An Education Tauranga delegation of 23 primary and secondary schools and Waikato University will travel to South Korea in September for the first time since 2020, showcasing the city's unique education proposition to Korean families.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Korea was the source of 5.4 per cent of international student enrolments in New Zealand, at 6300 (valued at $272m).

The group's ambition is to attract over 50 Korean families - netting 80-100 international students – to study in Tauranga schools and foster important cross-cultural skills.

Hyun Taek Yang, the Director of local education agency, Tauranga Korean Times, expects the delegation will meet with over 300 families during their one week stay.

'We are hugely excited to recommence our face-to-face relationship, bringing our message that Tauranga is an excellent place for Korean families who are attracted to the relaxed lifestyle and easy access to outdoor activities we have here.”

Families coming to Tauranga through the programme generally stay for two or three years, and contribute approximately $20m per year into the local economy.

On average, a single family will spend around $100,000 per year on various costs associated with setting up a home and taking part in tourism activities.

Parents are generally very involved with their school communities, and contribute to culture days, where Kiwi students and their families get to learn about Korea.

Another invaluable benefit from the programme is the opportunity for cultural exchange.

Tauranga Boys' College's international director Annette Roff says the families become part of the local community.

'We can all grow an understanding of each other's cultures, and learn from each other to ensure that, as schools, we provide a welcoming and inclusive experience for all families.

'It's really satisfying to see the relationships our students and their families form in Tauranga. I've been lucky to attend events where we get to learn about Korean food, art, and culture and it's a fantastic way for our community to gain an understanding of different cultures – this allows us to build meaningful relationships that will continue to develop over time.”

Tauranga Korean Times and Education Tauranga have been hosting the education fair in Korea for over 10 years. Yang's job on the trip will be to sing Tauranga's praises at events in Seoul and Busan.

'Korean families love Tauranga because they can give their children a world-class education in a tight-knit and relatively small community of welcoming people. Our programme is important because it attracts migrant communities to regional New Zealand – most migrants end up living in Auckland. This is a great opportunity for prospective families to meet New Zealand school representatives in Korea.”

Education Tauranga also has an immersion policy where one international student per country is placed in each class (years 1-8), which helps students practice English and make genuine, authentic connections with their Kiwi classmates.

Representatives of several schools (listed below) will be taking part of the trip in September, spending a week promoting the programme at various events, including a visit to the New Zealand Embassy in Seoul where they will be hosted by Philip Turner, New Zealand's Ambassador to Korea. Yang and his colleague, Olive Fitzjohn, have deep connections in Korea after years of participating in these trips. 'We are excited to return and spread the word – come to Tauranga!” says Yang.

Participating schools, education providers and regional organisations: