New Zealand Adds 15 Domestic Veterinary Science Places at Massey University

During a visit to Palmerston North on 9 October, Minister for Tertiary Education Penny Simmonds announced that Massey University’s Bachelor of Veterinary Science will increase funded domestic places from 125 to 140 per year starting in 2027. The move aims to strengthen New Zealand’s veterinary workforce, which is vital for biosecurity, animal welfare, food safety and the export industry. To accommodate the extra domestic students, the university will reduce its international intake from 50 to 35. The government will provide a $6 million grant, spread over five years, to offset the temporary loss of international fee revenue. Funding will be re‑prioritised within existing tertiary delivery funds, with final decisions by the Tertiary Education Commission.