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Afiqah Ramizi, president of the New Zealand International Students Association and a medical student at Auckland University. She says universities need to recognise that international students are not immune to financial hardship caused by Covid-19.
New Zealand’s international education sector used to be a major part of the economy. The $5 billion it pumped into the country annually supported around 45,000 jobs and made it New Zealand’s fifth-largest export earner. Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan says that, pre-Covid-19, the sector expected between 21,000 and 22,000 international students in 2020. About 7000 had not made it into the country.
A top New Zealand epidemiologist warns that pre-depature testing is not enough to keep Covid-19 out of New Zealand communities.
Benee is signed up to perform at the Electric Avenue music festival in Christchurch on February 27.
Electric Avenue tickets have sold out with 25,000 people set to party in Christchurch next month, but organisers have issued a warning over worldwide ticket scalpers targetting the event. Relying heavily on local talent, the festival line-up has more than 35 artists scheduled to perform across multiple stages over 12 hours in Hagley Park on February 27. Performers include Benee, Fat Freddy s Drop, Shapeshifter, L.A.B., Scribe and Australian artists Tash Sultana and Ocean Alley. Christchurch-based promoter Callam Mitchell, director of Team Event, said it was a record crowd for the event and 3000 to 4000 people were already on a waiting list for tickets.