People from many Asian countries send their children to schools in New Zealand to be educated in English.

The children pay overseas school fees of over $10,000 per child at high schools as well as accommodation costs, earning New Zealand’s schools considerable additional income.

If a parent or guardian wishes to accompany a child in New Zealand, they can apply for a guardian visa. Once in New Zealand, if a parent obtains a work permit, their child no longer needs to pay fees – their education is paid for by the New Zealand taxpayer.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe says the government is now acting to stop any abuse of the visa system by guardians of foreign fee-paying students

“Guardian policy was instituted to protect the welfare of foreign children who come to study in New Zealand,” Mr Cunliffe said.

“The changes, effective immediately, are to ensure guardian visa holders are honouring this commitment when they come here.

“Under the amended policy, guardian permit holders will continue to be able to work or study part-time, and they will still be able to apply for any permit under partnership grounds.

“However, guardian permit holders will not be eligible for a general work permit that would allow them to work full-time,” Mr Cunliffe said.

“At the same time, guardians can apply to remain in New Zealand longer if they can show they meet the criteria under categories such as the Work-to-Residence categories or the Skilled Migrant Category.

Green Party Education Spokesperson Metiria Turei said, “The whole episode smacks of the anti-Asian sentiment fostered by some elements of the current Government during last year’s election campaign. I doubt whether such ‘anecdotal’ evidence would be being acted upon if the guardians concerned came from England.

“The reality is that this scheme was introduced in the wake of several notorious examples of abuse of overseas students. Changing the work rules in a way that will make it all but impossible for guardians to make a living here is a knee-jerk response that can only harm New Zealand’s ability to present itself as a society that welcomes overseas students, and cares about keeping them safe.

“Those few who may have been deliberately abusing the system should be prosecuted, without changing the rules for everyone else, who are meeting a genuine need.”