NZ International Students Association on China Travel Ban: February 5, 2020

On Sunday the New Zealand government announced that it will be banning entry for any non-citizens traveling through China. The ban attempts to reduce the likelihood of coronavirus entering the country, with New Zealand citizens coming from China being forced to remain in isolation for up to 2 weeks. The announcement of the ban was quite sudden, and has left tertiary institutions to grapple with the large number of international students now unable to return because of the ban. The New Zealand International Students Association says the sudden ban puts international students at an “immense disadvantage” - being given very little time to make proper arrangements for their studies.