New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS): There was an increase of over 80 percent in the number of student visas New Zealand issued to Indians between January and July, 2014 compared to 2013, an Education New Zealand (ENZ) official said here Saturday.

The ENZ, an agency of the New Zealand government for international education, said visas issued to Indians, who sought to study in New Zealand for the first time increased by 80 percent in 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

"It is really exciting and satisfying to see these strategies pay off and translate into such high first time student visa numbers from India," said Ziena Jalil, ENZ regional director for South and South East Asia.

Jalil was speaking at an event organised by the ENZ here to give students and their parents an opportunity to interact with representatives from various educational institutions from New Zealand.

ENZ ambassador and former cricket captain Stephen Fleming said: "The passion that Indians have for their work is incredible. I am amazed by the desire and appetite that Indian students have to learn and grow.