Some international students face academic issues in New Zealand. For example, the style of teaching and learning and the assessments can be different from country to country. Overseas studies can also be challenging – especially at the start – as international students study in a foreign language and have to navigate everyday life in a new culture with unfamiliar norms. 

Resources

We discuss different teaching and learning styles in detail in another project: “Understand the NZ education system”. There, we also address concerns such as plagiarism, language shock, grades, working towards high school graduation, and technology in education. 

The project “Understand New Zealand Student Services” details how international students can find support when dealing with learning difficulties. The project also explains how you, the agents, can help your students find and access the most suitable services.

NauMai NZ provides comprehensive information and advice for students regarding: 

• Assessments in New Zealand: NauMai NZ – Assessments and plagiarism
• Overcoming language problems: NauMai NZ – Improve English language skills
• Different approaches to education: NauMai NZ – New Zealand teaching and learning styles.

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International students involved in an accident will receive financial support from ACC, the Accident Compensation Corporation. ACC covers injuries that happen in New Zealand, even for tourists. However, ACC does not provide cover for illness, property loss or disrupted air travel. In particular, international students are required to have (and pay for) adequate medical insurance for the entirety of their stay in New Zealand.

Resources

To learn more about:

• ACC in general, see: ACC. 
• What support ACC provides, see: After an injury, we're here for you.

NauMai NZ also provides information for students about:

Medical insurance and ACC: NauMai NZ – Paying for healthcare.

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International students can choose different types of housing while living in New Zealand. They can choose to live in a:

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Many students in New Zealand rent a whole house together with several flatmates.

Whatever type of accommodation students choose, they should know that each type of housing comes with rights as well as responsibilities. For example, if an accommodation is damp and mouldy, students should check whether they are taking appropriate measures to keep the room(s) dry and aired. However, if students are doing everything that can be reasonably expected to create a healthy environment in their accommodation, landlords must take steps to fix the problem. If a landlord refuses to provide healthy living conditions, students can take legal action. They can seek help from their education provider, for example by talking to the student advocacy service at tertiary institutions, and they can seek help from the government’s Tenancy Services and the Tenancy Tribunal. 

Resources

NauMai NZ provides comprehensive information about different housing options and about renting and flatting in New Zealand: 

• NauMai NZ – Types of housing
• NauMai NZ – Finding a flat in New Zealand
• NauMai NZ – Know your flatting rights. 

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The NZ government’s Tenancy Services have answers to legal questions around renting, flatting, boarding, and more:

• Tenancy Services – New to renting
• Tenancy Services – Flatting
• Tenancy Services – Boarding.

Advice for specific legal issues can also be found on the website of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). Use the search function to enter keywords. See: I am flatting with other people and they are kicking me out. Can they do this?

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Many New Zealanders drink alcohol when going out and socialising. A currently popular trend: Drinking craft beer produced by small, local breweries. Alcoholic drinks are also often offered at official events at tertiary institutions. 

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“When I first arrived in New Zealand, new international PhD students were greeted at a formal reception. I was surprised to see that beer and wine was served at this university function. However, there were also plenty of alternatives like soft drinks, water, and orange juice.”
Anik, PhD student from Indonesia

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International students should be aware that the legal drinking age in New Zealand is 18 years and older. Underage school students might face serious consequences when caught consuming alcohol. Students over 18 can get in serious trouble if they provide alcohol to young people under 18. iStudent Complaint reports the case of an 18-year-old international high school student who consumed alcohol on a school trip. In a drunken state, he provided alcohol to underage students and attempted to kiss others without consent. The consequence was that the student was suspended and sent home. Read more about this case: iStudent Complaint – Alcohol leads to high school student’s bad behaviour.

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International students should know that they should never feel coerced  into drinking alcohol. If students feel pressured by friends to drink alcohol, they should think about finding new friends rather than changing their drinking habits.

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Resources

NauMai NZ provides comprehensive information about drinking alcohol in New Zealand: NauMai NZ – Alcohol laws and drinking responsibly. 

