6. International Education—Value and EffectsDr JIAN YANG (National) to the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and EmploymentInternational Education—Value and Effects6. Dr JIAN YANG (National) to the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment: What recent reports has he received on the value of international education to New Zealand?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment): Today I received a report that shows that the economic value of New Zealand's international education sector rose to $4.28 billion last year—a 50 percent increase from what the sector was last measured at in 2014. The report produced for Education New Zealand by Infometrics and the National Research Bureau showed the industry supported 32000 jobs in 2015 and the combined onshore and offshore delivery of international education is now New Zealand's fourth largest export industry overtaking the wood-processing sector. This report highlights that we are well on our way to delivering on the 2010 target to lift the economic value of international education to $5 billion by 2025.David Seymour: What would be the effects on this industry of reducing net permanent and long-term arrivals into New Zealand to 15000 as some have advocated?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The member asked a fair question. The definition of permanent and long-term migrants is anybody who is in the country for more than a year particularly the higher-level students—the degree Master's and PhD students. They generally are in the country for longer than that period because it takes longer to actually achieve their qualifications. They are of course the sorts of people we want to attract. So if you dropped it to about 15000 then obviously we would not be able to continue with that part of the industry.Dr Jian Yang: Why is international education important to New Zealand?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Although the economic value and the jobs it provides are important one of the other important areas is the wider benefits that the international education sector brings to our country. International students add a rich diversity to our learning institutions and they help to connect New Zealand to the world. Right back to the Colombo Plan the relationships and networks developed with people from around the world through international education play a vital role in New Zealand's business relationships with other countries. The relationships being formed now will help to secure New Zealand's trading investment and education linkages for our future prosperity.Dr Jian Yang: What impact is the growth of international education having across New Zealand?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: One positive highlight of the report is the widespread growth of the sector with total student numbers up 25 percent from 2012 and all sectors showing an increase. Primary schools have gone up significantly as have private training establishments secondary schools and so on. The sector also grew in all regions between 2012 and 2015. The largest value growth by region was in Auckland which experienced a 55 percent increase. Canterbury grew 71 percent in the same period Waikato grew 45 percent and the South Island excluding Canterbury and Otago grew 152 percent. That reflects the efforts of education providers nationwide to deliver excellent education around the country.