Coronavirus: Universities could face combined NZ$300m loss

Universities across New Zealand could lose up to NZ$300 million (US$187 million) a year if the government doesn’t move to lift a travel ban in place over coronavirus, writes Georgina Campbell for the NZ Herald.

The worst-case scenario prediction comes from Victoria University’s Vice-Chancellor Grant Guilford after he sent a letter to his staff outlining the financial impact for their institution. He said if universities were unable to accept any students from China, it would result in a combined NZ$300 million annual loss.

But the “economic damage” would extend well beyond universities because Chinese students also spent money in the community where they studied, Guilford said. That could result in substantial job losses and course cuts to make up for the loss, he said. New Zealand is one of a number of countries which has put a ban on travellers from mainland China in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Full report on the NZ Herald site