To learn more about staying safe while drinking alcohol and what to do when alcohol has become a problem, please see the section on “Safety”.

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Bullying and cyberbullying are a reality in New Zealand schools (Ministry of Education) and can also happen in tertiary contexts and at workplaces. Being bullied can lead to depression, anxiety, isolation, and academic problems. 

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To understand what is – and what isn’t – bullying, please see: 

• Bullying at schools (and other institutions): Bullying-free NZ – What is bullying? 
• Workplace bullying: Employment NZ – What is workplace bullying?
• Online bullying (cyberbullying): Netsafe – What is online bullying? 

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If students feel that they are being bullied, they should not wait but seek support immediately. Bullying is a serious offence – whether at school, at tertiary institutions, or in the workplace – and should be stopped quickly to avoid long-lasting damage for the victims. All education providers in New Zealand offer information and support for students affected by bullying, frequently on their websites. 

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Engaging in bullying behaviour can have serious consequences for international students, including the termination of their placement. Some of the resources below – marked with * – include information for caregivers on how to help students stop being a bully.

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Resources

International students who feel that they are being bullying can find information and access to community support services here:

• Information and support for students: Bullying-free NZ – students. 
• Information about school students’ rights around bullying, how to report bullying, how schools should respond, and more: Student Rights – Bullying in schools.
• Information and links to support services for parents, caregivers, and also agents: Ministry of Education – Bullying*. 
• Contact details for support services and helplines for young people: NZ Police – No bully website. 
• NauMai NZ provides advice on bullying in its resource on workplace problems: NauMai NZ – What to do if there is a problem at work.
• The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) offers answers to a range of questions around school and workplace bullying. Please use the search function at: Citizens Advice Bureau.
• Community Law provides contact addresses and legal assistance for victims of bullying: Where to go for more support.

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Authorised civil defence services in New Zealand can reach capable mobile phones in New Zealand and send automated text and voice messages alerting the owner to an emergency. These alerts target areas affected by serious hazards, such as earthquakes, floods, or volcanic activity. They will only be sent when there is a serious threat to life, health or property, and, occasionally, for test purposes. 

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International students might be unaware that such alerts exist. They might be frightened by test alerts – especially because phone owners do not actively sign up to this service but are automatically reached via targeted cell towers. 

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Resources

To learn more about civil defence alerts, see: Get Ready – emergency mobile alert.

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International students face a number of challenges that help them grow and become more mature, rounded individuals – but these challenges can also put some students at greater risk of depression, anxiety, and a sense of prolonged loneliness. These challenges include: 

• Being far away from family and friends and other communities in the home country
• Navigating everyday life in a new culture and foreign language
• Studying in a foreign language and in a different academic culture with different teaching and learning styles and assessments
• Building a new network of friends in a culture with different cultural norms, and more.

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International students should be proactive and seek help if they notice that their mental health is negatively affected by these challenges. They might notice that: 

• They feel sad a lot of the time
• They feel isolated or they no longer want to meet friends
• They have problems sleeping
• They have developed problematic behaviours around alcohol, food, risk-taking, gambling, or drugs
• They display other signs of stress and depression.

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With help, these problems can be overcome. Often, even small changes can result in big improvements very quickly. Please see our topic “Understand New Zealand student services” to read about real students who solved their problems effectively with the help of friends, support staff, institutional and community services. The project also provides a wealth of resources and contact details for services and helplines.

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Education providers in New Zealand have a duty of care. They should and usually will support students’ mental wellbeing. However, if students refuse help, and if an education provider can no longer trust that the student or people around the student are safe from harm, the student’s enrollment can be terminated. iStudent Complaint reports the case of a tertiary student at a Private Training Establishment (PTE) who experienced serious mental health concerns and acted in a threatening manner towards staff and students. The student in question rejected repeated offers of mental health support and continued the problematic behaviour, and the PTE eventually terminated the student’s placement: iStudent Complaint – Student enrolment terminated.

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Resources

NauMai NZ provides help and advice for students for mental health challenges: NauMai NZ – Feeling lonely, homesick, or depressed.

