Orientation Programme (Welcome Meetings)

Our orientation programme helps students adapt to life in New Zealand.

ISENZ runs a two day group orientation programme for high school students arriving into New Zealand. Currently, this runs twice a year (January and July) and helps students adapt to life in New Zealand more easily, recover from jetlag, and make new friends.

Students are greeted at Auckland airport by ISENZ group leaders, then driven by bus to their group accommodation in the North Shore of Auckland. They spend the next 2 days being involved in group activities, info sessions, games and quizzes and are taken on a guided tour around the sights of Auckland. On Day 3, students are taken by bus to Auckland airport, where they are assisted in catching their connecting flights to their school and homestay locations.

If you are interested in joining our Orientation Programme, please contact us.

Example Programme Outline

Day 1

• 10:00 – 12:00: Flights arrive Auckland. We expect students to arrive between 10am – 12pm (midday), and preferably no later than 1pm. Students clear customs and immigration. Meet and pick-up students.
• 12:30 (approx): Depart Auckland Airport by bus.
• 13:30 (approx): Arrive at accommodation after travelling through Auckland city and across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Off-load baggage. Allocate rooms. Shower and change.If the weather permits, a walk down to Takapuna beach (5-minute walk) for a couple of ‘Getting to Know You’ activities.
• 14:30 – 17:00: Late lunch and/or afternoon snack, then Session 1
• Session 1: Welcome and introduction (Session leaders Russell and Amanda)
  – Welcome and Introduction
  – What are the differences you’ve noticed so far (between Germany and New Zealand)
  – Dealing with jet lag
  – Where are we? Where are you from? Where are you going? (Map game)
  – Who is ISENZ and what is our role?
  – What have you heard about New Zealand?
  – Things no-one told you about New Zealand
  – Fun quiz
  – Phones/data/WiFi – saving yourself money
  – Kiwi money and quiz
  – Banking
• 19:00 – 20:00: Dinner in the dining room or conference room
• 21:00: Bed time.

Day 2

• 08:00: Sleep in until 08:00. Shower before breakfast.
• 09:00-09:45: Breakfast.
• 10:00-12:30: Session 2: Living in New Zealand (Session leaders Amanda and Russell)
  – Breakfast challenge. Outline of today’s programme
  – A short history of New Zealand, Maori culture, geography and climate
  – Kiwi talk – New Zealand slang and accent, Maori language, games and quizBreak for 10 minutes– NZ Schools – What to expect
  – New Zealand schools, classrooms and curriculum
  – Sports, music and cultural subjects and co-curricular activities
  – NCEA – the NZ qualification system
  – The things that you DON’T DO in New Zealand
  – Staying with a Kiwi family (homestays), what to expect, and what you can do if
  you’re having problems.
  – Exploring New Zealand. ISENZ Trips 2020
• 12:30-13:00: Break for lunch
• 13:00-18:00: Auckland Experience. Travel to Devonport by bus. Take the ferry to Downtown Auckland. Bus to the Sky Tower and up to the observation deck for stunning 360° panoramas of the Auckland harbour. Visit the Domain, Mission Bay beach and shops, and other places of interest.
• 18:00: Return to accommodation
• 19:00: Dinner
• 19:30: Meeting relating to flights tomorrow. Discuss departure times tomorrow morning.
  Trip reminders.
• 20:30: Early night. Be packed up tonight.

Day 3

• 08:00-08:45: Breakfast in the dining room or conference room
• 09:00 – 09:30: Auckland students picked up at the office at 9:00am, or at Auckland Airport from 10:30am onwards. Bags loaded onto the bus, unless you are being picked up at the accommodation.
• 09:30: All students flying out of Auckland and those Auckland students being picked up at Airport Airport, board the bus. Students with early flights remain at the airport with Amanda or Russell and check-in.
• 10:00-12:00: Depending on flight times for the group, there might be an opportunity for students with later flights to visit to Sylvia Park Shopping Centre. This will be decided on the day.
• 12:00 – 17:00: Amanda and Russell will stay at the airport until the last student has boarded their flight, or has been picked up by their host family or school representative.