“We have a wonderful team of homestay families who look after our students. Some of our families are very experienced and they have looked after students for many years.”

Palmerston North

Palmerston North Campus is in a smaller city. Many families live close to ETC. Most students travel by bus or walk. The ETC student card gives students free bus travel around the city.

Wellington

Wellington Campus is the capital city of New Zealand and has excellent public transport. Most home-stay families live within a 12 km radius of ETC.

Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt Campus is near the centre of the city. Most students walk or travel to school by bus or train.

  • ETC will send a homestay profile to the student before they arrive

  • Students can make special requests

  • ETC pays the host family directly

  • All homestay families are vetted and approved by ETC

  • Students can request a change of homestay at any time (usually 2 weeks’ notice is required)

Home Stay

ETC has a comprehensive homestay service run by staff dedicated to making sure you are part of a great New Zealand family. We match students and families and provide ongoing support and communication between you, the family and ETC. There are a variety of families available; with young children, teenagers, older couples with grandchildren who visit, some have pets and some don’t. All our families have been selected because they want to welcome you into their home and family and make your stay in New Zealand wonderful.

Our families are Police checked for your security and ETC Homestay Coordinators contact you regularly to ensure you are happy. New Zealand homes are usually stand-alone homes surrounded by lawns and gardens. You will have your own room with a warm comfortable bed and study space. The living areas and kitchen are where New Zealand families socialise together.

Three meals a day are provided and we encourage you to talk to your homestay hosts about your food preferences as they are happy to make sure you get the food you like. Washing is done in the home and most homestay families are happy for you to either have your clothes washed with the families or, if you prefer you can wash your own separately.

Farm Stay

Experience rural New Zealand by staying in a family home, on a working farm or lifestyle block. Lifestyle blocks are family homes in the countryside with some land and a few animals. We select farm-stays close to Palmerston North so students can live on the farm and study at ETC. We have a limited number of farm-stays available in Palmerston North. Students will be invited to help with some of the farm work e.g. feeding the chickens, harvesting vegetables, etc. but do not have to do this if they don’t want to.

For students who want to experience work on a New Zealand farm, we can sometimes help to arrange volunteer work placements. These arrangements are usually after a student has finished their studies at ETC. Many of these farms are organic or semi-organic. They are situated all over New Zealand. Students will need to be ready to work hard and learn new skills.