Inquiry into Education Costs and Capacity Impact of Temporary Visa Holders’ Children
Alex W made this Official Information request to Erica Stanford
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Alex W to read recent responses and update the status.
From: Alex W
Dear Erica Stanford,
am writing to request detailed information and seek clarification regarding the New Zealand Government's budget allocation and policy approach toward the education of children who enter New Zealand based on their parent’s temporary visa status—particularly those who are currently entitled to enrol in state schools as domestic students, often with no tuition fees.
Specifically, I am seeking answers to the following:
What is the total annual budget spent by the Ministry of Education on educating children of temporary visa holders who are classified as domestic students?
How many such children are currently enrolled in the school system under this classification?
What is the current capacity of the state school system, particularly in high-demand areas, and has the government studied the impact of this cohort on school infrastructure, staffing, and educational support services?
Has the government reviewed or assessed the long-term benefits or costs of continuing to offer domestic tuition rates to the children of temporary visa holders?
Is there any plan to reassess or adjust the policy, especially in light of rising enrolments, stretched school resources, and concerns about equitable access for resident children?
I recognise that New Zealand is a country that values openness and diversity, and that many families on temporary visas make valuable contributions to society. However, with increasing pressure on education infrastructure, I believe it is reasonable and responsible to ask whether current policies remain fit for purpose.
I would appreciate a detailed response, including any recent data, modelling, or reviews the Ministry has undertaken on this matter. If this request is more appropriate for another Ministry or agency, I would be grateful if you could refer it accordingly.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours faithfully,
William
From: Erica Stanford (MIN)
Erica Stanford
Thank you for contacting the Office of Hon Erica Stanford, Minister of
Education, Minister of Immigration, Lead Coordination Minister for the
Government's Response to the Royal Commission's Report into Historical
Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions, and
Member of Parliament for East Coast Bays.
While the Minister considers all correspondence to be important and all
messages are carefully read and considered, it is not always possible to
provide a personal response to every email received.
* If your message is for Minister Stanford’s advice, expresses a
personal view, or if you have copied your email to another Minister
and/or Member of Parliament with more appropriate portfolio
responsibilities, then this will be noted.
* If you are seeking ministerial intervention for an immigration case,
you need to seek this from the Associate Minister of Immigration, Hon
Chris Penk. His email is [email address]. Minister Stanford
is unable to comment on individual cases.
* If you are seeking ministerial intervention with an education matter,
this may be transferred to the Ministry of Education, they can be
contacted at [email address]. Minister Stanford
is unable to comment on individual cases.
* If you are seeking assistance related to historical abuse in state
care, you will need to seek this from the Survivor Experiences Team,
who can be contacted at [email address].
* If you have invited Minister Stanford to an event, or requested a
meeting with the Minister, then a member of staff may contact you for
more information.
* If you have made a request for official information then this will be
managed in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information
Act 1982, which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or
agency.
* If you have made a request under the Privacy Act then this will be
managed in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act 2020,
which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency.
* If you are a journalist then your request will be referred to the
Press Secretary.
* If you are a constituent of East Coast Bays your email will be shared
with the Electorate Office. If you wish to keep up to date on
Electorate News please follow: [1]Erica Stanford (national.org.nz)
* To find out more about Minister Stanford read her [2]biography or
recent [3]statements.
Office of Hon Erica Stanford
Reception +64 4 817 6805 | Ministerial Email
[4][Erica Stanford request email] | Web [5]beehive.govt.nz |
Postal Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings,
Wellington 6160, New Zealand
References
Visible links
1. https://ericastanford.national.org.nz/
2. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/bio...
3. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
4. mailto:[Erica Stanford request email]
5. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
From: Erica Stanford (MIN)
Erica Stanford
OIA ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Dear William,
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request,
received on 01/08/2025, in which you requested the following information:
am writing to request detailed information and seek clarification
regarding the New Zealand Government's budget allocation and policy
approach toward the education of children who enter New Zealand based on
their parent’s temporary visa status—particularly those who are currently
entitled to enrol in state schools as domestic students, often with no
tuition fees.
Specifically, I am seeking answers to the following:
What is the total annual budget spent by the Ministry of Education on
educating children of temporary visa holders who are classified as
domestic students?
How many such children are currently enrolled in the school system under
this classification?
What is the current capacity of the state school system, particularly in
high-demand areas, and has the government studied the impact of this
cohort on school infrastructure, staffing, and educational support
services?
Has the government reviewed or assessed the long-term benefits or costs of
continuing to offer domestic tuition rates to the children of temporary
visa holders?
Is there any plan to reassess or adjust the policy, especially in light of
rising enrolments, stretched school resources, and concerns about
equitable access for resident children?
