Calder Cam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCalder Cam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 11 December 2013. Volume:695;Page:15478. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]6.Dr CAM CALDER (National) to theMinister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment: What is the Government doing to strengthen New Zealand’s economic and education links with Asia?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment): Today I announced that 89 outstanding New Zealand students have been selected to study at top education institutions in Asia next year as part of the inaugural round of the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia. The scholarships cover study periods from 6 weeks to 2 years for undergraduate or postgraduate study in a range of ASEAN countries and China. The students will study in areas linked to New Zealand’s economic or trade agenda including business studies law food technology design and languages. Funding of $9 million over 5 years for the scholarships was provided in this year’s Budget as part of the Government’s internationally focused growth package.Dr Cam Calder: What is the purpose of the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: That is a very good question. New Zealand’s international linkages are going to become increasingly vital right through the 21st century particularly in Asia. We need more smart young Kiwis who have spent time living in Asia building people-to-people links and getting to know the many different countries cultures and economies. New Zealand students will also undoubtedly act as ambassadors for our country abroad helping to promote the quality of our education system and New Zealand more generally. The applications for the next round of the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia will open in January of next year.Dr Cam Calder: What steps is the Government taking to increase the number of students studying in New Zealand?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The Prime Minister’s scholarships are about getting more young Kiwis into institutions in Asia but of course we also want more young people from around the world to come to study here as well. Recently the Minister of Immigration and I announced a suite of changes to help continue growing the size of New Zealand’s international education sector. The changes will make it easier for some international students to work during their studies and allow streamlined visa processing in partnership with selected high-quality providers. Furthermore the lowest-quality providers will be prevented from enrolling international students. Together these changes will help ensure that New Zealand remains internationally competitive provides a good-quality experience for students in New Zealand and creates more jobs for New Zealanders in the international education industry.Hon Shane Jones: Why does he spend more time dining and tweeting in Asia than visiting the regions of New Zealand where he is regarded as championing gas and leaving a foul odour?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Dear oh dear! Actually I travel around New Zealand very very regularly and the only time that they ever saw Shane Jones was when he was one of the three amigos in “Labour’s Got Talent” and they haven’t seen him before or since.Hon Shane Jones: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! It is a point of order. We are required to hear it in silence. What is the point of order?Hon Shane Jones: I just want to test what part of that answer reflected—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! When you consider the question that was asked it was adequately addressed.