by Nicki Ridden-Angus

Transportation and Travel

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We encourage our international students to take part in extracurricular and social activities, so this is likely to require transport around Dunedin.

General:

Unless a student is happy to take public transport, it is expected that homestay provide transport to and from extra-curricular activities and school events. 

Some students will find it difficult to ask for this help, so discussion initiated by host parents is essential. Safety issues are also an important consideration here. Your host parents would rather you called them for a ride, rather than you feel or be unsafe!


Independent travel within NZ:

Students are NOT permitted to travel independently outside Dunedin under the terms of the Code of Practice (and their enrolment contract), unless they are over the age of 18 years old and have the Principal's permission BEFORE bookings are made. 

Getting the Principal's permission will require you to have a good academic, attendance and behavior record and approval is NOT guaranteed.

Your travel application to the Principal is in writing and includes all of the following:

  • A detailed itinerary - where are you going, what are you doing, when and how?
  • Accommodation details - Hotel or Homestay?
  • Flights/Bus details - do you need pickups? Transfers?
  • Who are you going with? (Names and contact details must be provided here, plus other school information if going with school friends)
  • Permission from your parents  - Mr Waterworth will contact your agent to get this emailed to him
  • School approved adult supervision may be required.

This is not flexible and is also unpopular with students - we understand that you want to see NZ, but the Law sets certain rules that we must apply to you. 

So if you are planning a trip and you're under age 18, you almost certainly will NOT get the school's approval unless there are exceptional circumstances. Talk to us first.


Independent travel to your home country:

Students may travel home with parental/school approval during end of term breaks, but the homestay accommodation in NZ is still paid for the whole period. 


Homestay Family Holidays:

One way that students ARE able to travel is with their host families. Parental permission has been given for students to travel with their host families for up to 7 nights, any trip longer than this does need home country approval. For outdoor activities that you participate in, parental permission may be required if there is an element of risk (and insurance doesn't cover everything either). If unsure, please contact the school.

Where taking a student on a holiday with the host family is not possible, please contact the Homestay Coordinator in advance. At that time, you would be placed with another family for a short time, until your host family is back in Dunedin.

Host parents are required to inform the school when they are away, even for students over the age of 18 - so you can't stay 'home alone'.