All International Students at Wanganui City College must be in Wanganui City College approved and supervised accommodation. We offer a very comprehensive programme of care for our students and our accommodation is carefully chosen and monitored.
Introduction
Wanganui City College first began an Accommodation Programme for International Students in 1921 in a very small way. Since then it has grown both in terms of quality of service and of student numbers. Today we have over 15 students in supervised accommodation and three in supervised Designated Care (ie. living with friends or family). All receive a high level of care and discipline from their Hostel/Homestay houses and from College staff.
Our Hostels', College and Millennium Houses are well supervised and comply with the Code of Practice for International Students. Mr Warburton manages the Hostels.
All prospective Homestays and Hostel staff are interviewed and police-vetted and homestay houses & hostels inspected according to the requirements of the Code of Practice. .
All Homestays and the Hostels are within walking distance of the school. This may mean 25 minutes walking which New Zealand students do all the time. Senior students will have their own fully furnished room, all meals including a lunch to bring to school, and their laundry done. Juniors may share a dormitory in the hostel.
Living with a New Zealand family
It is hoped the student will be one of the family and spend time talking and socialising with them.
There are no servants in New Zealand. We all share household chores. Students will be expected to help wash or dry dinner dishes and to keep his/her room tidy.
Students must be thoughtful in their use of hot water, electricity and telephone. Hours on the Internet are forbidden unless the student gets the hosts agreement to install his own telephone line (and pay for it).
Students must keep regular hours. They are here to study. Weeknights should be spent studying and if students go out at weekends they must tell their hosts where they are going and they must be home at the time specified by their hosts.
Mrs Wilson (Accommodation Co-ordinator) is available after 5pm weeknights and weekends. All students have her cell phone number, which is for emergencies only. The number is 021 02468921.
Wanganui City College Accommodation
Costs: NZ$200 a week for a single room, all meals and laundry.
Payment is made to Wanganui City College which reimburses the hostel or homestay hosts. Payments are to be paid in a lump sum at the beginning of the year (46 weeks at NZ $200 = NZ$9,200) and this is compulsory for visa purposes as it covers the amount required for living expenses.
Private Homestay Arrangement
Where parents wish a student to live with family, friends or relatives the parent must complete the appropriate section of the enrolment form including:
The name, address and contact phone numbers of the designated caregiver.
A statement that the parents take full responsibility for the placement of the student with the designated caregiver.
An undertaking that the student will not move from this accommodation unless it is to a home approved of by Wanganui City College.
In order to be approved, a designated caregiver must agree to be interviewed, to provide references, agree to a police vetting of all members of their household over 17 years of age and agree to an inspection of their home. The house will be revisited from time to time to ensure the welfare of the student. This is required by the “Code of Practice for the Care of International Students” under New Zealand law.
No designated caregiver will be approved unless there is an adult member of the household who is able to communicate in English. Students may not live in rented flats or apartments or in any circumstances not approved by the College. Should this occur Wanganui City College would terminate the enrolment of the student.
Holidays
Where students leave the homestay for holidays periods, and wish to return to the same homestay and leave their possessions in their room, homestay hosts are entitled to ask for a retaining fee. This is usually NZ $50 a week and is paid in advance by the student direct to the homestay hosts. This is a private arrangement with the hosts and Wanganui City College is not involved.
Changing Homestay
If a student needs to change homestay for good reasons there is no extra charge for this. However, if a student has to change homestay more than once because of his/her unreasonable demands or misbehaviour a further placement charge will be made.
Accommodation - How to apply:
Please complete the section in the Application Form or provided by your agent.
