Auckland

or are some of the most popular activities for those seeking an adrenaline rush. If you’re more interested in something equally adventurous but less extreme, consider a . .

Christchurch

and is sure to provide a memorable experience for you and your friends. If a slower paced activity is more appealing to you then consider horse trekking at the . Another popular location that offers various adventure activities is the renowned . .

Dunedin

A Dunedin adventure wouldn’t be complete without a visit to or an ascent up “officially” . Another fun activity that offers a challenge is the escape experience. .

Hamilton

If you’re based in Hamilton then a visit out to the coastal town of Raglan is a must do. Renowned for its famous surf breaks, offering an ideal location to . Also nearby is the famous offering visitors a chance to view glowworm caves that rival a stunning night sky.

Mount Maunganui

This area offers the chance to and also enjoy the local beautiful beaches with activities such as and .

Queenstown

Often branded as the adventure capital of the world, there is no shortage of adventure activities in Queenstown. From bungy jumping, cliff jumping, swinging, skydiving, paragliding, whitewater rafting to jet boating, to name a few. Take your pick! .

Rotorua

Considered the North Island’s hub for adventure activities there’s also no shortage of activities to enjoy. Some of the more popular activities are and . Or head to the for plenty of options.

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On 14 March 2022, New Zealand reopened applications for working holiday visas for 14 different countries, with many more to follow. Holders of Working Holiday Visas visiting NZ can study up to six months, so this visa is a great option for those who want to learn English in New Zealand.

Visiting New Zealand with a Working Holiday Visa

Working Holiday Visas (WHVs) are designed to help young people from around the world come to New Zealand and experience all that our country has to offer.

Requirements for WHV applicants vary depending on which country you live in, but generally, successful applicants need to be aged 18 or over, can arrive without a job offer, can stay for up to 12 months, and can study for up to six months during this time.

Many WHV holders learn English at an ���Ͻ��� member school at the beginning of or during their trip. This helps improve their English language skills, helping them gain employment here and in other English-speaking countries or in global companies, and helping them develop as a person.

In addition to improved employment opportunities, learning English in New Zealand can be a once in a lifetime experience with full immersion outside of the classroom complementing your learning within it, lifelong friendships formed, and world-class scenery, activities, and adventures right on your doorstep.

Which countries can apply for a Working Holiday Visa to visit New Zealand?

In March, WHV applications opened to countries including Japan, United Kingdom, Norway, Belgium, Canada, USA, France, and Malaysia. For many countries there is no limit to how many WHVs are approved, while the number of WHVs available to other countries is limited.

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5 Things to do during your stay in New Zealand

We have an abundance of things to see and do in Aotearoa with something here to suit everyone. Check out these picks for each island.

North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui)

Go Mountain biking in Rotorua

Located in the North Island’s Bay of Plenty province, Rotorua is world famous for two things: Māori culture and mountain biking.

The world-class mountain biking trails are second to none and easily accessed from the city of 65,901. There’s riding for all levels from beginners right through to professionals, with the annual Crankworx Rotorua festival attracting top riders from around the globe.

Check out for trail maps, bike hire, videos and more.

Try for a choice of guided mountain bike tours around Rotorua. ��

See Glow Worms in the Waitomo Caves

Head east across Te Ika-a-Māui and you’ll find the mystical Waitomo Caves, and extensive underground cave network home to thousands of inspiring glow worms.

You can experience what is arguably New Zealand’s best natural attraction in a few ways: an underground boat ride through the glow worm grotto, a walk through Ruakari Cave, or an exhilarating black water rafting tour down an underground river, off waterfalls, and into fast waters.

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Visit Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and home to our national museum — Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Free to enter for everyone (with charges for some exhibitions), Te Papa is busting at the seams with exhibitions and activities that encompass our young nation’s history, technology, art, and culture.

Guided tours can help enrich your Te Papa visit, and there’s no better place to learn about Aotearoa while practising your English language skills.

South Island (Te Waipounamu)

Bend your brain at Puzzling World Wanaka

Wanaka is world-renowned for its alpine scenery and ski resorts, but a more grounded attraction sure to get you thinking is Puzzling World.

What started as a wooden maize back in 1973 is now an award-winning collection of illusion rooms, head-scratching puzzles, weird sculptures, a café, giftshop, and a ‘great maze’ — fun for all ages.

Watch a rugby game in Christchurch

Rugby is our national game and our national team — the All Blacks — are world-famous. A deep pool of talent feeds into the national side via the Super Rugby competition franchises, and provincial team competitions, and the very start of the journey begins in university and school grades.