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Even though New Zealand is a friendly and welcoming country, discrimination can still happen. Discrimination can happen because of someone’s gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, and more. Discrimination is taken seriously in New Zealand, for example, committing acts of racism can result in prison sentences and large financial fines (Netsafe). 

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If students feel that they have been discriminated against, they can make a complaint with the police or the Human Rights Commission. If their mental health is affected by the experience, students should seek help at their international office, from a doctor, counsellor, or one of the free community services and helplines available in New Zealand.

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Resources

• Immigration New Zealand (INZ) explains what discrimination is and what to do about it (including making a complaint to the Human Rights Commission): INZ – Your human rights.
• Belong Aotearoa focuses on racism and provides information and contact details for support services: Belong Aotearoa – Anti-racism resources.
• Netsafe offers information and support (including a helpline) for students experiencing discrimination online, including race-based abuse: Netsafe – Get help for race-based online abuse.
• Community Law provides an online manual with a chapter on different forms of discrimination and how to deal with them: Community Law – Discrimination.

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Driving in New Zealand is discussed in the sections “Transport”and “Safety” below.

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It is illegal in New Zealand to take prescription drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor. Illegal drugs, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and others, are, as the name suggests, illegal. Their use and distribution can result in serious legal trouble, including high fines and prison sentences. Even cannabis, which is legal in many other countries, is presently an illegal drug in New Zealand. If students are caught with cannabis, they can be fined NZ$500 for possession.

iStudent Complaint reports a case of a high school student smoking cannabis. The student was suspended and her placement at the school eventually terminated: iStudent Complaint – Caught with cannabis.

Medicine

International students entering New Zealand and bringing prescription drugs must (NZ Customs Service):

• Have a prescription or letter from their doctor
• Carry the drugs in their original containers
• Only carry up to three months’ supply of prescription medicines, or only carry one month’s supply of controlled drugs.

International students struggling with legal drugs (cigarettes, vaping, alcohol etc.) or illegal drugs should seek help from a health service or counselling service. The project “Understand New Zealand Student Services” details how international students can find support when dealing with addiction. 

Resources

The Ministry of Health provides information about carrying prescription medicine when entering the country: Bringing medicine into New Zealand.

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NauMai NZ advises on the legal side of drug possession and use: Nau Mai NZ – New Zealand drug laws.

Students seeking advice or help for problems with drugs while in New Zealand can find resources and helpful contacts on the website of Health Navigators NZ: Health Navigator – Alcohol and other drugs – support services.

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New Zealand experiences earthquakes frequently. Most are barely or not noticeable at all, but there is always the risk of a larger event. International students should take this risk seriously and get prepared. They should:

• Participate in earthquake practices at their institutions and take these seriously.
• Listen to and follow instructions during and after an earthquake.
• Have an earthquake kit ready at home and, if applicable, at their office or workplace.
• Have a plan of who to contact and where to meet up in case of a large event.
• Consider notifying their consular service of their presence in New Zealand, in case they require support or evacuation after a major earthquake.

Tsunami

Earthquakes, even those happening far away from New Zealand, can result in tsunamis reaching coastal regions in Aotearoa. International students living near the coast should learn what to do in case of a tsunami. They should follow protocol when being alerted by the emergency mobile alert or by tsunami sirens along the coast. They should move to designated safe zones, which are often marked on the roads.

Please see also the section “Civil defence alerts” in this topic.

Resources

The New Zealand government provides the Get Ready website with information on what to include in an earthquake kit at home, how to make an emergency plan, how to behave during an earthquake, and more: Get Ready – earthquakes. 

Get Ready also provides information on what to do when other disasters strike – for example a flood, a storm, or a landslide: Get Ready – How to get ready. When a student or a family member has a disability, see: Get Through – People with disabilities or special requirements.

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New Zealand is a country that values equality, including gender equality and an accepting attitude of different sexual orientations. While there is still practical gender inequality in New Zealand, for example in form of a gender pay gap, women and men are equal before the law and have the right to non-discrimination in legal matters. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013. Same-sex migrant couples can immigrate to New Zealand and can support a same-sex partner’s visa application.  

