experience and Global Citizens, Sahinde Pala, led Kāhui Oranga.
She said that the government was glad to be able to offer international students tangible support in such an uncertain time.
“At ENZ, we talk a lot about manaakitanga – the offering of hospitality and respect to guests. We really want every student that comes to New Zealand to feel valued. It was obvious that once the impacts of Covid-19 began to be felt here that we needed to offer our international students most in need extra support during these difficult times, she said.
New Fund on July 1
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Poto Williams announced the Assistance for Foreign Nationals impacted by Covid-19 Programme.
This $37.6 million Fund will open on July 1, 2020 and will be administered by the Department of Internal Affairs. International students experiencing serious hardship will be able to apply to this programme to receive support with basic needs such as food and accommodation.
“There are a number of foreign nationals in New Zealand on temporary visas who, due to Covid-19 have found themselves in a tight spot. Nearly 60,000 foreign nationals have departed New Zealand since March 2020. We have been working with foreign missions since April 2020, asking them to assist their citizens, including with repatriation efforts, and the New Zealand Government has an expectation that they provide ongoing support for their citizens,” he said.
Ms Williams said that due to the exceptional circumstances created by the pandemic, this Programme will continue the assistance provided by the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Groups.
“This programme is will provide short-term assistance until they find means of supporting themselves in New Zealand or are able to return home. The community and voluntary sector has played a key role in the COVID-19 emergency response and involving an NGO to deliver the Programme leverages the capability and networks of the sector,” she said.
Advise to international students
Mr Peters said that foreign nationals should be seeking to depart New Zealand as soon as possible if they cannot support themselves here, and should contact their Embassy, High Commission or Consulate for assistance in the first instance.
”The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to work closely with foreign missions to help them provide consular support for their citizens who remain in New Zealand.”
Criteria for support
Where returning home is not immediately possible, assistance will be provided under the Programme to temporary visa holders where it has been established that (a) the person is experiencing serious hardship, and (b) all other avenues of potential support have been exhausted, such as access to savings or other assets, insurance cover, consular assistance from their own foreign missions, or help from family and friends.
This assistance mirrors support a number of countries have given to New Zealand citizens.
The Department of Internal Affairs is currently identifying a suitable provider and an announcement on who that is will be made soon.
