The number of new study visas issued to Indians has fallen 30 percent this year after several years of strong growth.
Education New Zealand said 4400 Indian students got visas in the first six months of this year, 1900 fewer than last year.
The drop follows the tightening of English language requirements at the end of last year because of widespread abuse.
There were also significant falls in the number of first-time visas for students from the Philippines and the United States, but increases for China and Japan.
Overall, first-time study visa approvals were down 8 percent for the six months to the end of June.
