International Students

We welcome your enrolment enquiry for your child to study as an International Student at Owairoa Primary School.

Please email us to receive our International Student Enrolment Pack

Please note: Students must be accompanied by, and continue to live with, a parent for the duration of their studies at Owairoa Primary School.

Enrolments for 2024 and 2025

We are welcoming both long-term and short-term enrolments. We currently still have spaces available at all year levels.

International Student Fees

A quotation for International Student Fees will be prepared at the time of enrolment enquiry.

All amounts are quoted in New Zealand Dollars (NZD$) and include GST.

The Owairoa Primary School Refund Policy applies to all payments of International Student Fees.

Owairoa Primary School hosts International Students and is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code).

As a signatory to the Code, we have policies and procedures in place that support the wellbeing and safety of our International Students. We take all reasonable steps to protect International Students and ensure as far as possible that they have a positive experience that supports their educational achievement (Education and Training Act 2020).

In accordance with the Code of Practice, Owairoa Primary School:

• recruits, informs, and enrols International Students ethically and responsibly (Part 7, Outcomes 13–16)
• ensures that International Students are offered appropriate orientation (Part 7, Outcome 17)
• provides a safe study environment and wellbeing support, and ensures, as far as practicable, that International Students are in safe accommodation (Part 7, Outcome 18)
• provides International Students with relevant information and advice to support their educational outcomes (Part 7, Outcome 19)
• manages withdrawal and closure ethically and responsibly (Part 7, Outcome 20)
• has fair and equitable processes for addressing concerns and complaints (Part 7, Outcomes 21 and 22).

We implement the Code in a way that is appropriate to student needs and contexts and is consistent with Code Administrator expectations. Where the Code does not specify exactly what must be done and how, we use the evaluative, evidence-based approach recommended by the Code Guidelines to make decisions about what is reasonable, practicable, or appropriate for our International Students.

Our implementation of the Code does not override our responsibilities under the Privacy Act 2020 or the Health Information Privacy Code.

A copy of the Code is available to download below, or from the New Zealand Qualifications website at www.nzqa.govt.nz

Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service and can be viewed on their website at www.immigration.govt.nz

Eligibility for Health Services
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 through the Ministry of Health and can be viewed on their website at www.moh.govt.nz

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

Medical and Travel Insurance
International Students must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand which must be provided in English.

The travel insurance policy should cover:

• Loss of baggage and other personal effects
• Accident and injury
• Disruption to travel plans
• Cost of medical care in “stopover” countries

The policy should:

• Commence the minute the student leaves home for the airport on their way to New Zealand
• Apply while in transit
• Apply while the student is in New Zealand
• Cover the student for any trips to other countries during the period of the study
• Cover the student for any holidays back to their home country during the period of study

“Sums insured” is the money available in the event of a claim. It is imperative that the sums insured are very high so they will not be exceeded in any possible claim. Current policies range from $600,000 to “unlimited cover”. In order to “future proof” policies, sums insured of one million dollars plus are suggested.

Medical benefits generally range from general practitioner visits and prescriptions through to major hospitalisation (both public and private), optical cover and emergency dental cover.

Grievance Procedures

Any concerns or complaints must first be raised at school using Owairoa Primary School’s formal complaints procedure.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the formal complaints procedure, you can raise your concerns with Study Complaints| Ngā amuamu tauira – click here.

Study Complaints| Ngā amuamu tauira is set up to resolve financial and contractual matters.

Code of Practice Downloads

The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code) provides a framework for education providers to ensure a high standard of care and wellbeing is maintained for international students while they live and study in New Zealand.

The Code is established under section 238F of the Education Act 1989. The Act requires that a provider must be a signatory to the Code to enrol international students.  The Code commenced in 2002 and was last revised in 2021.

The Code can be downloaded in full above, or as a summary document below, with translations into different languages.

Owairoa Primary School provides “Living In New Zealand” lessons, which look at all aspects of the New Zealand lifestyle, including customs and cultures, legal, political, health, social, traditions, food, language etc. Also included one morning per week is a cooking class.

We value parents of International Students and like to give them the opportunity of communicating with and bonding with other parents of students at our school.

As a goodwill gesture, these classes are free of charge to all parents of International Students enrolled at Owairoa Primary School. Parents are welcome to enrol for classes, which are from 9am – 10.30am every weekday morning during school term time.

For your personal attention regarding International Education, please contact: