The epidemic has had a great impact on international students and work permit holders in New Zealand.
Not long ago, the New Zealand government established a $1 million Epidemic Difficulty Fund for international students to meet the urgent and temporary needs of international students due to the impact of the epidemic.
According to official news from Education New Zealand (ENZ), the fund disbursement department, as of now, the International Student Difficulty Fund has been fully allocated.
ENZ has approved applications from 105 educational institutions and organizations, and 11,000 international students have received help.
Each educational institution and organization applies to ENZ for grants of up to $20,000 (excluding GST), which are then awarded to students in need.
Generally speaking, the school will have an online application form to fill in. After filling in your basic information, you need to provide a bank statement.
The following documents are required to apply for hardship subsidy:
Statement letter (why the subsidy is needed and what difficulties are encountered)
A little investigation.
Some students said that they received an email from the school informing them that they could apply for this subsidy. The school’s internal online application form was attached to the email. I filled out the application form in accordance with the school's requirements and provided a bank statement, and then received a subsidy of NZD 200.
However, some students reported that although their school notified students that they could receive subsidies, after filling out the form and providing bank statements, the school rejected their application because they had a certain balance on their bank cards.
However, according to the information obtained by the editor so far, each school has different standards and specific application conditions. Students need to confirm with their own school. In addition, some schools still have balances in their hardship subsidies and can continue to apply. Students can contact their schools to confirm how to apply.
| Subsidy for temporary visa holders is here
In addition to the subsidies for international students, another subsidy plan for temporary visas (including work visas and study visas) will be launched from July 1.
This is a $37.6 million expat assistance program that provides temporary in-kind assistance to foreigners affected by the epidemic to help meet basic needs such as food and accommodation.
The program will run for three months and is run jointly by the New Zealand Department of Home Affairs and the Red Cross.
The subsidy will not be paid in cash, but will provide support in the following areas:
1. Food and housing supplies
2. Blankets, hot water bottles and basic clothing
3. Medicines available in pharmacies
4. Accommodation (including rent) , board and lodging fees, rent arrears)
5. Electricity and gas bills, but not including broadband costs
6. If necessary, people in need will be given mobile phones to use to call the police or contact the embassy or consulate in an emergency
7. Travel expenses (Limited to travel costs to a new location for work requirements, or travel to the airport due to departure)
You must meet the following criteria to receive assistance:
I am a foreign national currently in New Zealand due to Covid-19 restrictions , unable to return to my home country
I have a temporary visa valid on March 23, 2020
I am in financial difficulty:
I have no available savings, or my only available deposit is to buy a plane ticket back to my home country, or
I No income, or I have an income, but it is not enough to cover my reasonable expenses (i.e. accommodation, food, electricity/gas)
I have exhausted all means of support, such as:
Finding a job
Support from my consulate or embassy
Use any funds held offshore - whether from family or bank savings in your home country
Support from friends, family, community or church groups in New Zealand
Support from my education provider
If approved, this will be available for up to 4 weeks support.
NOTE: This support is only available to foreign nationals who hold a temporary work visa valid as of March 23, 2020, and are unable to return to their home country due to Covid-19 restrictions.