I recognise that New Zealand is a country that values openness and
diversity, and that many families on temporary visas make valuable
contributions to society. However, with increasing pressure on education
infrastructure, I believe it is reasonable and responsible to ask whether
current policies remain fit for purpose.
I would appreciate a detailed response, including any recent data,
modelling, or reviews the Ministry has undertaken on this matter. If this
request is more appropriate for another Ministry or agency, I would be
grateful if you could refer it accordingly.
Your request will be answered within the provisions of the Official
Information Act.
Kind regards,
Office of Hon Erica Stanford
Office of Hon Erica Stanford
MP for East Coast Bays
Minister of Education
Minister of Immigration
Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal
Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care
of Faith-based Institutions
Website: [1]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author
by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.
show quoted sections
From: Erica Stanford (MIN)
Erica Stanford
Dear William,
On behalf of Hon Erica Stanford, Minister of Education, thank you for your
email of 1 August 2025 in which you requested the following information:
1) What is the total annual budget spent by the Ministry of Education on
educating children of temporary visa holders who are classified as
domestic students?
2) How many such children are currently enrolled in the school system
under this classification?
3) What is the current capacity of the state school system, particularly
in high-demand areas, and has the government studied the impact of this
cohort on school infrastructure, staffing, and educational support
services?
4) Has the government reviewed or assessed the long-term benefits or costs
of continuing to offer domestic tuition rates to the children of temporary
visa holders?
5) Is there any plan to reassess or adjust the policy, especially in light
of rising enrolments, stretched school resources, and concerns about
equitable access for resident children?
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act).
The information you request is more closely connected with the functions
of the Ministry of Education (The Ministry). As such your request has been
transferred the Ministry under section 14(b)(ii) of the Official
information Act 1982. You can expect a response directly from the Ministry
in due course.
Office of Hon Erica Stanford
MP for East Coast Bays
Minister of Education
Minister of Immigration
Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal
Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care
of Faith-based Institutions
Website: [1]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author
by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.
show quoted sections
From: Enquiries National
Kia ora William
Thank you for the information request below, that was transferred to the
Ministry on 12 August 2025. The Ministry will consider and respond to
your request in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982 the
Act).
Under section 15(1) of the Act, we are required to make and inform you of
our decision on your request as soon as reasonably practicable and in any
case not later than 20 working days after the day on which your request is
received. You can therefore expect to receive our decision on your request
on or before 9 September 2025. If more than 20 working days are needed due
to the potential workload and/or consultations involved in answering your
request, we will notify you accordingly.
The Ministry may publicly release on our website the response to your
request five days after you have received it. Any personal information
will be removed.
In the interim, if you have any questions about your request, please email
[1][email address]
Ngā mihi
Enquiries National Team | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of
Education | TW
[2]education.govt.nz
We shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent
outcomes
He mea tārai e mātou te mātauranga kia rangatira ai, kia mana taurite ai
ōna huanga
[3]Te TD huhu o te MD tauranga
From: Erica Stanford (MIN) <[4][email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 12 August 2025 12:30 pm
To: Alex W <[5][FOI #31847 email]>
Cc: Erica Stanford (MIN) <[6][email address]>
Subject: RE: ESOIA615 | Official Information request - Inquiry into
Education Costs and Capacity Impact of Temporary Visa Holders’ Children
Dear William,
On behalf of Hon Erica Stanford, Minister of Education, thank you for your
email of 1 August 2025 in which you requested the following information:
1) What is the total annual budget spent by the Ministry of Education on
educating children of temporary visa holders who are classified as
domestic students?
2) How many such children are currently enrolled in the school system
under this classification?
3) What is the current capacity of the state school system, particularly
in high-demand areas, and has the government studied the impact of this
cohort on school infrastructure, staffing, and educational support
services?
4) Has the government reviewed or assessed the long-term benefits or costs
of continuing to offer domestic tuition rates to the children of temporary
visa holders?
5) Is there any plan to reassess or adjust the policy, especially in light
of rising enrolments, stretched school resources, and concerns about
equitable access for resident children?
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act).
The information you request is more closely connected with the functions
of the Ministry of Education (The Ministry). As such your request has been
transferred the Ministry under section 14(b)(ii) of the Official
information Act 1982. You can expect a response directly from the Ministry
in due course.
Office of Hon Erica Stanford
MP for East Coast Bays
Minister of Education
Minister of Immigration
Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal
Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care
of Faith-based Institutions
Website: [7]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author
by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.
show quoted sections
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
Offensive? Unsuitable?
Requests for personal information and vexatious requests are not considered valid requests for Official Information (read more).
If you believe this request is not suitable, you can report it for attention by the site administrators
Report this request
Alex W left an annotation ()
Suggest where else the requester might find the information.
Link to this