The international education market has developed rapidly throughout the Western world. Accordingly, Chinese students have become the largest group of international students studying in New Zealand. However, despite an increasing role that the Chinese market plays in sustaining the New Zealand education export industry, the education experience of Chinese students has not always been reported positively. The importance of this market to the educational sector gave rise to questions about the way in which Chinese international students perceived their New Zealand education and how satisfied they were with both their sociocultural and educational experiences. A study of 140 Chinese international students enrolled at a range of educational institutions in Auckland was undertaken. The results show that recognition of the influence of sociocultural factors beyond the learning experience itself is vital in facilitating mutually beneficial outcomes for Chinese international students and the international education industry in New Zealand. (Contains 1 table.)