Hundreds of teaching jobs are at risk as schools, polytechnics and universities start budgeting for 2021 without millions of dollars in foreign student fees.
Education leaders say cuts are inevitable because the 50,000 international students now in the country is less than half the normal number, and nobody knows how many will come next year.
The government estimates foreign students' $5 billion annual spend supports 45,000 jobs, some in the wider economy and some at education institutions.
Here's RNZ education correspondent, John Gerritsen.
