There's an expectation it will take two years to get the number of international students in vocational education back to pre-Covid levels.

There were about 75-thousand international students in New Zealand last year - 40% less than a peak in 2016.

Vocational Minister Penny Simmonds says told Ryan Bridge centralising Polytech's into Te Pukenga is a big factor, as it caused a financial mess.

She says it's been a nightmare, which is being unpicked.

Te Pukenga is being disestablished by January, with power then going back to individual Polytech's.

LISTEN ABOVE

There's an expectation it will take two years to get the number of international students in vocational education back to pre-Covid levels.
There were about 75-thousand international students in New Zealand last year - 40% less than a peak in 2016.
Vocational Minister Penny Simmonds says told Ryan Bridge centralising Polytech's into Te Pukenga is a big factor, as it caused a financial mess.
She says it's been a nightmare, which is being unpicked.
Te Pukenga is being disestablished by January, with power then going back to individual Polytech's.
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Penny Simmonds: Vocational Minister on international student numbers decreasing

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5cbb149b-282e-45d7-9f0d-b2eb01333db5/transcript