Are you a New Zealand resident or international student? If you’re a New Zealander or citizen please use Domestic enrolment. If you live outside of New Zealand or are not a Resident or citizen or hold a visa to work and study in New Zealand, use International enrolment.
This page has school and government updates about the COVID-19 situation plus helpful links to trusted organisations
Auckland will join the rest of the country at Alert Level 1 at 11.59pm on Wednesday 7 October.
Please continue to check this page for further updates or our Facebook page.
Where can I get the latest information? www.covid19.govt.nz is the first place you should go for official information. Here you’ll find more information on COVID-19, how to protect yourself, the Alert System, latest Government updates, information for communities and other resources.
Latest updates
Eligibility for financial support - Onshore International Students
Are you on a temporary student, or work visa and in need of support? New Zealand Red Cross is working with the New Zealand Government to help you if you’re experiencing serious hardship due to Covid-19.
To be eligible for this assistance, you must:
be on a temporary visa
be in New Zealand
be unable to meet your basic needs including food, rent, clothing or medical care
have exhausted all other options including accessing a flight to return to your home country.
Domestic and International Hardship Fund for Learners
Are you a Domestic or International student studying with NZSE and suffering from financial hardship due to COVID-19?
The New Zealand Government has created the Hardship Fund for Learners (HAFL) for both domestic and international students to provide financial assistance for our students whose studies have or are being affected by COVID-19.* This means financial assistance may be available to you under a number of categories – rent, food, travel etc.
A hardship fund for international students has been established to address urgent, temporary needs, for example temporary inability to access cash or because of reduced part-time employment.
For more information and how to apply, please visit our Hardship Fund for Learners page HERE.
*Conditions Apply
Students in tertiary accommodation
Tertiary accommodation at Level 3 Those in tertiary accommodation in Auckland should:
remain open and in a position to provide appropriate support to allow students to self-isolate,
ensure physical distancing and exclusive ‘bubbles’ are maintained at all times, inline with broader government guidelines,
ensure strict contact tracing measures are in place, including the placement of NZ Covid Tracer QR code posters at or near main entrances.
Currently, travel into, out of, or through Auckland is restricted to limited circumstances. Students who are currently in tertiary accommodation in the Auckland Region, are unlikely to able to leave Auckland, including during the university holidays. There are some limited circumstances that do allow people to leave the Auckland region, however it is likely this will only apply to students who are temporarily in Auckland and need to travel back to their primary home or residence outside of Auckland. More information is available on the COVID19.govt.nz website.
Immigration and visa updates
Visa Extensions Holders of a work, student, visitor, limited or interim visa with an expiry date of 2 April to 9 July 2020 inclusive who were in New Zealand on 2 April 2020 will have their visas automatically extended to 25 September 2020. Confirmation of extensions will be emailed to all visa holders. Visit Immigration New Zealand for more information. Relaxing visa conditions for essential services The Government has agreed to relax visa conditions for a short period to allow temporary migrant workers and international students to further assist with our essential services during the COVID-19 response. This decision will help essential businesses to keep operating while New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
International students working in healthcare roles International Students currently employed in healthcare roles (including aged residential care) can work more than 20 hours per week. This is in order to support the public health response to COVID-19.
International students working in supermarkets International students currently employed by supermarkets owned by Woolworths New Zealand Limited, Foodstuffs North Island Limited or Foodstuffs South Island Limited, can work more than 20 hours per week.
For more information, please visit Immigration New Zealand website here.
Tertiary students support package
The government has announced a $130m support package for domestic tertiary students available to students from 16th April, 2020.
If you’re enrolled in full-time study and under the age of 55, you can borrow up to $2,000 to help with your course-related costs this year (increased from $1,000)
Support payments will continue even if you are unable to study online for up to eight weeks
Ensuring students receive partial tuition fee refunds if courses are discontinued
Ensure that if students are unable to complete a course of their studies due to COVID-19, it will not affect their entitlement fees-free tertiary study.
If you’re feeling low or anxious about yourself or others in your bubble, have a look at The Lowdown website. The website has information to help young New Zealanders recognise and understand depression or anxiety, including: Helpful information on anxiety and depression.
Helpful information on anxiety and depression
Guidance on other issues relevant to young people, such as bullying and family relationships
Quick steps to help build healthy mental well-being.
Information for anyone worried about a friend
A moderated forum for young people to share stories and experiences and provide peer-to-peer support
