The Philippines and New Zealand strengthened their bilateral ties on Tuesday, following an increase in the number of Filipino students in the latest education program.
“Educational ties between New Zealand and the Philippines are strong, collaborative and growing,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.
“Each year, many Filipino students choose New Zealand as their study destination,” he added. “These students contribute their talent, ideas, and energy to our classrooms and communities.”
The minister noted that the first Education Memorandum of Cooperation between the two nations will provide an effective framework for cooperation in skills development, capacity building, research, and workforce training, ensuring that students will meet the evolving needs of their communities and our economy.
“We will continue to strengthen our educational connections, support more students, more cooperation and deeper cooperation between our institutions,” said Mr. Peters.
“Through our new Educational Cooperation Agreement, we are creating the conditions for this relationship to develop,” he added. “Together we are building not only stronger educational links, but a stronger and more connected future.”
Education New Zealand, the country’s international education agency, has ranked the Philippines as the ninth largest market for international students.
“Education New Zealand is excited to continue working with our partners in the Philippines to create more opportunities for students,” said Sahinde Pala, general manager of the international relations and sector group at Education New Zealand, told the media.
“Education is more than a degree. It’s about building understanding, creating opportunities, and connecting people across cultures and generations,” he added.
The number of Filipino students enrolled in New Zealand reached 2,635 in 2025, up from 2,475 the previous year, and the enrollment rate increased by 36% from 2023.
A typical bachelor’s degree program costs about $35,000 to $55,000 per year, while a master’s program costs $20,000 to $45,000.
“You can see the difference between the tuition fee of a university compared to a private training institute, but I would say, there is an option for all students within that,” he said.
Among the fields with the highest demand for Filipinos last year were business and management, social studies, agriculture, information systems, and nursing.
“This is in line with the options available to students working after studying in New Zealand,” said Ms Pala. “They choose a really clear path from learning to post-study work opportunities where you can get work experience, and then move on to residential-type pathways.”
The agency noted that the influx of Filipinos into these industries is helping the country fill job vacancies.
“We, in New Zealand, need people to come and work in those industries. We call them skills shortage areas,” said an Education New Zealand official.
“We have a green list, which are places we need people to come and study, so you will see the compatibility between that list and these programs,” he added.
New Zealand and the Philippines signed a ‘comprehensive partnership’ on Tuesday, following the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
Under the partnership, both countries have established a ‘guideline’ to monitor the progress of their political negotiations; defense, security, and maritime cooperation; trade and economic obligations; and people-to-people links. – Almira Louise S. Martinez