International students who identify as LGBTQIA+ need to know that they are welcome and safe. What is not welcome in New Zealand is an openly negative and discriminatory attitude towards people of a different gender or sexual orientation.

Many education providers offer support to rainbow students. Please see our project “Understand New Zealand Student Services” for further information. Please refer back to our section on “Discrimination” above.

“My PhD supervisor is a woman married to a woman. That was a new concept for me, as this is illegal in my country. She is the best supervisor, and I am happy that I have been able to learn from her not only about academic and research matters but also about tolerance.”
PhD student from Pakistan

Resources

NauMai NZ provides information for LGBTQIA+ students: NauMai NZ – Being LGBTQIA+ in New Zealand.

Health Navigator NZ provides contact details for different community services supporting rainbow students: Health Navigator – LGBTQI support.

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Some international students might face financial challenges. Possible reasons are that some are not used to handling their own finances (yet). Others find it difficult to deal with the costs of overseas study, living, and travel.

Agents might want to advise students on the following points:

Living costs in New Zealand

New Zealand is a remote island nation and consequently has fairly high living costs compared to many other countries. International students should be prepared for comparatively high costs when it comes to rent, food, public transport, and more. 

Students should never lend money to other students

International students should never lend large amounts of money to other students. One recurrent scenario is that international students must provide evidence of funds to be granted a student visa. They have to prove to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) that they have a certain amount of money available to pay for their studies and their living expenses. Some students resort to lending each other money to show that they have the required funds in their bank account. This is not only fraudulent, it has also repeatedly led to theft as some students simply kept the money they borrowed from their friends. Since students rarely have a legally-binding contract and since they have nowhere to go to complain about their fraudulent transactions, the “giver” typically ends up losing the money without any legal recourse. 

Students should never share their passwords

Some international students feel overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life and academic study. As a consequence, some become overly trusting of people pretending to be their friends, especially people from the same country. One thing to remember is that students should never share their passwords to any vital services and devices, including their bank account, their phone, and their laptop. Students should remember that a person who pressures them to share their password is not their friend. A real friend offers support without asking for access. There are many resources and services available at education institutions and in the community for students struggling with managing their finances.

Resources

• NauMai NZ provides advice on financial matters in New Zealand:

• Information on tax rates, tipping, and exchange rates: NauMai NZ – Money in New Zealand.
• Information about how to manage your money, including links to free tools and support services: NauMai NZ – Managing your money. 

The NZ Retirement Commission/Te Ara Ahunga Ora, a government-funded, independent agency, offers financial advice and tools through their programme Sorted, including a budget planner: Sorted – How to start a budget.

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Some international students struggle with making friends in New Zealand and are disappointed that New Zealanders don’t approach them and make friends with them. Some find themselves having mostly or only friends from the same country. Our three top tips for students to have a happy social life and a good overseas experience are:

1. Be proactive! Don’t wait for others to come to you – go to them! Maybe you think: ‘I am too shy to ask other students if I could sit with them or join their study group.’ But remember: if you feel too shy, chances are that other students feel shy too!
2. Don’t stay in a cultural bubble! While there is nothing wrong with having friends from the same country, try also to make friends with New Zealanders and international students from other countries. You are in New Zealand to experience the Kiwi culture after all. You probably also want to learn about other cultures and have a truly international experience.
3. Join a club or association! Participate in events at your institution! Join a leadership programme or volunteer in the community! These are all great ways to meet new people and make friends.

Resources

NauMai NZ provides advice and resources on how to:

• Make friends: Nau Mai NZ – Make friends in New Zealand
• Make new friends: Nau Mai NZ – Make new friends in New Zealand.

On the website Study with New Zealand, international students explain how they have found friends, for example Malaysian undergraduate student Syairah Zahari: Make new friends in New Zealand now.

