Indian students flock to NZ

Indian students continue flocking to New Zealand for higher education and the number has increased by 300 per cent in the last six years, says a diplomat from that country.

"India is a big market of talented students for us. Their number has considerably increased. I do not think recession can stop Indian students from coming to New Zealand," said Cliff Fuller, New Zealand's trade commissioner in India.

According to Fuller, the percentage of Indian students enrolling in New Zealand institutes has increased nearly 300 per cent in the last six years.

"In 1998, only 150 Indian students enrolled. This figure rose to 1,500 in 2002. In 2008, we registered 6,000 new enrolments from India," Fuller said.

He said it was difficult to give the exact number of Indian students in New Zealand. "We have the number of newly-enrolled students. It is very difficult to tell the exact number of Indian students studying there."

He said Punjab was the biggest market for New Zealand institutes.