Catching a live rugby game at any level can be an exhilarating experience and atmosphere. Watching Super Rugby Pacific team, the Crusaders play in front of their Christchurch home crowd is sure to make the hairs on your neck stand up.

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Where to study in New Zealand

To learn more about our different cities and where you can study English at an ���Ͻ��� member school, check out our schools by region, and read our blog for more Aotearoa inspiration.

See you soon!

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The New Zealand government has announced a five-stage plan to reopen our borders to fully vaccinated individuals. This means international students can start planning their trip to learn English in New Zealand!

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How does the phased approach work differently?

The five-step approach to open the border allows fully vaccinated travellers to enter New Zealand without needing to go into managed isolation and quarantine, or MIQ as it has been referred to.

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When are international students allowed to visit New Zealand?

From 11.59pm on 12 April 2022, up to 5,000 fully vaccinated international students can apply for a border exception to apply for a visa, enter the country and self-isolate for a short time before beginning their study. It is hoped these students can arrive to begin their studies in the second half of the year. Eligibility and application details to come, so stay tuned!

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The five steps in detail

The five steps that make up the phased border reopening are as follows:

Step 1 from 11.59pm on 27 February 2022�� allowing NZ citizens, residents, and other eligible individuals to enter from Australia��if they:

• are fully vaccinated.
• have spent previous 14 days in Australia or NZ.
• have had the required pre-departure tests.

Step 2 from 11.59pm on 4 March 2022, allowing the following fully vaccinated groups to enter New Zealand from anywhere in the world:

• NZ citizens and residents.
• eligible travellers under .
• skilled workers earning at least 1.5x the median wage.
• travellers on working holiday schemes.

Step 3 begins at 11.59pm on 12 April 2022, allowing these individuals to enter New Zealand from anywhere in the world:

• current temporary work and student visa holders with a valid visa who still meet their visa requirements. This can be visa holders currently offshore, or those in NZ who opt to travel overseas and return.
• up to 5,000 international students for July (including 1,000 English language students)

Step 4 by July 2022, the New Zealand border opens to:

• Australian citizens and permanent residents, other foreign nationals travelling from Australia.
• visitors from .
• Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders.
• Temporary visitor visa holders who are outside NZ, if they still meet their visa requirements.

Step 5 October 2022:

• All visa categories will reopen from October 2022, including visitor and student visas.

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What can you look forward to when you arrive to study in New Zealand?

There’s so much on offer for international students learning English in New Zealand. You can enjoy the many tourism, social and cultural activities available. You can connect with students from all over the world learning about their culture, and connect with New Zealanders including the host families you can stay with. You’ll get a very warm welcome and can look forward to a great student experience.

Check out some of the notable spots and activities we included in our December blog, learn about how studying English down under can lead to lifelong friendships, and read up on must-do activities in the regions where we have member schools.

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Images:

‘’ by Stefan Marks via��.

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Sure, you can’t enjoy them right now with our borders currently closed due to the global pandemic, but we recommend you experience them for yourself as soon as you can join us.

1. New Zealand summers are spent having fun under sun

Because New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, our Christmas and New Year period falls in the first calendar month of our summer, which runs December to February. This is when students and most workers take their longest holiday.

Temperatures range from 20 degrees Celsius right up to the mid and late 30s and getting outdoors to the beach and beyond is a top priority during this time, with many past students at ���Ͻ��� member schools travelling in groups or with their host family to see what’s on offer.

The NZ sun is extremely harsh and burn times can be as low as six minutes when the UV factor is at its highest, so staying SunSmart is of the utmost importance. Avoid being sunburnt and the related health risks by following the slip, slop, slap and wrap rule.

2. Swimming in the sea, lakes and rivers is a favourite kiwi pastime

The place to be during the New Zealand summer is anywhere close to the water — and being an island country, you’re never too far from an idyllic beach, lake, or river swimming hole. We also have thermal hot pools in different spots around the country.

They’re a great place to hang out and cool off when the heat gets too much. Students studying English in New Zealand will often pack a lunch or picnic and spend the whole day at their favourite swimming spot.

We call our swimming outfits ‘togs’ in New Zealand, so chuck on your togs and get wet! Just make sure you stay safe while you’re having fun — there can be hidden dangers to swimming in New Zealand.

