Become a Host Family
Hosting an international student is a great way to bring the world to your home. Create lifelong relationships with people around the world, earn an extra income and perhaps start a worldwide network for your children’s future OE!
If you can provide a “home away from home” for international students in Taupo we’d love to hear from you!
Becoming a Host Family
Becoming a host family is easy. Click on the button below to start your journey.
- Fill out the online application form.
- A member of the international team will be in touch to arrange a time to visit your home and meet you and your family.
- Carry out a safety check (including a Police Vetting request)
- Your application is reviewed
- You will be added to our community of amazing hosts!
Want to learn more?
We understand that becoming a host family can be a big decision and we hope that a lot of your initial questions are answered here.
We are available to answer any other questions 8am – 4pm Monday – Friday. Please feel free to call Ms Keiko Ferguson – 027 2666801.
Frequently asked questions:
– What is a “homestay”?
A Homestay is an accommodation option for International students who study at our school. It’s a great opportunity for international students to improve their English and immerse themselves in our unique culture firsthand.
– About International students
Although there are many reasons why students from other countries study here, they generally fall into three categories:
- English Language and Cultural Experience
We have experiential students from mainly Germany and Japan. They generally arrive in January, March, or July and study for 2 weeks up to one year.
These students are often here to improve their English, and experience a different way of life while gaining life experience and independence in the safe environment we offer.
- Educational
We have students mostly from Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam who study with us for more than a year. They want to complete their secondary education in New Zealand, then return to their country or continue their education in New Zealand.
We regularly review how the homestay is working and you are not asked to commit to hosting a student for the whole time they are here.
- Study Tour Groups
The groups come from Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Korea. They stay for 1-4 weeks and generally come in February, March, July, and August. Japanese groups often request single placement, however some group students can be accommodated in pairs or threes.
– What’s involved in being a homestay?
Students are looking to have an authentic kiwi experience in an English speaking home. Most importantly students want to feel genuinely welcomed as a new member of your family.
Like any young member of a family, ensuring student’s safety and wellbeing is the most important part of being a homestay. Students also need to:
- have their own room with a bed, desk and space to store their belongings
- have bed linen (sheets, pillow, and blankets) and towels
- adequate heating during the winter
- be provided with meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and access to snacks) Packed lunches for school
Please refer to the Guidelines for Homestay Families for more comprehensive information.
– Expectations of students
In general, students are expected to behave just like any other member of your family. They should:
- be polite and respectful
- keep their room clean
- lend a hand with household chores
- let you know where they are at all times and seek permission for social activities
You can find the Homestay Guidelines for International Students in pages 26-31 in the Pre Departure Guide on this page.
– How are students allocated?
When students apply to the college, they submit a letter to their host family, where they tell us about themselves. They also outline their ideal host family. This can be a family with children, a horse riding family etc. They may also have a special diet or allergies to animals. We use all the information from their application and your family profile to make what we hope, will be a great fit for you and the student.
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, we also work to avoid placing male and female students together. However, we may place 2 or 3 group students in one homestay.
– When do students arrive?
Although students can arrive at any time during the year, our largest student intakes of long term students are in February and July.
– What if an allocation doesn’t work?
Our team will always be in close contact with you and students during their stay. Generally, we find that if issues are addressed while they are small, relationships work out. However, if there is an irrevocable problem, we will work to relocate the student.
– Reimbursement
Families receive a $360 weekly payment for hosting a student.