Living with a local family is an excellent way to get to know the local culture. Here are some guidelines you need to read and sign to ensure you have a good stay.
Be respectful. You are a guest in their home and they are opening their home to you. Pay attention to their customs such as whether your host family takes their shoes off at the door, where they put their shoes and jackets, how they sit down for dinner, and how long they take for a shower and emulate these behaviour’s.
Ask questions if you are not sure about something! It may take a few days to get to know each other.
Meals: It is common in New Zealand for all members of a family / household to have busy and possibly conflicting schedules. Cooking is therefore not always the responsibility of a single individual, and meals may be prepared in fast and easy ways. You may also be asked to prepare your meals at times and it is often very well appreciated if you offer to assist in the preparation of dinner.
Breakfast: New Zealand Breakfast is very simple. It often consists of toast, cereal, or fruit. Sometimes, it may also include eggs, rice or pork products of some kind at the discretion of the family.
Lunch: Lunch is not included.
Dinner: The largest meal for New Zealanders is usually dinner which is often eaten in the early evening. If there are smaller children this can be as early as 6pm and if there are not little children more like 7.30pm. What is eaten will depend on a variety of factors, including your host family’s ethnic origins.
If you plan to eat out, please call your host family at least 6 hours or more in advance and let them know that you will be eating out. The earlier you can let your family know the better so they do not prepare dinner for you. There is no refunds if you miss a meal. If you are not home for your planned meal this does not mean you can help yourself to their other food. You should purchase all your own snacks and things to eat / drink at other times.
Calling: Find out when you can receive calls and for how long you can keep the phone busy. If you make long distance calls from the host family's home, you must use a calling card or make collect calls. Please try to refrain from speaking in your own language in front of your host.
Internet: All homes have internet but some may be on limited plans. If they are on limited plans ask how much internet you can use per day. If you need to use more ask what it would cost you to pay for additional internet.
Washing your laundry: this is your own responsibility. consult with your host family upon arrival about how and when you can wash your laundry. You must wash your sheets one time per week.
Power: Be power smart, Don't forget to turn off the lights, and Turn off the TV or radio when you are not using them. Always check the oven is off after you use it. Try to hang out clothes on the line rather than using the dryer whenever possible.
Heating: Many New Zealand houses are not well insulated and tend to not have central heating. As a result, families / households tend to use heaters. Always turn heaters off when not using them, turn them to low or off in the night when you are sleeping and make sure they are off whenever you leave the house and no-one else is home.
Bathroom – If you are sharing a bathroom with other members of the family, please find out when is the best time to have a shower and for how long. It is your responsibility to provide your own bathroom supplies such as shampoo, body wash, toothpaste etc…Make sure you leave the bathroom clean after you use it and hang up your towel.

Cleanliness – You are responsible for keeping your room clean. You are expected to remove your plate and utensils from the table after meals. However, you are not required to do home chores such as baby sitting and gardening. When the family is cleaning common areas it is good for you to offer to help with vacuuming or mopping the floor etc. but many families do not expect it.
Emergencies
• Dial 111 in emergency situations to reach an ambulance or the police.
• You should have medical insurance that covers any medical expenses that may happen during your stay in New Zealand. Neither the host family nor Internex takes any responsibility for your medical or emergency medical expenses.
• Internex does not assume any responsibility for any injuries you suffered while in the host family's care. You must have full health care insurance when you are in one of our homestays.
• If any physical or verbal abuse occurs, the student or visitor will be removed from the home immediately. The incident will be reported to the police and legal actions taken. (Applies to both the student/visitor or host family)

Your Internex Homestay family is required to provide the following:
• 2 meals/day
• A private bedroom (Must include a window, door, bed and dresser)
• Access to a bathroom
• Access to a telephone
• Access to laundry (You do your own laundry unless otherwise arranged with your family.)
• Your own key

Homestay Policies
• You are required to give Internex 4 week’s notice if you wish to vacate homestay.
• If you fail to give proper notice when moving out of your Homestay, you will be required to pay the full 4 weeks homestay fees.
• If you wish to extend homestay you are required to give 4 week’s notice to Internex but please note this does not guarantee you can stay in the same homestay.
• Additional homestay fees are to be paid directly to Internex
• You are not allowed to bring / use any alcohol in homestay unless agreed with the family / household
• Do not bring strangers to the house without permission from the host family.
• Let your host family know what time you will be home. Host families can get extremely worried about your safety.
• You are not allowed to bring any illegal drugs into homestay
• You are required to be quiet when coming to homestay late at night.
• You are not to come home intoxicated
• You are not to smoke inside of your homestay
• You are required to speak English at all times in your homestay
• You are responsible for any and all expenses associated with breakage or other costs incurred during your stay with your host family.
• You must not take any more food or drinks than is offered for breakfast and dinner.
• You must lock windows and doors when you leave the house if you are the last person home. The family is only covered for insurance if there is a forced break in. You may be liable for lost property / vandalism if you do not lock doors and windows
• When staying with a host family you are a guest and need to follow the family protocols.
• If you accompany your host family on holidays, outings, or trips, you must pay for travel arrangements, accommodation, admission tickets and personal expenses. The host family will pay for food.
• If you have any concerns that you cannot discuss with your host family, please contact Internex.

Auckland is one of the most multicultural cities in the world and your family may be from any of the more than 200 cultures we have here. Also, the host may live alone, or as a family, with kids or without. We do not place females with single males.
Please remember that we are here for any problems, questions or concerns that you may have during your stay in New Zealand. If you are having a problem and do not feel like you can talk to your host family directly, please contact us. If you do not understand any part of this contract, please speak with your placement supervisor.