3. Kiwi kai on Christmas day

Countries around the world have their own distinct Christmas cuisine, and New Zealand is no different. The Christmas day kai kiwis tuck into includes the likes of a roast chicken, turkey, or ham with our beloved kumara, potatoes, gravy, and assorted vegetables.

Dessert is usually made up of fruit cake (or Christmas cake as we refer to it), coupled with steamed Christmas pudding and small fruit pies. Pavlova — a big dessert meringue coated with cream and sliced Kiwi fruit — is such a delectable symbol of national pride that Australia tried to claim it as their own!

Kiwis love a barbecue (usually gas-powered), so Christmas — and summer in general — is usually coupled with the aroma of sausages, corn, and more cooking (sometimes burning) on the barbie.

Past ���Ͻ��� member school students have been lucky enough to eat a traditional Māori Hāngi — meat and root vegetables cooked under the ground by hot rocks. Check out these other Kiwi foods and drinks you could sample at Christmas.

4. Catch the ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island is an island paradise just a 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland, New Zealand’s most populated city. There you’ll find exquisite wineries, cuisine, walking trails and serenity-soaked beaches.

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5. Take a dip at Cheltenham Beach, Auckland

And when you get back to the mainland, check out Cheltenham Beach, near the Auckland suburb of Devonport. Free from waves, the beach is an excellent swimming spot and boasts unrivalled views of Rangitoto Island.

See where you can study English in Auckland.

6. Head to the Port Hills above Christchurch

Described as the jewel in the crown of Christchurch (the largest city in the South Island), the Port Hills are home to breath-taking views, adrenaline pumping adventures, and lovely picnic spots. The Port Hills were a popular spot all year-round for our students studying English in Christchurch.  

7. Learn about Māori culture and New Zealand’s history in Rotorua

Rotorua is located in the Western Bay of Plenty on Te Ika-a-Māui, New Zealand’s North Island. So full of Māori culture, the city is referred to as a hub of Māoridom and is always an educational and fascinating experience for students of English language courses in New Zealand.

Check out the immersive experience on offer at Tamaki Māori Village where you can taste a hangi and learn a poi dance or haka, or visit Te Puia to see the world-famous Pōhutu geyser, wood carving, harakeke weaving, and boiling mud pools.

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Read about student life in Rotorua and see where you can study English.

8. Walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, near Taupō

Covered in snow and ice throughout the rest of the year, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing can be hiked without alpine skills from November to May.

The alpine landscape has been described as lunar and other-worldly, encompassing bright crater lakes, alpine vegetation, ancient lava flows, glacial valleys, steaming vents and incredible views of the Central Plateau and beyond.

Beginning at an altitude of 1120m, the hike is no walk in the park and can take 7–8 hours for individuals of a reasonable level of fitness. Research and preparation are key, so , and speak to your friends and host family before setting off. You may like to find a tourism activities operator to take you there and guide you.

9. Kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Wānaka

World famous as a winter location thanks to the excellent snowfields dotted around the ever-present Southern Alps, Wānaka is also a stunning summer destination, as many students learning English in New Zealand have found out.

Amongst the plethora of activities and experiences available in the area, Lake Wānaka and nearby Lake Hāwea are both ideal for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. These more peaceful options can be passed over for more action-packed wake boarding, water skiing or guided rafting tours on Clutha River.

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View ���Ͻ��� member schools located in nearby Queenstown.

Meri Kirihimete and hari raumati!

You won’t be able to make it down under this summer, but not to worry — start researching now and by the time our borders open again you’ll be good and ready for a hot summer Christmas holiday. Look at the different regions where you can study English, and what fun can be had in the area.

If you want to learn English before your trip to Aotearoa, browse our ���Ͻ��� partner schools who are offering online courses for international students while there is still restricted travel to New Zealand.

Kia kaha!

Images:

‘’ by Stefan Marks via .

‘’ by Samuel Mann via .

‘’ by Sarah Stewart via .

‘’ by Brian Lamb via .

‘’ by Mike Locke via .

‘Crater Rim Walkway’ by .

‘’ by Darren Puttock via .

‘’ by Andrea Schaffer via .

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In 2015, Stefanía Ramírez Gutíerrez and Magdala Mora Fuentes travelled to New Zealand from Colombia to study at member schools and blog about their experience as part of an ���Ͻ��� and Education New Zealand initiative. The Colombian pair, unknown to each other at that time, have formed a lifelong friendship as a result of their time in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Recently meeting up in Bogota, Stefanía and Magdala reminisced about their time down under and shared the following helpful insights with us, so we can share them with you!