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There has been an increase in gambling observed among international students in New Zealand. Some cultures are at greater risk of developing problematic gambling habits and a gambling addiction, for example, when the idea of “saving face” is of great importance. International students face other risk factors such as having limited English-language abilities, being separated from family, being in an unfamiliar environment, and more. The New Zealand Herald reports the case of a young man who lost NZ$2 million within 18 months: He came to New Zealand for a better life.

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Some cultures more than others emphasise saving face, that is, the need to keep one's good reputation and other people's respect.

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Resources

Agents should warn students of the dangers of gambling. If you observe problematic behaviours, you can direct students to their insitution’s counselling service or the following resources and community services:

• NauMai NZ provides information and contact details for free support services: Nau Mai NZ – Managing your money. 
• Health Navigator NZ provides information, resources in several languages, self-access tests to see if one’s gambling is OK or not, and contact details for free support services: Health Navigator – Gambling overview.
• Asian Family Services offer help to Asian students specifically for gambling-related problems: Asian Family Services. Included is a free helpline at 0800 862 342, Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm.
• The Problem Gambling Foundation offers free support via phone, online chat, text, or email: Problem Gambling Foundation.
• The Health Promotion Agency/Te Hiringa Hauora offers information, free helplines, and more at: Safer gambling Aotearoa. Included are the Gambling Pasifika Helpline (0800 654 657) specifically for Pasifika students.
• Salvation Army Oasis offers free support for gambling-related problems for people of all genders, cultures, and religions: Oasis – Reducing gambling harm.

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For information about homesickness, please refer back to the earlier section “Depression, anxiety, and loneliness”.

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International students need to be aware that healthcare is not free for them in New Zealand. Instead, international students are required to pay for adequate medical insurance. If they are being treated by a doctor, counsellor, or physiotherapist at or through their education provider, they will have to state their insurance number. If they seek treatment through an external provider, they will have to pay themselves and make an insurance claim later. 

Students are advised to keep all receipts. Students can seek help for insurance claims at the international office of their education provider.  Alert students to the fact that they must get informed about what is and what isn’t covered by their insurance; for instance, dentists are often not included in the students’ medical insurance.

If international students get injured in an accident in New Zealand, they are covered by a national accident compensation scheme called ACC. Please see the section “Accidents” for more information.

Resources

NauMai NZ provides more detailed information on healthcare, medical insurance, and ACC: Nau Mai NZ – Paying for healthcare.

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To learn more about LGBTQIA+ concerns, please see the section “Equality” above.

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To access information about racism, see the section “Discrimination” above

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Many international students are spending a year or more in New Zealand and might be interested in a romantic relationship. However, they should understand how dating and relationships work in New Zealand before looking for a romantic partner or a sexual encounter. As NauMai NZ points out, “the unspoken rules of dating in a new country can take a while to understand. For example, it can be hard to know whether someone is looking for a friend, a boyfriend or girlfriend, or casual sex.”

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International students must learn about consent in New Zealand

One thing all international students should be aware of is that showing romantic interest in another person does not mean that they must have sex with that person. Kissing doesn’t mean that someone has also agreed to having sex. Having sex with someone once doesn’t mean that they can now no longer say ‘no’ to further sexual encounters. Nobody should be pressured into doing something that they don’t really want to do. As the New Zealand folk band Flight of the Conchords puts it: “A kiss is not a contract” (FOTC). 

International students should be informed about the idea of consent before starting to date in New Zealand, so that they can keep themselves and others safe. Consent means that someone willingly engages in a sexual act. To be certain that someone actually consented to sex, students should ask for an active ‘yes’. Silence doesn’t mean that the other person agrees. The need to have consent also means that the other person must be able to consent; having sex with a severely drunk or an unconscious person is not consensual and might be sexual assault or rape. Consent can only be given by a person 16 years of age or older. In New Zealand, a person over 16 may not have sex with a person younger than 16.

Resources

• NauMai NZ provides advice on dating and sex as well as sexual health, contraception, and more:

• NauMai NZ – Dating, relationships, and sex in New Zealand
• NauMai NZ – Sexual healthcare in New Zealand.

