New Zealand Embassy and Tertiary Education officials and Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce pitched the Asia-Pacific nation as place to study at the 2013 New Zealand Education Fair at COEX in southern Seoul on Sept. 14-15.

The fair supported the embassy’s “Study in New Zealand” campaign, and more than 30 New Zealand institutions from various areas of education were represented at the two-day fair.

“There’s nothing quite like this sort of face-to-face interaction to give students and their families a real sense of what New Zealand can offer,” Joyce told The Korea Herald.

South Korea is one of the top three source countries for international students to New Zealand, with about 10,000 in 2012.

“Korea and New Zealand are Asia-Pacific neighbors with a similar time zone. We share a love of nature and an appreciation of the great outdoors, especially mountains and skiing,” Joyce said.

Joyce visited South Korea to boost education ties between the two nations and raise awareness of New Zealand as a study destination and as a provider of English language and school programs for Korean students.

Joyce’s visit included meetings with education leaders and senior government officials, participating in an education agent networking event and a New Zealand alumni reception, and promoting the city of Christchurch ― where many Korean-New Zealanders live ― as a study destination.

(ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)