14 March 2020 marks when the New Zealand border was closed for international students. This means that many international students have been stranded in their respective countries for nearly two years studying online instead of studying on campus.

Chris Hipkins (Minister of Education and Minister for COVID-19 Response) announced that the New Zealand border will open for international students from 30 April 2022. However, Immigration New Zealand had extended the suspension of visa processing outside NZ at least until 5 August 2022. Thus, International students outside of New Zealand may not be able to enter New Zealand in time  for semester two 2022. The class of 2020 would have essentially spent nearly their entire degree on "Zoom University."

With Australia opening its borders to its International students, New Zealand remains the only International student "hot spot" that has yet to open its borders. At the same time, it has not given its International students a clear date as to when they will be able to return.

Although the government has mentioned the importance of international students for the New Zealand culture and economy, the way that the overseas international students have been treated tells another story.

Therefore, overseas international students want New Zealand to open the border and answer the following questions with a clear up answer.

• When will student visa applications for overseas international students open? When will processing start? and at what date will international students be able to enter into New Zealand?
• After opening the border, are there any plans to ensure that international students can return to New Zealand with no outrageous restrictions such as MIQ? (MIQ applications have a low success rate of applying).
• Are there any alternative plans for those International students who do not meet the work visa criteria regarding the number of hours spent studying in New Zealand?
• For those international students that were unable to experience studying in New Zealand, are there any compensations (such as a tuition fee discount) available?

We hope that the New Zealand government can give us a clear-cut response.