Oz Racial Attacks:NZ tries to lure Indian students

Wellington, Jun 3: In the wake of the alleged racist attacks on Indian students down under, New Zealand is trying to lure Indian Students to move to the peaceful neighbouring country.

Education New Zealand chief executive Robert Stevens said he had spoken to the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise office in India on Tuesday, Jun 2, urging the office to market New Zealand and Australia as 'totally different societies'.

There have been about 70 attacks on Indian students in Australia in the past 12 months, and about seven attacks being reported in just 22 days.

"With reports on the attacks making headlines in India, it is not a good look for Australia. What we want to do is to remind education agents in India that New Zealand is a different country to Australia, in the nicest possible way," Stevens was quotes as saying.

Indian students said the attacks in Melbourne were racially motivated. On Friday, May 29 Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed concern during a call to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Education New Zealand said there are 6040 Indian students making up seven per cent of foreign students in New Zealand. In the year to April, the largest group by nationality of international student arrivals came from India - 4108 - up from 2919 last year, Immigration New Zealand figures show.

ANI