Hosting an International Student is a rewarding experience that allows you to share your culture, build lifelong connections, and make a meaningful difference in a young person’s life. It’s also a great opportunity for your family to learn about other cultures and create a globally-minded home environment.

Onehunga High School regularly recruits caring and responsible homestay families throughout the year to host our International Students. Our host families can choose to offer accommodation for "Individual Enrolments" (students who study with us for a minimum of 2 weeks, right up to 5 years) and/or "Study Tour Groups" (a group of 10 or more students who study with us from 1 day up to 2 weeks).

Selection of Host Families

Our host families come in all shapes and sizes - single parents, families with children, couples, and retirees. 

We welcome applications from anyone in the local area who:

• is over 25 years old
• speaks English at home
• can pass a police vetting check
• has a clean welcoming home with a spare furnished bedroom
• has at least one host parent will a full drivers licence and car
• is excited to share their lifestyle and culture with an international student

Requirements of Hosting

The key responsibilities and requirements of our host families are:

• Provide your student with their own private bedroom inside the home (students cannot share a bedroom with anyone and they cannot live in a sleepout or separate space from the house)
  • The students bedroom must contain a bed, wardrobe or drawers to adequately store clothing, a desk and chair, adequate heating and adequate lighting
• Provide your student with three meals per day, plus access to snack food
• Provide unlimited access to the Internet
• Speak only English with other household members when your student is at home
• Collect your student from the airport (or other pickup point) upon their arrival to New Zealand
• Include your student in your everyday family life e.g. have dinner together each night and include them in weekend activities

Differences between Hosting Individual Enrolments vs Study Tour Group Students

In addition to individual students, we also host short-term study tour groups. These tours typically last 1–2 weeks and provide students with an intensive experience of both high school life and Kiwi culture.

While individual and study tour students share the same core requirements, there are some differences for study tour students — such as curfew times, meal expectations, and transport arrangements. Please see the chart below for reference.

Homestay Payments

• Payments are made fortnightly and cover the previous two weeks
  • If your student arrives part way through a payment cycle, you'll receive a partial payment for the number of nights they have been in your care during that fortnight
  • Study Tour Group Payments are paid to you the day after the student/s depart your home
• Payments are processed by the School and are paid via direct credit your nominated bank account
  • In 2026, payments for "Individual Enrolments" will be $360 per week
  • In 2026, payments for "Study Tour Groups" will be $75 per night
  • In 2027, payments for "Individual Enrolments" will be $390 per week
  • In 2027, payments for "Study Tour Groups" will be $75 per night
• Airport Collections and Drop-offs (Individual Enrolments)
  • When your student first arrives, you are required to collect them from the airport. A one-off collection payment of $75 will be made to you, along with the regular fortnightly payment
  • When your student departs for good, you are required to take them to the airport. A one-off drop-off payment of $75 will be made to you, along with the regular fortnightly payment

Application Process

If you would like to share your home, your culture, and show off the beauty of New Zealand to our international students, please follow the below process or contact us for more information. 

• Complete the online registration form (linked below) and digitally sign the Homestay Carer Agreement
• All members of the household who are 18 years or older must complete a Police Vetting Form (this will be emailed to you once the registration form has been submitted to us)
• Complete an initial on-site home visit (we will contact you to arrange this)