New International 2025 Term 1 students

Since welcoming our new Term 1 students at the end of January, the International Office staff has been conducting individual interviews with international students as part of our routine student support services. These interviews help us identify students’ needs and challenges while ensuring they are settling into their homestay, school, community, and life in New Zealand.

Adjusting to life in a foreign country and being away from their parents has been challenging for many international students. When issues arise—such as difficulties in making friends, selecting or changing courses and homestays, or managing their time at school and after school—we follow established support procedures to address them. These include introducing students to volunteers and student leaders, meeting with teachers and caregivers, facilitating course and homestay changes, and running lunchtime workshops for student groups.

All students have been responsive in attending scheduled interviews and group workshops, which is a positive sign of their adjustment and progress toward becoming more independent learners. Despite the challenges, our new students are making the most of their time at Western Springs College Ngā Puna o Waiorea and in New Zealand. Here are some of the experiences they have been enjoying:

Everything is great! The students at school are very friendly. (By Xinyi Zhang from China)

I love the beautiful nature in New Zealand and enjoy speaking English. It’s fun to make friends from different countries. (By Kurumi Munakata from Japan)

I enjoy making new friends at school and living with my host brother from Macau. (By Rafael Villagran Jeria Chile).

I have made new friends and enjoy learning at Western Springs College. I also like that the school doesn’t have a uniform. (By Tyler Gyuho Kim from South Korea)

I enjoy spending time with my host family and my Japanese host sister. (By Ida Valentien from Germany)

I appreciate the good school environment and have made new friends here. (By Joe Chun Yat Li from Hong Kong)

I love Media Studies and have made many friends at school. (By Shuorong Yan from China)

I love this school. People are so friendly and the subjects are so interesting. (By Leon Lap Wa Che from Macau, China)