• The NZ police provides information about consent and sexual assault, including the very helpful YouTube video on “tea and consent”: Understanding sexual assault and consent.

Health Navigator NZ also provides information about consent and contact details for victims of sexual assault: Health Navigators – Consent.

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New Zealand is a very safe country. Many visitors notice that:

• New Zealanders tend to be friendly and helpful also to strangers. 
• Crime rates are low.
• Roads are generally in very good condition, travelling around the country in a campervan is popular, and most drivers follow the road code.
• Outdoor tourism is well-established, and even remote areas in the mountains are easily accessible to travellers. 
• There are many opportunities for outdoor swimming and water sports, as there are many rivers and as there is no location in New Zealand more than 130 km away from the ocean.

This very positive impression can give international students the false idea that there is no need for caution in cities, towns, and the outdoors. However, students should still take reasonable measures to keep themselves and their possessions safe. 

It is important that students know and save important emergency numbers on their phone, for example for NZ emergency services (111 for fire, ambulance, and police), campus care/security, the homestay coordinator etc. Students should also ask a person who they trust and who is located in New Zealand to be their emergency contact.

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“I didn’t grow up hiking or camping, but here in New Zealand I started doing a lot of that. I am aware that I am a bit naive regarding the risks involved in going out into nature. I always have to think of the tragic story of a young German tourist who was swept away by knee-high water while crossing a flooded creek. Knee-high – that makes me think of a bathtub, not a life-threatening risk. So, I need to remind myself that I don't necessarily have good judgement and that I should be cautious and get well-informed before every trip.”
Fabian, MA student from Germany

The New Zealand Police has identified five areas where students need to be cautious. Please click on each area to see five top safety tips that your students should follow.

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Resources

The New Zealand Police provides a web page with very helpful safety information for all five areas mentioned above: Visitors to New Zealand – safety guide. This web page is also available in German, Spanish, French, and Dutch. The police also provide a safety brochure in pdf-format with tips and important contact numbers, available in English, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, and Japanese.  

Information specifically focused on staying safe when drinking alcohol is also available: Alcohol – stay safe when going out (PDF). Students who find that their drinking is getting out of hand or who use alcohol to solve problems and feel better should seek professional help. They can talk to a doctor, nurse, or counsellor available at or through their education provider. They can also call the Alcohol Drug Helpline 24 hours a day any day on 0800 787 797, visit their website, or send a free text 8681 for confidential advice. Pasifika students can talk to Pasifika staff on 0800 787 999. 

You can give the above tips and links to your students as a pdf-document: Staying safe in New Zealand. For more information about health and mental health services available to international students in New Zealand, see our project “Understand New Zealand student services”.

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“I once walked home from university very late at night because I had been working on an important part of my PhD project. Suddenly, a taxi stopped at the side of the road and a young woman got out of the car. She sat down on the sidewalk, and the taxi drove away. I could see that she was very drunk and was about to vomit. The taxi driver must have kicked her out far away from her home so that she wouldn’t throw up in his car. She was only wearing a summer dress, and the night air was actually pretty cold. I went over to her, introduced myself, and then I sat with her until she felt better. I gave her my jacket because she was shivering. I made a bit of small talk to help her feel better, and she repeatedly threw up. At one point, a car full of young men stopped and offered their help. They said that they could drive her home. I said, no, thank you. I don’t want to imply that they had bad intentions. However, I simply don’t know. I won’t let four young men – four strangers driving home after a night of drinking and partying – take a very drunk girl away in their car. It really showed how vulnerable the young woman was. Without me, she would have been alone on a dark street with little ability to fight off strangers. Eventually, she felt better and called another taxi.”
Delphine, PhD student from France

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To get information around sex, consent, and more, see the section “Romantic relationships”above

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To get information around sex, consent, and more, see the section “Romantic relationships”above

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Smoking and vaping are legal in New Zealand only if the person is 18 years or older. Smoking is expensive; for example, the price of one packet of 20 Marlboro cigarettes in Auckland is around NZ$37. Places where smoking is allowed are limited, since all indoor workplaces are smoke-free by law. Hospitality venues like restaurants, cafés, cinemas, etc. do not allow smoking or vaping. In fact, New Zealand aims to be completely smoke-free by 2025 (Smokefree Aotearoa 2025).

