Become an International Student Host Family

It is important that international students feel welcomed as a new member of your family, and that their safety and wellbeing is looked after. 

Students also need to:

• have their own room with a bed, desk and space to store their belongings.
• have adequate heating during the winter.
• have access to fibre internet to connect with home and carry out study.
• be provided with meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks).
• be taken to and from the airport.

Host families will be paid $340 a week to cover these requirements.

Students are expected to behave just like any other member of your family. They should:

• be polite and respectful.
• keep their room clean and tidy.
• help out with household chores.
• attend school daily.
• let you know about any social plans and always be contactable.

When you sign on as a host family, we will work with you to determine the type of student you feel most comfortable hosting. International students also tell us a little about themselves and their ideal host family as part of their application to study. We then match this information against your family profile to create a great fit for you and the student.

International students generally study in New Zealand for two reasons:

1. to experience a different culture and improve their English. 
2. to gain a New Zealand education and qualification.

Students who come for the experience, tend to come in Year 12 or 13 and stay on a short-term basis of 3-6 months. Students seeking a New Zealand education generally arrive to start Year 11 and stay long-term until the completion of their high school qualifications. 

Our preferred maximum allocation is two students per host family. To preserve the student experience, we avoid placing students of the same ethnicity in the same home, and we also work to avoid placing male and female students together.

What if an allocation doesn’t work?

Our Homestay Coordinators are in close contact with you and our students during their stay. If you are concerned for any reason, please let us know as early as possible. We find that if issues are addressed while they are small, relationships can get back on track. If the problem can’t be resolved, we will work to relocate the student to another homestay.

Host families are selected based on their ability to provide a nurturing environment. The application process includes an interview, home visit, and background check to ensure the best match for the student and host family.

Host families will receive ongoing support from the school, including regular check-ins and support from our International Department staff to address any questions or concerns. Our Homestay Coordinators can be contacted 24/7 to provide assistance after hours if required.

We understand that becoming a host family can be a big decision therefore our team is on hand to answer your questions. Please feel free to contact one of Homestay Coordinators for more information.

Tricia Crowe

• Homestay Coordinator
• tcrowe@pakuranga.school.nz
• 027 369 5555

Kelly An

• Homestay Coordinator (Chinese speaking)
• kan@pakuranga.school.nz
• 027 886 3788