Northland Summer Programme for International Students
International tertiary students usually go back to their home countries over the 3 month summer holiday period but can’t do that this year due to Covid. There are currently 15,000 tertiary students in Auckland and more in the rest of the country who are planning to see more of New Zealand this summer.
We are developing a series of summer programmes and workshops tailored to the international student market which will be promoted by ATEED in Auckland and Education New Zealand as well as via our Northland Inc channels. All these programmes will include hands-on learning and opportunities to engage with local people and culture in Northland.
We have created a range of summer programmes for both tertiary and secondary students wanting to visit sub-tropical Northland during December 2020 and January 2021 including week long holiday programmes, workshops, guided tours, self-drive itineraries and working holiday packages.
Workshops include a Healing Balms Workshop with Native Healing Herbals in Kerikeri. Students go into the forest and learn about the medicinal properties of native plants and trees. They then pick Kawakawa leaves and return to the workshop to learn how to make their own Kawakawa balm and natural lip balm to take away.
There is a two day kiwi cooking class at QRC Culinary School in Paihia where students learn to cook kiwi dishes such as pavlova and stay in the QRC Halls of Residence. In the one-day woodturning workshop, students make a tealight candle holder from ancient kauri wood to take home. Print making workshops at Whangarei’s Quarry Arts Centre cover print making techniques, then students can create their own design and print it.
For a tertiary student wanting to see Northland and while earning money, we have worked with KeriCentral Backpackers and working hostel in Kerikeri to create a working holiday package. Students work at a local Kiwifruit orchard from Monday to Friday and stay in the friendly family environment of KeriCentral Hostel in Kerikeri for only $160pw. Their weekends are free to explore Northland and the Bay of Islands.
A range of summer programme itineraries have been created showcasing hands-on activities and learning experiences around Northland. Tertiary students with access to a vehicle, can follow suggested itineraries themselves with a group of friends. Each itinerary is also available to book as a fully guided tour. Explore the Kauri Coast, Waitangi and Bay of Islands, Patau North and Whangarei. Choose from coastal adventures by jet ski or paddleboard.
For international high school students, there is a week long holiday programmes created by Whangarei Girls’ High School, with daily activities and local homestays. A second programme is based in the Bay of Islands.
Education New Zealand is running a ‘Great Kiwi Summer’ virtual fair on 31st October for international students to find out about the programmes available in each region of New Zealand over summer. They have also set up a landing page on their NauMai website directing students to the programmes in each region and giving them a place to register for the fair. https://nzsummer.naumainz.studyinnewzealand.govt.nz/map
You can see an outline of the Northland Summer Programme at https://www.studynorthland.nz/article/northland-summer-programmes-for-students/
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