Grounds and buildings of schools and tertiary institutions are also smoke- and vape-free, and smokers need to leave the premises to smoke or vape. Some tertiary institutions might offer designated smoking and/or vaping areas. 

Resources

NauMai NZ provides further information for students about smoking and vaping in New Zealand: NauMai NZ – Cigarette laws and smoking.

Students who want to stop smoking can find helpful contacts on the Smokefree website: Stop smoking services. Included is the free helpline Quitline (free call on 0800 778 778 or text 4006).

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New Zealand offers a wide range of transportation options. Within cities, many students use public transport, that is, buses, trains, and ferries. Larger cities often rely on rechargeable electronic passes for public transport, which frequently offer a reduced fare compared to paying in cash. Some cities offer reduced fares for students, but this is not always the case. International students might note that public transport is comparatively pricy in New Zealand.

For long-distance travel, long-distance buses, planes, and driving are the best options. Some students will note that there are few long-distance trains available. Flying within New Zealand is fairly easy, and even some small cities like Nelson (around 53,000 inhabitants) have an airport. The big domestic airlines are Air New Zealand and Jetstar.

Walking and cycling

Walking can be a good option to get around in many places in New Zealand, because sidewalks are a standard part of the infrastructure in cities. Cycling is becoming increasingly more popular in New Zealand, as many cities add more cycle lanes. However, students should be cautious when cycling, as many drivers are not yet fully accustomed to sharing the road with bikes. Also note: cyclists are legally obliged to wear a helmet and are advised to wear high-visibility vests. 

Driving

New Zealand has a modern network of roads. Driving to school or to tertiary institutions is an option for students. However, public parking tends to be limited, and parking options offered by education providers are typically scarce and expensive. 

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If international students intend to drive in New Zealand, they should make sure they have the proper licence, documentation, and training to do so. Please see the NauMai NZ resource on driving below, and see the section on “Safety” above for safety tips around driving in New Zealand.

Resources

NauMai NZ provides further information for students about transport options and driving in New Zealand: 

• NauMai NZ – Transport options
• NauMai NZ – Alcohol laws and driving responsibly.

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The New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi provides information on driving in New Zealand and road safety brochures in several languages: 

• Who can drive on New Zealand roads?‍
• Driving in New Zealand.

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New Zealand has a temperate climate with warmer summers and colder winters. The north of the country is warmer, while the south is colder. Overall, the climate tends to be colder than many international students expect.

Students should bring – or be prepared to buy – warm clothes for the colder seasons. When doing outdoor activities such as hiking or boating, students should get information about the correct clothes and equipment to use, and should learn about the real danger of hypothermia. Please see the section on “Safety” to learn more about staying safe outdoors. International students should also be aware that New Zealand houses are often not insulated and heated to the standard that students are used to at home. 

The New Zealand sun

The sun’s ultraviolet rays are very strong in New Zealand, and a sunburn can happen in a matter of 15 minutes in summer – and is a possibility even in winter. International students should adopt local customs and “slip, slap, slop”: slip on clothes and cover your skin. Slap on a hat and sunglasses. Slop on some sun lotion when your skin is exposed to the sun.

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“Somehow, I expected New Zealand to be warmer, so I didn’t bring any winter clothes. I was so wrong! I live in Dunedin. When autumn and winter arrived, I had to go shopping for woolly sweaters, a warm jacket, gloves, and winter boots. In the summer, the sun here is intense. I brought sun lotion from Germany – sun protection factor 15. They don’t even sell that in New Zealand! It starts at 30. A German girl at school warned me: ‘You’ll get a sunburn!’ And I did. I even got a sunburn on my head where my long hair parts. Now I know better, and I use sun lotion on most days.”
Mathilda, high school student from Germany

Resources

NauMai NZ provides further information about the New Zealand climate: NauMai NZ – Preparing for the New Zealand climate.

