News from International Department

Visit from Jack Ma’s Private School in China
In late March, we were delighted to host six senior staff members from Yungu School in China. Founded in 2017 by Jack Ma and fully funded by him and his Alibaba partners, Yungu School was established to contribute to educational reform and innovation in China. Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba Group, is a globally recognised entrepreneur and philanthropist, known for leading China into the digital age.
The purpose of the visit was to explore potential opportunities for future exchange programmes between our schools, involving both staff and students.
During their time with us, our Principal, Mr Ivan Davis, introduced the group to our school and led a campus tour. Our Deputy Principal, Mr Phil Douglas, provided an overview of the New Zealand curriculum. Additionally, our International Student Leaders shared their experiences, spoke about the subjects they are studying, and discussed their future plans. We look forward to further developing the partnership and establishing suitable exchange programmes between the two schools.

International Student Trips
While our international students are with us, we aim to give them opportunities to explore more of New Zealand and enrich their Kiwi experiences. At the end of Term 1, we took the new Term 1 students to the Hobbiton Movie Set, where students enjoyed a guided tour of the picturesque set followed by a delicious buffet lunch. Hobbiton is a must-see destination for all our international students.
During the April school holidays, we also organised a trip to Auckland’s CBD. Students took in panoramic views from the Sky Tower and enjoyed lunch at Commercial Bay, where they felt the real urban life and developments around the CBD harbour of today’s Auckland.

2025 Term 2 New Students
The International Department warmly welcomed new students for Term 2, joining us from China, Japan, and Colombia. We held a two-day orientation with Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish interpretation to ensure a smooth start in their new environment.
Supporting our new students in feeling comfortable and settled is a top priority. We held a follow-up orientation for the new students over morning tea with our International Leaders. On the Teachers Only Day, we took the new Term 2 students to Auckland Zoo in our neighbourhood. While enjoying the various lovely animals and birds, the students felt more connected and had a fun outing together.
The new students are settled very well now. Here’s what some of our new students have enjoyed so far since arriving in New Zealand:
• ‘I enjoy going to the gym and visiting different places in the city.’ — Juan Isaac Cueter Diaz from Colombia
• ‘The students and teachers are very friendly.’ — Yite Huang from China
• ‘New Zealand is safe. The environment is good and people are nice.’ — Miyabi Yoshida from Japan
• ‘I enjoy playing football at school.’ — Jiaye (Leo) Liu from China
• ‘People are kind in New Zealand.’ — Yui Nagumo from Japan
• ‘Ice cream is tasty. The weather is not as humid as in Japan.’ — Shuri Takamori from Japan
• ‘I enjoy studying in New Zealand.’ — Mo (Yoyo) Zhou from Japan