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Preparing to study English in New Zealand

When getting ready to study English in New Zealand, it’s okay to feel nervous. Magdala and Stefanía were both nervous and excited during the build up to their trip to New Zealand back in 2015.

Stefanía was super excited — “As a Latina having the opportunity to cross the world to visit one of the most unknown countries in my region was a tremendous opportunity.”

But also, a little nervous — “I was worried about not being able to communicate or being welcomed but New Zealand people showed me the best part of humanity, and after that, I decided to live abroad.”

Magdala said “I was stunned by the opportunity to travel overseas and be in a terrific country but also trying to answer questions to myself, like: Is it really safe? Will I like the country? How will I feel there? Will I make really good friends? and so on.

“Then, I realized that my English program was the perfect excuse to start a great journey to develop myself in a personal and professional way and learn to worry less about the future.”

However, her mother was doing enough worrying for both of them. Magdala explained, “She was thinking about all the things regarding distance, relations, experiences, family, insurance, Christmas, you know… all the normal mom’s concerns.”

Magdala enjoyed her trip so much that her mother’s worries were quickly put at ease. “I was so totally astonished by the trip itself that my mom felt it and was happy as well after all.”

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Settling into a host family situation

When students study with an ���Ͻ��� member school, they usually stay with a host family so they can enjoy a total immersion English language experience. Both girls said that communication was key to settling into the living arrangement and making the most of living with a Kiwi family.

Stefanía said, “Be open and try to go with a positive attitude is important to have the best part of that experience. Settle boundaries and specify any fact that for you will make the experience more authentic and pleasant.”

Magdala’s advice to students going into host family accommodation was to “think that we are the foreigners, not them. It’s easy to think that they should be adapted around us, but it’s the opposite. Being in a host family is probably one of the most exciting parts of the experience because it’s the best way to start living the real Kiwi life. So be open-minded and appreciate all the similarities but also the differences.”

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Making the most of studying in an English-speaking country

One of the advantages of studying English in Aotearoa with an ���Ͻ��� member school is the full immersion experience, with English used as the medium of instruction. This can be daunting for newcomers, so the girls have some helpful advice.

Magdala said, “It’s totally okay to fail — everybody started to like us, making some mistakes. So, try to put aside the bias against being immersed in hard situations and conversations because it’s the only way to receive feedback and start feeling confident.

“And of course, make many friends from your country but try to avoid speaking in your native language! This is crucial, trust me.”

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Stefanía added, “Make it your priority, let go of any self-doubt and enjoy the fact that if you are already able to have the experience it is because you are ready to have the best of it. Speak, speak, speak as much you can. Don’t be shy!

“Listen to music and attend all the happy hours, conversations, and clubs. Accept someone else’s help when it comes because it is the best way to improve outside of the classroom.”

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What’s it like living in New Zealand as an English language student?

For a small country, New Zealand has a lot to experience while studying English at an ���Ͻ��� member school. Stefanía stressed the importance of prioritising your studies, but also making the most of opportunities outside the classroom mentioning “The good news is that New Zealand has so much to offer, you can travel and get to know people during the weekends or after school.”

Magdala praised the full immersion aspect of her study location and the role that all her experiences outside of the classroom played in her learning English. “Learning a new language is just the result of living the experience at all times,��meeting new friends, travelling around, learning about cultures, eating delicious food… So, enjoy every little moment, because life at the end is full of those little and important moments.”

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What to do and see while studying English in New Zealand

When it comes to activities and experiences available to you when studying English in New Zealand, the possibilities are endless, and it can be hard to choose.

Stefanía explored Māori culture and our young country’s history during her time in Aotearoa, New Zealand. “I was amazed when visiting Rotorua and I had the opportunity to see traditional Māori wood carving.

“New Zealand is not just a place to improve your English but also to have the opportunity to open your mind to different ways and recognize biodiversity and find sustainable ways of consuming and caring for the environment”.

Magdala thinks the variety of things to see and do in New Zealand is amazing. She says, “You can find everything there! You can find museums, international gastronomy, lakes, mountains, beaches… in just one place. In my personal case, one of my hobbies is hiking so New Zealand was a paradise full of mountains and nature everywhere.”

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Favourite memories from learning English in New Zealand

Talking to Stefanía and Magdala about their time in New Zealand, it’s clear they had so many amazing experiences while they were here. We asked them to share just a couple…

Magdala said her Kiwi Christmas stood out. “In Christchurch I stayed with an incredible host family during Christmas, and we spent a couple of days in a house on top of the mountains — I still remember that landscape perfectly.”

