More Kiwis are thinking about travelling to Asia in their OEs. Photo / Supplied
More young Kiwis are considering travelling to Asia for their overseas experiences.
A Travel to Asia research report showed 64 per cent of young New Zealanders thinking about an OE would consider an Asian country as their destination.
The report, commissioned by the Asia New Zealand Foundation from Colmar Brunton, surveyed 500 people aged 18-30.
It identified low awareness of the opportunities available through working holiday schemes.
Only one in 10 of those surveyed were aware of at least one Asian country that offered working holiday visas to young New Zealanders.
This is consistent with reporting from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the low uptake of working holiday schemes by New Zealanders.
New Zealand has working holiday visa schemes with Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
More than half (53 per cent) of the respondents said they felt confident about travelling in Asia, while 43 per cent said they lacked confidence. More than a third of those who did not feel confident said it was because of language barriers.
Asia New Zealand Foundation executive director Simon Draper only knew how to speak the word for fried rice when he backpacked in Southern China in 1984.
"I could only speak the word for fried rice - chǎo fàn - but I had great fun and some rich experiences that sparked my interest in Asia and international relations," he said.
"It's interesting to see that language is perceived as a barrier to travel to Asia. Language skills are always really helpful and enhance travel experiences - but it shouldn't be a deal-breaker."
Draper was 19 the year he travelled to China, and was one of the only 80 New Zealand residents aged between 18 to 30 travelling there as their main destination - compared to the more than 22,000 young New Zealand residents who visited China in 2015.
"Asia's importance to New Zealand is growing all the time, and it's great to see many young people are interested in opportunities in the region," he said. "In the future, most New Zealand jobs will require some Asia capabilities. In fact, many jobs already do.
Draper pointed out there were now many opportunities for young New Zealanders to gain Asia-related skills by studying in Asia through the Prime Minister's Scholarship for Asia, administered by Education New Zealand.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation also offers business internships in Asia for New Zealand students and graduates, as well as media work placements and artist residencies.
Draper himself later joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where he has held a number of leadership positions, including as director of the United Nations, Human Rights and Commonwealth Division.
Auckland senior management consultant Tessa McGregor, a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation's Leadership Network, studied in Singapore in her late teens and early twenties, completing a degree in civil engineering at the National University of Singapore.
"I have had so many opportunities open up purely as a result of living in Singapore. New Zealand's future is increasingly linked to Asia and any young Kiwi who has experience living in Asia has a big advantage," she said.
"The travel was amazing - even on a student budget we were able to travel around Southeast Asia in the holidays. Likewise, you could eat like a king in between visiting temples, palaces, markets and some pretty amazing parks and beaches."
Draper said the Asia New Zealand Foundation can foresee a time when Asia will be the first choice for New Zealanders heading off on their OEs.
Will Flavell studied Japanese in high school for five years and got a scholarship to go to Japan and study.
In the past eight years he has travelled to Japan about 10 times.
He recommended Asia as a travel option, saying there were a number of different countries all fairly close together and accessible, with "some amazing things to see".
He said travellers need not worry too much about language barriers, though it wouldn't hurt to learn a few greetings before heading over.
Flavell urged Kiwis to make the decision to travel.
"New Zealanders definitely need to broaden their horizons," he said.