Homestay Payments

Homestay Payment

We pay a weekly stipend to cover the costs involved with caring for a student. In 2026 the payment is $370 per week per student. There is an additional supplement for students who have additional dietary needs to cover their specialised food items such as vegetarian or celiac.

We also pay an airport transport allowance of $100 if your student needs you to drive them to or from the airport for their travel. This is processed separately to the homestay payments and paid in arrears. It also only covers transport for the student’s essential air travel (such as return flights or tours). 

The pricing is set well in advance. The College is unable to make adjustments to fees once invoices have been issued, however, fees and payments are reviewed on a yearly basis. If you believe the school has incorrectly paid you, please contact the homestay coordinator.

Payment Processing

Homestay fees for the year are lodged with the school and distributed to the homestay provider weekly, calculated on a per-night basis. Payments are processed on Wednesdays and are paid into the host family’s account weekly on a Thursday.

The payment period covers from the previous Monday through to the coming Sunday inclusive, so that part is paid in arrears and part is paid in advance. Payment re-allocations due to temporary placements or moves are processed through the usual processing, however some changes that occur after processing might need separate adjustments. 

Airport transfer reimbursements are processed separately and in arrears, so depending on the timing, this may take up to two weeks after the travel for the funds to be paid into your account.  

What does the payment cover?

The stipend is provided to cover the typical household costs that come with having another student, such as food, board, utilities, and day-to-day transport in your car. Beyond the essentials, the payment is also for you to provide some additional experiences for your student to enrich their stay in New Zealand. This includes taking your student on outings, such as going out to dinner, the movies, going to a football game, paying entry fees at Nga Manu, or taking them on a road trip.

Expecting students to pay for themselves on a family outing or excluding students from family outings to save money is not acceptable. They should be treated like part of your family while in your care. 

The homestay payment is not intended to cover the student’s additional discretionary expenses and you are not required to provide pocket money. The cost of clothing, the purchase of additional snack food, gifts, personal possessions, or toiletries, or outings with their friends is the responsibility of the student. School expenses, such as books, subscriptions, uniform and excursions are paid by the student. Medical care is also at the student's expense. 

Please note that essentials like sunscreen, toilet paper, washing powder, and basic soaps should be made freely available as these are health and wellbeing needs, not discretionary items.

A general rule of thumb is: if you take the family plus your international student on an outing, you pay. If the student goes on an outing with friends, s/he pays.

Student Finances

Do not pry into the student’s personal finances unless you have reason for concern. If you are worried the student has difficulty managing their money, or if you are worried they don’t have suffiecint funds please contact the homestay co-ordinator. 

Never ask the student to give you a loan or an advance or arrange private payments without the prior agreement of the International Department. 

Payment Changes

Temporary placements

If your student needs to be placed with another homestay because you are away or otherwise unavailable, payment will be redirected to the temporary homestay for the nights they are in their care. 

Temporary absences 

If the student is away from their usual homestay for a sleepover, tour, or holiday during the school year, payments to the usual homestay will continue for up to 20 days. After 20 days absence during the school year, the daily rate is reduced by 50%. 

Homestay payments are not paid when a student goes home during the December/January summer holidays even if the student is returning the following year. The homestay family may ask the student to pack up their gear or store it at college so that the room is available for other guests during this period.

Homestays are not paid additional funds for hosting sleepovers or if they have invited a student as a guest - the payment continues to the student's usual homestay.

Permanent Homestay Changes

The homestay payments are processed weekly and the International Department will reallocate payments when a student placement changes.

Notice periods

Where homestay changes are made:

• Two weeks’ notice is usually given in the case of a routine homestay change on the request of the student, for example, if the student asks to move nearer to friends, or school, or if there are minor lifestyle incompatiblity.
  In some cases, on request of the student and in agreement with their parents, a two week payment will be made in lieu of notice. This means the student may move immediately, but you will receive a payment for two weeks after they leave. 

• One week’s notice may be given in circumstances where there are unforeseen circumstances that make a change necessary, such as an environmental allergy or having to return to their home country at short notice, or where there are more significant lifestyle clashes that create duress for the student.
  In some cases, on request of the student and agreement with their parents, a one week payment will be made in lieu of notice. This means the student may move immediately, but you will receive a payment for one week after they leave.

• In circumstances where there is a risk of physical or emotional harm, the College will remove the student immediately with no notice and no payment in lieu. In these cases further action may be taken. 

• If the student is moving at the request of the homestay, payments will continue until they leave your care. No payments will be made after they have left your care.
  
  

• In circumstances where the student has caused physical damage or their behaviour creates a risk of physical or emotional harm to members of the household, the College will remove the student immediately and two weeks’ payment will be made in lieu of notice. Further action may be taken. 

 Damage and reimbursements

If a student causes damage to your property or possessions, please contact the International Department. There are a few ways we can help. 

For minor issues we may be able to support a reimbursement from the student’s incidental account. For other damage we may be able to request a reimbursement through the student’s agent, or support an insurance claim. 

You will need to provide evidence of the damage and itemised like-for-like replacement / repair costs.