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Before you arrive in New Zealand

Leaving home can feel as overwhelming as it feels exciting. Please check out the information below to familiarise yourself with various aspects of life in New Zealand.

Working in New Zealand

International students can work locally when they study in New Zealand (Please refer to the conditions on your student visa). This income can help to support your experience and make your time in New Zealand more comfortable. International students are not allowed to be self-employed. You must work for an employer and have an employment agreement.

Homestay

NZSE can book your homestay through our homestay partners. Homestay accommodation offers an excellent opportunity to live in a family environment, practice your English language skills, and experience the New Zealand lifestyle. Please request your homestay at the time of enrolment into the programme or at least four weeks prior to arrival in New Zealand from your home country.

Medical and travel insurance

The New Zealand Government requires that students have medical and travel insurance before travel and during their studies at NZSE College and the period living in New Zealand. Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly-funded health services are available from the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

Your insurance must meet the requirements of the Education Code of practice 2021. You can read the Code from the NZQA website.

International students who are enrolled for educational instruction of 2 weeks’ duration or longer must have appropriate insurance covering the following:

  • The student’s travel
  • Medical care in New Zealand, including diagnosis, prescription, surgery, and hospitalisation
  • Repatriation or expatriation of the student as a result of serious illness or injury, including cover of travel costs incurred by family members assisting repatriation or expatriation
  • Death of the student, including cover of travel costs of family members to and from New Zealand, and costs of repatriation or expatriation of the body, funeral expenses and include the student’s travel to and from their country of origin or citizenship before their educational instruction begins and after it ends (which may be outside of the enrolment period).

Driving in New Zealand

All vehicles drive on the left hand side of the road. Before you drive in New Zealand you should read the New Zealand Road Code to learn about the rules of the road, especially the ‘give way’ rule which differs from any other country. You must also take out a minimum level of insurance against damage to other people or their property. If you have a driver license from another country or an international driving permit, you may drive in New Zealand for a maximum of one year. If you would like to continue driving, you must hold a New Zealand license.

Public transport

Auckland

Auckland has an extensive public transport network made up of buses, trains, and ferries, making it easy to get around the city and surrounding suburbs. Services are operated by Auckland Transport, and you must always tag on and off with the same card or device when travelling. You can pay using an AT HOP card, a contactless debit or credit card, or a smartphone or smart device, while paper tickets are only available on train and ferry services. The AT Mobile app and Journey Planner help you plan trips, check departure times, compare routes, and see how much your journey will cost. Buses run frequently across the city, including the CityLink, InnerLink, and OuterLink services, trains connect many suburbs to the city centre at Britomart, and ferries operate from the downtown terminal to the North Shore, Eastern Bays, and popular destinations such as Waiheke Island.

Hamilton

Hamilton is served by BUSIT, the Waikato region’s public bus network. Most services travel to and from the Hamilton Transport Centre (corner of Bryce Street and Anglesea Street), making it the main hub for getting around the city. Travel is paid for using a Bee Card — a smartcard used across the Waikato — by tagging on and off the bus, which is quicker and more cost-effective than cash. If you’re heading to Auckland, the Te Huia train runs daily return services between Frankton and The Strand, with a travel time of around 2 hours 30 minutes. Peak services operate on weekdays between 6–9am and 3–6.30pm.

Tauranga

Tauranga is served by the Baybus network, including Bayhopper and Cityride services, which make it easy to travel around the region. You can plan your journey using the Baybus website journey search to find the best route and timings. Fares are paid using a Bee Card, a smartcard also used in the Waikato. In Tauranga South, Baybus OnDemand offers a rideshare service that provides flexible, personalised transport and connects you with the wider bus network — bookings can be made anytime through the Baybus OnDemand app.

Community Services

Citizens Advice Bureau
If you’ve recently moved to New Zealand you probably have lots of questions about how things work here. Citizens Advice Bureau is a great place to find answers to common questions and discover community services available in your area. Youthline also provide a lot of information for young people in New Zealand and activities and events going on in the community.
Lifeline Aotearoa’s telephone counselling service provides 24 hours a day, 7 days a week counselling and support. Call 0800 543 354 to speak with someone who can help.

Civil Defence are the people who help prepare for and respond to emergencies like major fires, floods, extreme weather, an earthquake or tsunami. Their website has important information on how to get ready for an emergency.

Use this directory to locate and contact support for services relating to addiction, basic needs, disaster recovery, education and training, employment, ethnic services, family violence, health, mentors, legal and civil services, mental health, parenting and caregiving, special needs and disability, youth services and ISO capability.
All international students studying in New Zealand are required by the “Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students” to have a compliant medical and travel insurance for the duration of their New Zealand student visa. NZSE College can arrange the same on behalf of the student with Southern Cross Travel Insurance. The regular insurance policy does not cover dental problems. You will need to consult a private practitioner for any dental problems. Dental care is expensive in New Zealand and you may wish to consider insurance to cover this aspect of your health care.

Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may have to pay the full costs of treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health. View these on their website here.

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may be liable for all other medical and related costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website.

Post offices in New Zealand are called Postshops. You can find a Postshop near you, and get information about postal services and Kiwibank (the bank that New Zealand Post operates) at the NZ Post website.

New Zealand Police has a useful website with information about your rights in dealing with them and advice on preventing crime, plus contacts for ethnic liaison officers in your region. Information is available in 12 different languages.

The Community Directory provides a register of ethnic community organisations and support services available in New Zealand at this website.