NZ won't rule out Australia fee 'retaliation'

Australian students in New Zealand could miss out tuition fee-free higher education, the latter’s new prime minister has warned.

The Australian government is planning to end subsidies for New Zealanders entering higher education in Australia from next year, potentially tripling costs for students, Radio New Zealand reported.

After meeting Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, New Zealand’s new Labour prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, who will phase out tuition fees, said: “It's only fair that if New Zealanders in Australia find that they are incurring higher fees that we would make sure that we respond by at least making sure our system is fair and equitable in the response that Australian citizens, Australians starting in New Zealand would experience as well.”

john.morgan@timeshighereducation.com