Mark Ron: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMark Ron: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 02 December 2015. Volume:710;Page:8459. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.RON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Minister of Immigration: Is he aware of agents in India blatantly promoting student visas in New Zealand as a pathway to residence?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Minister of Immigration): I am aware of the issue that the member raises but this occurs within a wider context which is worth noting for the House. New data released today from Statistics New Zealand shows that for the year ended September 2015 we enjoyed a $3.2 billion services surplus. The report pointed out that education travel services was our largest export to India earning New Zealand almost half a billion dollars. So yes although there are certainly a few rogues operating—and we take that very seriously—it is a small part of what is a significant industry for New Zealand taxpayers.Ron Mark: Why is he turning a blind eye to corrupt agents in India who are extorting huge amounts of money from international students despite repeated warnings from the licensed immigration advisers for New Zealand?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: The member is conflating two issues. Clearly education agents have a role in the facilitation of international education into New Zealand. All agents working with Education New Zealand must agree to follow the Education New Zealand code of conduct. That code of conduct is based on the principles for ethical recruitment of international students. A complaints process is followed where a recognised agency does not meet standards or behaves unsatisfactorily.Ron Mark: What does he say to Ludwina Maybin who posted on Winston Peters’ Facebook that her daughter was—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! David Bennett that is your last warning for interjections today. Start the question again.Ron Mark: What does he say to Ludwina Maybin who posted on Winston Peters’ Facebook that her daughter was dumped from her cafe job in favour of international students who accepted less than $10 an hour? Is this not just slave labour?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I would say three things. Firstly she might want to get better Facebook friends. Secondly some international students are entitled to work as part of their study commitments but only about one in five does. And if anybody is being paid less than the minimum wage the employer is in breach of employment standards and a complaint should be laid. The process is pretty simple.Ron Mark: Why is the Minister touting a farcical export education sector that is becoming nothing more than a people-trafficker’s paradise an extortionist’s dream typified by fraud and corruption?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: Firstly I would tell the 27000 people who work in the export education sector in New Zealand not to listen to the rubbish that has just been put into that question. This is a very important service export earner. I would also add that it is worth seven times more than it was when that member’s party was in power. Despite that there are fewer Indian students going on to gain residence which the member seems to think is a bad thing.Iain Lees-Galloway: Does the Minister recall the letter that I wrote to him in November last year about Filipino as well as Indian students who have been misled about their prospects of gaining residence in New Zealand; given that this is a matter that is raised repeatedly does he not think it is actually time that he did something about it?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: No I do not recall that but I am sure he got an outstanding reply.