Choosing homestay accommodation , Te tono whare whāngai

Your local hosts will live in the city where you have chosen to study at Massey University, in Auckland, or Palmerston North.

In your homestay, you will have your own bedroom, and might share facilities such as a bathroom and kitchen with your hosts. Students normally share regular meals with their hosts and join them for everyday or weekend activities.

Your hosts will be available to support and guide you as you settle into a new city or country, and into student life. This could mean showing you around the public transport system, where the supermarket is, the best beaches, and local visitor highlights and events, and other local knowledge.

Overview

Who will you live with?

A homestay means you will live with local people. Your homestay hosts could be a large or small family with older or younger children, or adults with no children. Every homestay will be different.

The benefits of homestay

A Massey University homestay is much more than just renting a room in a shared house. A homestay is about providing a home away from home to help you settle into university life in your new city or country.

You will join your hosts for regular meals and perhaps activities that will help you enjoy and experience your new city.

For international students, a homestay is a great way to improve your English language skills in a safe, supportive environment and get to know more about the New Zealand culture.

For domestic students, a homestay is very useful to familiarise yourself with your new city, especially if you are living away from home for the first time.

How long is a homestay for?

A homestay could be a short as four weeks, to a full semester or academic year, or longer.

You can choose the length of your stay depending on your plans. For instance, you may be an international student who wants to spend a semester with a local homestay host to get to know New Zealand, and then move into a Massey University hall of residence.

How are homestay hosts chosen?

Massey University’s Accommodation and Welfare Advisers will try and match you with homestay hosts who suit you.

By letting us know your interests and requirements, we will be able to find a homestay environment that ensures you feel at home.

Massey University is committed to providing a safe and happy homestay experience for you.

All potential homestay hosts must undergo a strict selection process by Massey University staff which includes a home visit, referee checks and police vetting of all adults over the age of 18 who live in the household.

All Massey University approved homestay accommodation is compliant with the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.

When you move into your homestay, Massey University advisers are always there to support you and make sure you have quality and safe homestay accommodation.

Who can live in a homestay?

Any Massey University student can apply to live with a homestay host in cities where there are Massey University campuses, which are Auckland, Wellington or Palmerston North. This applies to both domestic and international students.

International students under 18 years old

At Massey University, all international students under the age of 18 years must live in Massey-approved accommodation. This includes:

• homestay accommodation
• designated caregiver accommodation
• with their parents
• halls of residence (on a case by case basis).

Designated caregiver

Students may choose to live with a designated caregiver while studying at a Massey University campus.

A designated caregiver is a relative or family friend nominated by the parent or guardian as the caregiver and accommodation provider for the student.

Students under 18 years old wishing to live with a designated caregiver will need to ask their parent/guardian to complete the designated caregiver form during their admission process.

Designated caregivers' homes need to meet the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 to ensure students have a safe home environment.

Food and meals

Homestay students are provided with three meals per day by their hosts. Your food and meals may be:

• Breakfast: cereal, toast, fruit, tea or coffee – students usually help themselves
• Lunch: sandwiches, fruit, leftovers – students usually prepare their own packed lunch
• Dinner: usually the main meal of the day, comprising a hot meal. This is prepared by the homestay host and is generally a time everyone eats together.

Special dietary requirements

Halal and other dietary requirements such as gluten or diary free can be catered for at an additional cost. Please specify your dietary requirements in your application.

Application process

To apply for a homestay with Massey University:

1. Complete the form to let us know where and when you will be studying. Please provide as much information as possible.
2. Please complete (and submit) the homestay application form at least four weeks prior to your expected arrival.
3. The homestay fees and advanced board must be paid to confirm your application. You need to pay the relevant non-refundable fees before the advisers can start to find a homestay for you.

Please note: A homestay application is not a guarantee that we will be able to place you in a homestay. Homestay is subject to availability.

Applying for your homestay is a separate process to enrolling to study at Massey University. Enrolling for study does not automatically mean your homestay has been organised for you.

Massey University is unable to help students find private rental accommodation that is not a homestay.

Pricing

Application fees

Your application fees are non-refundable and are:

• $350 homestay administration fee
• a prepayment of your first two weeks' homestay board (detailed below)
• if you are under 18 years old, an additional fee of $240 is required to be paid.

If you have chosen to live with a designated caregiver rather than be placed in a homestay, you will need to pay the designated caregiver administration fee of $280, which covers the cost of assessing your designated caregiver's home.

If you are an international student who is aged under 18 and plan to stay with a designated caregiver, you need to pay the $240 under-18 administration fee.

Weekly board

Weekly homestay board are paid directly to the homestay host for as long as you stay with them. This board covers a furnished bedroom, shared facilities including bathroom, kitchen and lounge, three meals every day and unlimited internet.

• Auckland: $355 per week
• Palmerston North: $310 per week

How to pay the application fees

The initial homestay fee consists of the homestay administration fee, advanced board payment and under-18 homestay administration fee, if you are an under-18 international student. If you are allocated a homestay and then withdraw your application, your initial payment is non-refundable.

Fees are GST inclusive except the Advanced Board Payment which is zero rated for GST.

Auckland

Initial non-refundable payment due (students over 18):

• $1060 (includes $710 advanced board payment + $350 homestay administration fee)

Initial payment due (students under 18):

• $1300 (includes $710 advanced board payment + $350 homestay administration fee + $240 under-18 administration fee)

Palmerston North (for Manawatū campus)

Initial non-refundable payment due (students over 18):

• $970 (includes $620 advanced board payment + $350 homestay administration fee)

Initial non-refundable payment due (students under 18):

• $1210 (includes $620 advanced board payment + $350 homestay administration fee + $240 under-18 administration fee)

Paying your fees

Please make sure you add on any additional bank charges you incur. Payment can be made through these methods:

• Telegraphic Transfer
• Convera (formerly known as Western Union)
• GlobalPay
• Directly through your bank

Find out more about these payment options for international students

If you're a domestic student, you can pay by credit card or online banking. Find out more about these payment options

Moving from homestay to other accommodation

Homestay accommodation is a great way to settle in to university life as a domestic student and to become familiarised with New Zealand's culture and language as an international student.

Once you're settled into life in your new city you might want to consider gaining some more independence by moving out of a homestay and living in private accommodation with friends, or move into a Massey hall of residence accommodation. Homestay gives you the flexibility to do this as you are not locked in for a whole year.

Support services

Massey's homestay team is dedicated to your wellbeing and available 24/7 to support you. If you are experiencing any kind of trouble you don't want to talk to your homestay family or your teachers about, you can call or visit the homestay office on campus at any time.

Additionally Massey University’s campuses provide students with a range of support services.

International student support

The international student support team on Massey’s campuses can help students with any welfare or other issues they may have while studying here.

Cultural and religious support

Each Massey campus provides cultural and religious support, including:

• chaplaincy
• Māori students' study space and common room
• Pasifika students' study space and common room
• Islamic prayer room.