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The New Zealand Cancer Society offers information about how to protect yourself from the sun: Be SunSmart.

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While New Zealand has high standards when it comes to employment rights and health and safety requirements, migrants and international students in New Zealand have an increased risk of work exploitation. Problems include working:

• Without a contract
• For less than the minimum wage
• Unpaid overtime
• In unsafe conditions in a workplace that violates health and safety requirements
• In a (mentally or even physically) abusive situation.

Main reasons why international students and migrants are more vulnerable to exploitation are:

• They are unaware of employment rights in New Zealand including the minimum wage and obligatory (paid) break times
• They feel insecure in a new culture and trust the wrong people, especially when these people share the same cultural/ethnic background
• They don’t know where and how to complain if they experience exploitation
• They fear negative consequences if they make an official complaint.

It has repeatedly been observed that overseas workers in New Zealand have been exploited by employers from the same country or with the same ethnic and cultural background. Such employers exploit the trust that international students and migrants might show towards a co-national.

Tip 1

When it comes to money, students should always have a healthy dose of distrust. Work relationships are professional relationships, not friendships. Work is regulated through contracts and clear legal obligations, not through trust – even if the employer comes from the same country, city, or village.

Tip 2

The best way to avoid work exploitation is by being well informed. Please share the resources below with your students.

Tip 3

If students find that they are being exploited at work, they should seek legal advice immediately and make a complaint. 

Resources

• Immigration New Zealand provides information and advice on migrant worker exploitation, including links to support services: INZ – Migrant exploitation. 
• Employment New Zealand also advises on migrant worker exploitation, including minimum employment rights and how to make a complaint: Migrant exploitation.  
• Employment New Zealand provides free, short study modules around employment in New Zealand, including “Introduction to employment rights”, “Pay and wages”, “Hours of work”, and “Annual leave/holidays”: Employment learning modules.
• NauMai NZ provides information on… 

Working as an international student: NauMai NZ – Working on a student visa 

• Employment rights: NauMai NZ – Your rights as an employee.
• how to deal with workplace problems: NauMai NZ – What to do if there is a problem at work. 
• Salaries and taxes: NauMai NZ – Getting paid and paying tax in New Zealand.

• The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) offers answers to a range of questions around work-related issues. Please use the search function at: Citizens Advice Bureau.

“I am from India, and I am the first in my family to study overseas. I don’t have any friends from my community at home here in New Zealand. In my second semester, I started looking for part-time work, and I found a casual job at a café. The Indian owner didn’t give me any paperwork when I started. For example, I didn’t sign a contract. He paid me in cash once a week. He told me that this was normal practice in New Zealand. I didn’t dare ask any questions. I wanted to trust this person: he was from the same country, and he was an older authority figure. One day, I slipped on the wet floor at work, and I hit my head. I was in a lot of pain and suddenly couldn’t see well. I was really afraid that something was seriously wrong with my head. My boss told me that he would take me to the doctor after work, and I had to continue working. In the evening, my boss just sent me home. The next day, he still didn’t take me to the doctor, and I was still in a lot of pain. I also felt nauseous, and my vision hadn’t improved. On the third day, I talked to my teacher at the polytech and told him about my situation. The teacher explained that I didn’t have to wait for my boss to take me to the doctor. He also explained that all accidents in New Zealand, including workplace accidents, are covered by a national compensation scheme called ACC. My teacher connected me to the international office at the polytech, and they found a doctor for me. The doctor diagnosed a severe concussion. I needed to rest for two weeks. Running around like I had – going to classes and to work – increased the risk of long-term health problems like permanent headaches and impaired vision. The student advocacy service at my polytech also helped me quit my job. The careers advice centre helped me find a new part-time job, and they also showed me resources by Employment New Zealand about employment rights. I am now considering making a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, because my old boss did a lot of illegal things like letting me work without a contract, avoiding taxes, and stopping me from seeing a doctor.”
Ajay, tertiary student from India

All references included as hyperlinks in the text.