Over the past several months, I’ve spent time researching the international education systems in New Zealand and Canada – two countries I deeply care about. As a former international student in Canada and now the founder of Wayble, a platform focused on international student success, I’ve worked with higher education leaders across the country and seen firsthand the systemic challenges international students face.
The deeper I dove into New Zealand’s international education model, the more I began to see an interesting parallel: New Zealand feels like Canada’s kindred spirit. Both are smaller, values-driven, immigrant-friendly countries with strong global reputations in higher education. Both attract international students not only for academic opportunities, but also for long-term pathways to work and immigration. And both are navigating the complexities of supporting international students in a rapidly changing world.
Yet, when it comes to how we support these students, New Zealand is far ahead and Canada has much to learn.
A Values-Led Framework: The Code of Pastoral Care
One of the most significant differences between the two countries is New Zealand’s Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice, first introduced in 2002 and most recently updated in 2021.
This is not a set of guidelines or “best practices.” It’s a mandatory code of conduct that all institutions enrolling international students must comply with backed by law and overseen by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). It sets out expectations across a student’s entire journey:
– Pre-arrival support and accurate information
– Accommodation standards
– Student safety and well-being
– Support for mental health and cultural inclusion
– Mechanisms for feedback, resolution, and student voice
Canada, in contrast, has no nationwide equivalent. While provinces have jurisdiction over education and immigration policy offers a patchwork of protections, there is no unified national standard for international student wellbeing. Each institution designs its own approach – some doing it exceptionally well, others struggling to keep up with scale and complexity.
Government Stewardship & Strategy
New Zealand also takes a national, strategic approach to international education. Agencies like Education New Zealand (ENZ) coordinate cross-sector efforts to attract, support, and retain international students not just as tuition payers, but as future citizens, workers, and contributors.
Key initiatives include:
– The International Education Strategy (2018–2030)
– Manaakitanga as a Guiding Principle
– Support for Wellbeing Initiatives
– Regular Monitoring and Compliance
In contrast, Canada’s immigration-driven focus on international students has outpaced our student support infrastructure.
Cultural Inclusion: More Than a Buzzword
New Zealand excels in cultural responsiveness. The inclusion of Māori worldviews in education and a commitment to honouring diverse student identities is not just performative, it’s structural.
Canada’s Opportunity and Responsibility
Canada is at a crossroads. The need for coordinated, student-centered support has never been more urgent. Canada doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel, we can learn from New Zealand.
– Introduce a national code of care
– Adopt a whole-of-government approach
– Shift from volume to value
– Build systems for data transparency and accountability
Where Technology Meets Intentionality
At Wayble, we’re working to solve these challenges head-on. Inspired by models like New Zealand’s, we’ve built a platform that helps Canadian institutions support international students with the structure, consistency, and cultural understanding they deserve.
Using AI-powered tools and lifecycle-based support, Wayble enables institutions to:
– Deliver proactive, personalized guidance
– Support career pathways and immigration planning
– Monitor student engagement, risk, and outcomes
– Save time and raise the bar on student support
If you’re a higher education leader rethinking your approach to international student success, our team would love to connect. We’re already working with institutions across Canada to co-design scalable solutions and we believe this work is more urgent than ever.
👉 Book a meeting with our team to explore how your institution can lead the way.
Final Thoughts
Canada has long been seen as a welcoming destination for international students. But welcome alone is not enough. As New Zealand has shown, true support requires structure, strategy, and accountability.
The future of international education is not just about attracting talent – it’s about helping that talent thrive.
Let’s make that our legacy.