Suggestions

Ask questions of your home stay family. It is great for your English conversation to talk to them as much as possible. If you have difficulty understanding what they have to say, ask them to speak slowly and explain any words you have difficulty with. If you still cannot understand, ask the host family to write the message down for you.

Home Stay Fees: Auckland

Registration Fee: NZ$150.00
Home stay placement fee: NZ$200 (includes sourcing, interviewing and screening suitable families)
Home stay charges: NZ$230 per week

Airport Pickup Fee  $90

Home Stay Fees: Wellington

Registration Fee: $150.00
Home stay placement fee: NZ$100 (includes sourcing, interviewing and screening suitable families)
Home stay charges: NZ$230.00 per week

Airport Pickup Fee  $90

What the rent covers: A single room accommodation with 2 meals per day during weekdays (Monday to Friday-including at least one cooked meal), and 3 meals during weekends (Saturday and Sunday).

Method of payment: One month in advance - cash, cheque or automatic payment. Each payment recorded in a book and signed by both parties. Two weeks notice for terminating homestay arrangement.

YOUR HOMESTAY ENVIRONMENT

Your Bedroom - A students homestay bedroom includes basic furniture such as a bed, study table, chair, wardrobe and/or cupboard. Students are entitled to an uniterrupted study time in their bedroom. Students are responsible for tidiness of their room which includes making your own bed.

Other areas of your homestay house - Students are responsible for cleaning up after themselves in other areas of the house.

• Smoking policy - No smoking inside the house.
• Drug and alcohol policy - No drugs and alcohol permitted.
• Pets - No pets allowed unless consented by host family.
• Phone -Time limit - No more than 10 minutes per call.
• Phone bill - Free local calls. Toll calls to be recorded in a book. Tolls and GST to be paid according to each bill. Collect toll calls not to be accepted unless agreed to by the student.
• Taking messages - To work both ways.
• Visitors / Family members and friends of the student - Allow visitors in student's own room or designated area. Allow refreshment, i.e. tea or coffee. Restrict noise level. Restrict length of visit unless host family is away No overnight visitor unless consented by host family.
• Parties - No parties unless consented by host family.
• Household chores - It is customary in New Zealand that people who stay in your home help with simple chores like setting the table, drying the dishes, making their beds etc. Host supplies a laundry basket. Host family will do washing for  their student once a week. The student can do their own ironing if necessary.
• Meals - Student prepares own breakfast and lunch as provided by host family. Student knows the meal time and will inform at least one hour beforehand if late or not eating. Student helps with washing and drying dishes. Student prepares own meals when host family is away.
• Transport - Student is responsible for own transport unless by arrangement with host family.
• Coming home late/Going away for holidays - Inform host family in advance. If away for a week or more, pay 50% of homestay fee.

Flatting

‘Flatting’ is a popular way that students in New Zealand live, where students share an apartment or house (‘flat’) and share household expenses. Flatting is usually cheaper than living in student accommodation or hostels, although flatting has other challenges.

Flatting may be a good option for second year students, older students, and those who are familiar with living in New Zealand.

If you decide to live in a flat, it is likely that you will have to provide your own furniture and pay for your share of the expenses (electricity, water, gas, phone/internet, pay TV). In some flats you will share groceries and cooking, while in others you will buy groceries and cook meals individually. Remember to talk about bills with your flatmates and agree who will organise household expenses.

Rental prices can vary greatly according to location, type of accommodation, and number of others living there. Demand for flats will peak at the start of each semester, so try and beat the rush and get in early. Also remember to consider the cost of transport in looking for a flat – check out the relevant websites for information on train, bus and ferry prices.

Living with others in any situation will always have challenges, so remember to choose flats carefully and do not rush into any flatting agreement. Make sure your new flatmates are people you can live with during the semester or year.

Hostels and other student accommodation