New Zealand’s role as Guest of Honor at the 2025 China Education Expo is sparking fresh collaboration in STEM, AI, and green tech, Minister Shane Reti revealed in an exclusive interview with NewspaperAmigo.com. With over 50,000 Chinese students currently studying in NZ and bilateral trade hitting $37 billion USD this year, Reti calls education the "ultimate bridge" between the two nations.
🤖 Classrooms Without Borders
Reti highlighted NZ’s new AI curriculum partnership with Shanghai schools, where students co-design virtual reality tools to tackle climate change. "It’s like TikTok meets science class," he quipped, noting that 15% of NZ’s tech workforce now comes from Chinese-educated professionals.
🌱 Green Tech Meets Māori Wisdom
The minister teased a groundbreaking carbon-neutral campus project blending Chinese solar tech with traditional Māori environmental practices. "We’re coding apps that teach Mandarin through indigenous storytelling," Reti shared, calling it "cultural innovation with purpose."
🎓 50 Years Stronger
As 2025 marks 50 years of China-NZ diplomatic relations, Reti announced a 500-scholar exchange program focused on sustainable urban development. With NZ universities opening 3 new joint research centers in Shenzhen this month, the future of learning has never looked more borderless.
