Our New Zealand Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programme — built around school participation, practical English, supervised activities, and the buddy who makes the first day feel like a continuation, not a beginning.
Fernway Global's New Zealand immersion and cultural exchange programme combines school participation, practical English learning, cultural exchange, supervised activities, and relationship-building with New Zealand students.
The shape of each student's day is built around five experiences. They are deliberately simple. The depth comes from doing them every day, for weeks, with the same buddy and the same homestay family.
Students attend a local New Zealand school and join daily classroom routines — assembly, lessons, lunch outside, sport in the afternoon. Most placements are in Auckland, with possibilities in other cities depending on availability and preferences.
Each visiting student is paired with a Kiwi buddy in the same class who helps them navigate the school day, practise English, and feel welcome from day one. Buddies and classrooms are introduced to your culture before you arrive, so belonging starts on day one.
Students live with carefully selected New Zealand families. Homestays provide a safe, supportive home environment and daily English immersion outside of school. Every host family is accredited, personally reviewed, and supported by Fernway pastoral staff throughout the stay.
English is learned through real-life use — in class, at home, during activities, and through guided workbook tasks designed for different levels. The goal is confidence, participation, and communication. Not textbook memorisation.
Students participate in cultural experiences, outdoor activities, and community events — from marae visits to kayaking, from school music to weekend tramps. All activities are supervised and designed to build confidence and connection.
Fernway can assess students' English level before arrival using familiar and internationally recognised assessment tools, such as TOEIC, TOEFL, Oxford English, or similar. Each student is then matched to a Fernway Explorer workbook at their level, which travels with them between classes.
Classroom placement considers age, English confidence, school suitability, and the support available through buddies and workbook materials.
For beginner learners and first-time international students. Focus: greetings, shopping, directions, school vocabulary, and confidence building. Designed to make a student's first week feel manageable, not overwhelming.
For intermediate learners and returning students. Focus: conversation, NZ culture, buddy discussions, practical writing, and small presentations. Students start to find their voice in a New Zealand classroom.
For confident or advanced students and longer-stay students. Focus: leadership, cultural comparison, interviews, reflection, and presentations. Students contribute as much as they receive.
Your Kiwi buddy isn't a host — they're a classmate. Same room, same lessons, same lunch table. Buddies are briefed on your culture before you arrive, including simple introductions and conversation starters, so belonging is not an accident.
Students use English during school, activities, shopping, meals, conversations, and reflection tasks. The metric we care about is whether a student can ask for what they need — confidently, in a real situation.
Fernway's workbook system supports different English levels, reduces anxiety, guides buddy interaction, and helps parents see what their child is learning. Sample copies are available for parents on request.
Fernway's companion app keeps students, homestays, schools and parents connected through live journey updates, translated communication, and real-time programme visibility. Built so parents see the day — not just the summary.
Clear expectations for care and supervision, with every host family personally interviewed and reviewed by Fernway staff.
Ongoing check-ins to support wellbeing, with a named pastoral lead each student can speak to in their own language.
Clear escalation processes and a duty phone carried by a real Fernway staff member — not a call centre.
Supervisor presence throughout the programme — for activities, weekends, and the in-between moments when most things actually happen.
A parent communication app with translation built in — for transparency, for reassurance, and so language is never a barrier.
Full safety, supervision and incident-response documentation is provided to families on request. No mystery, no fine print.
The programme is open to any international student between the ages of 7 and 18, from any country. Whether you're a primary school student stepping into a New Zealand classroom for the first time, or a senior student preparing for university, there's a place for you in the Fernway programme.
Both short-term and longer-term immersion pathways are available. Options may also include camps and holiday programmes, with buddy participation available to help students stay connected and supported throughout their experience.
Every family is different. Every child is different. The conversation starts with you telling us where they're at — and us listening.