It sounds like Stefanía’s time down under has had an impact on the way she’s lived her life ever since her visit. “Being in classes allowed me to discover new sides of my personality I did not know. I can say that most of the classes were fun, and I got to practise my English.

“As a personal anecdote, I can say that the experience in New Zealand helped me to improve not only my English but also to better guide my life project. After NZ I promised myself to travel more and learn more languages. Now I live in Africa as a Spanish teacher, and I am learning French.”

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A message for students thinking about studying English in New Zealand

A message from Stefanía: “Go and let yourself discover a new version of yourself. Improving your English will give you more opportunities all around the globe.”

A message from Magdala: “Taking an English program is a perfect excuse to keep learning about life, about New Zealand, and about yourself.

“You can take English lessons online, in your own country but just when you can realise that the opportunities, friends, travels are outside that comfort zone, you can consider yourself as a global citizen and New Zealand is a paradise to make it real.

“So, enjoy every single moment because learning English is the result of living the experience.”��

We also recommend that all students keep a blog or journal of their experience – in English – to help them develop their skills and to give them a written record of their experiences, which they can look back on for years to come.

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Contact Us

If Magdala and Stefanía’s words have inspired you, please get in contact to learn more about studying English in New Zealand.

And if you can’t wait for our border to open, check out our member schools offering online English language courses.

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Known as Pleiades in other parts of the world, the reappearance of the Matariki constellation represents the end of the Māori lunar year and marks the beginning of a new year.

Therefore, Matariki is forever linked with the Māori New Year and is a time of celebration and ceremony in Aotearoa New Zealand.

When is Matariki?

The exact calendar date of Matariki varies each year because it is based on lunar cycles, and different iwi (Māori tribes) begin their Matariki festivities at different times. Normally the Matariki cluster is visible in Aotearoa skies in June or July.

In yesteryear it was celebrated following the harvesting of crops, when food stores — or pātaka — were full.

In 2021, Matariki rose in the morning skies on 2 July, and so began a month of celebration.

How is Matariki recognised in New Zealand?

Historically, Matariki was celebrated with festivities like the making of offerings to the Māori gods, lighting of ritual fires and various celebrations to honour Māori ancestors, farewell the dead, and celebrate life.

In times before technological advances in meteorology, tohunga (experts) would inspect the Matariki star cluster to help predict how fruitful the new year’s harvest would be. Bright and clear stars signalled a warm and plentiful season, while hazy stars warned of approaching cold weather and lacklustre crops.

While our weather predictions have moved on, to this day Matariki stands for a time of transition, allowing families to mourn and honour their loved ones who have passed away in the year just been. The deceased are believed to have transformed into stars which now shine down from the night sky.

How is Matariki officially celebrated in New Zealand?

Large scale, public Matariki celebrations all but stopped in the 1940s and weren’t revived again until the year 2000. Their return was marked with a Hawke’s Bay Matariki festival which attracted 500 people in its first year (2000), then attracted 15,000 just three years later!

During these Matariki celebrations, tangata whenua (people of the land), and an increasing number of non-Māori kiwis, gather to celebrate Māori culture, the year that was, to plan for the future, tell stories, sing songs, share kai (food), and play music.

���Ͻ��� member schools and students acknowledge Matariki in a range of ways in and out of the classroom.

How can I celebrate Matariki from another country?

If you’re not in New Zealand when Matariki is visible from here, you won’t be able to see it, but that shouldn’t prevent you from recognising and celebrating the Māori New Year in your own way.

You could meet with some friends and take part in some of the activities mentioned above. You could even try cooking your own Hāngi, a traditional Māori meal cooked underground by heated rocks. See our blog about foods and drinks popular in Aotearoa to learn more.

Other ways to celebrate Matariki and learn more about Māori culture include , or — you may have seen the All Blacks do a haka before their rugby games.

Matariki is becoming a national holiday in 2022!

From 2022, Matariki will become a national public holiday in Aotearoa, New Zealand. In 2022 it will be recognised on Friday 24 June, and an advisory group has been created to help decide on the dates for the public holiday in future years, as it will shift each year.

Get in touch to learn more

Drop us a line to learn more about Matariki, Māori culture in general, and learning English with an ���Ͻ��� member school.

We have been impacted by COVID-19, but remember, we do have a number of member schools who provide online English language courses for international students.

Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori!

Image: ‘.’ By Ian Welch via .

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