What does hosting involve?

Hosting involves providing a safe, clean, and comfortable furnished bedroom, offering full board (three meals a day), and welcoming the student into your everyday family life.

Who can become a host family?

Families, couples, retirees, and single adults are all welcome to apply. A spare, furnished bedroom with a study desk and chair is required. All household members aged 18 and over must complete a police vetting check.

What are the benefits?

At Kia Ora Homestay, our host families are paid weekly. The payment amount depends on the student's age and the length of their stay. You'll receive full payment details before deciding whether to accept a placement. Payments are designed to fairly cover food, household expenses, and the time and care involved in hosting.

Who are the students?

Our students are international learners studying at high schools, universities, and language schools. We offer both short-term and long-term homestay placements, with every student carefully matched to a suitable host family.

Host Families | Kia Ora Homestay

Host Families

Share Your Home. Make a Difference.

At Kia Ora Homestay, our host families are at the heart of everything we do.

By opening your home to an international student, you'll provide much more than accommodation, you'll offer a safe place to live, a sense of belonging, and an authentic Kiwi experience.

Hosting is an opportunity to learn about another culture, build lifelong friendships, and help a young person feel at home while studying in New Zealand.

Whether you've hosted before or are considering it for the first time, we'll support you every step of the way.

Apply to Become a Host Family

What Makes a Great Host Family?

We carefully select caring Kiwi households that are committed to providing a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for international students.

Our host families:

Welcome students as temporary members of the family
Enjoy learning about different cultures
Provide a stable and respectful home environment
Support students as they adjust to life in New Zealand
Help students build confidence and independence

Every family is different, and we celebrate the diversity of homes that make up our Kia Ora Homestay community.

What You'll Provide

As an approved Kia Ora Homestay host family, you'll provide:

A private or shared furnished bedroom with a dedicated study space
Nutritious meals (full board unless otherwise arranged)
A clean, safe, and comfortable home
Age-appropriate supervision for students under 18
Inclusion in everyday family life, helping students feel welcomed and connected

Ongoing Support

You're never on your own.

At Kia Ora Homestay, we maintain regular contact with both students and host families throughout each placement. We're here to answer questions, provide guidance, and help resolve any concerns promptly.

Our goal is to ensure every homestay is a positive and rewarding experience for both students and host families.

The Hosting Journey

Apply

Application Review

Home Visit & Inspection

Complete your Host Family Application and submit the required documents, police vetting forms, identification, and photos.

Our team will review your application to ensure we have everything we need before moving to the next stage.

We'll arrange a visit to meet your household, complete the home inspection, answer your questions, and ensure your home meets our homestay standards.

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Approval

Student Matching

Welcome Your Student

Once approved, you'll become part of the Kia Ora Homestay host family community.

We'll carefully match you with a student whose needs and interests are a great fit for your family. We'll continue to provide support throughout the student's stay.

We'll support both you and your student before arrival and throughout the placement, ensuring everyone feels confident and supported.

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Why Families Love Hosting

Hosting offers more than financial support, it creates meaningful experiences for the whole family.

Many of our host families enjoy:

Learning about new cultures
Sharing New Zealand traditions and everyday life
Building lifelong friendships around the world
Seeing students grow in confidence and independence
Making a genuine difference in a young person's life

Frequently asked questions

Host Families

Ready to Become a Host Family?

If you have a welcoming home and would like to make a positive impact on the life of an international student, we'd love to hear from you.