Iranian students to study in N.Z.

Press, 5 April 1989, Page 44

Iranian students to study in N.Z.

PA Wellington A group of Iranian students, the first of several, is expected in New Zealand within the next few weeks to study agriculture. The students are members of the Jihad Sizandegi, which loosely translates as Construction Crusade. The chief executive of MAFTech international, Mr John Hayman, organising the visits, described them as “enthusiasts trying to put a bit of get up and go into the Government departments.” The first group of 19 is scheduled to arrive this month for a course in natural resource management at Flock House near Bulls. Mr Hayman said their arrival would probably be delayed until May because they had not yet made applications for visas. Preliminary arrangements for the visits were made by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Moyle, in

Teheran in February, 1988. Mr Hayman said the Iranians were university graduates; officials in Teheran said they spoke good English. “We don’t think their English is up to scratch. Those are one of the details that are still being worked out,” Mr Hayman said.

A Ministry of Agriculture employee who spoke Farsi, the majority Iranian language, could not help, he said.

“He’s a Baha’i and doesn’t dare return to Iran.”

Mr Hayman said if MAFTech International had to provide an interpreter there could be some difficulty.

Halal slaughtermen from Iran already in New Zealand would be approached. The Jihad Sizandegi was a separate organisation from the Iran Ministry of Agriculture, he said. “It has a separate Ministry and funding within the Government.