Life in New Zealand as a Manaaki Scholar

What to Expect

New Zealand consistently ranks among the top 3 safest countries in the world on the Global Peace Index, and Auckland has been ranked the world’s 7th most liveable city. The country is genuinely multicultural, especially in Auckland and Wellington, where you will meet people from every corner of the Pacific, Asia, and beyond — more than 200 nationalities live in New Zealand.

But “safe and beautiful” doesn’t mean “easy.” Cultural adjustment is real, homesickness hits everyone, and the cost of living will probably surprise you even with the scholarship allowance. The first few weeks feel like a honeymoon — everything is new and exciting. Then reality sets in around week four or five. That’s normal. Every Manaaki scholar before you has gone through the same thing. Here’s what daily life actually looks like.

Cost of Living Reality

Your scholarship pays NZ$615 per week. How far that goes depends entirely on which city you study in. Here is a realistic weekly breakdown for each major student city, based on renting a one-bedroom place.

Auckland

New Zealand’s largest city. Most expensive but most opportunities. Your NZ$615 allowance leaves NZ$45–175 for everything else. It’s tight. Shared accommodation is almost essential here unless you want to be counting every dollar.

Wellington

The capital. Compact, walkable, cultural hub. Windy. More manageable than Auckland. Wellington is compact enough that you might save on transport if you live near campus. Good balance of city life and affordability.

Christchurch

Rebuilt after the earthquakes. Modern, bike-friendly, close to mountains. Your allowance stretches well here. Christchurch has excellent cycling infrastructure and many students ride to campus, cutting transport costs further. A great middle ground between city and affordability.

Dunedin

Student city. Walkable, cheapest in NZ, tight-knit community. Your NZ$615 allowance gives you NZ$245–355 left over each week. Most students walk everywhere. Dunedin is the most financially comfortable option by a wide margin. It does get cold in winter, though — budget for a good jacket.

Budget-saving tips

• Shop at Pak’nSave and Woolworths (formerly Countdown) — they’re consistently cheaper than New World or Four Square
• Cook at home. Eating out adds up fast in New Zealand (a basic meal is NZ$18–25)
• Buy seasonal produce — off-season fruit and vegetables are noticeably more expensive
• Immigration NZ asks self-funded students to show NZ$20,000 a year for living expenses. Your scholarship’s NZ$615 a week covers basics but is tight in Auckland

Accommodation Options

Where you live makes or breaks your experience. Here are the four main options scholars typically choose from. Note that you are responsible for organising your own accommodation at your study location.

Healthcare in New Zealand

Healthcare in New Zealand works differently from most countries. There are two separate systems you need to understand, and they cover different things. Getting confused about which covers what is one of the most common mistakes international students make.

ACC (Accident Compensation)

ACC covers all accident injuries automatically — no registration needed, no questions about visa status. Sports injuries, falls, car accidents, workplace injuries. If you break your arm playing rugby, ACC pays for treatment. Important: ACC covers accidents only, not illness. If you get the flu or need treatment for a medical condition, ACC does not apply. That’s what your scholarship insurance is for.

Scholarship medical insurance

Your institution arranges medical and travel insurance for the whole time you are on scholarship. It covers emergency and urgent medical care that the public system does not provide, plus emergency dental care. It does not cover pre-existing medical conditions, routine dental visits, optical care or physiotherapy, and you pay some pharmacy costs yourself. The official policy guidance recommends buying extra cover for these, at your own cost.

Mental health support: all New Zealand universities offer free, confidential counselling services to enrolled students. You do not need a referral. You do not need to tell anyone you’re going. Check your university’s counselling page for how many free sessions it offers. Use it. The adjustment to a new country is harder than people admit.

Weather and Climate

If you’re coming from a tropical country, New Zealand weather will feel like a different planet. The classic Kiwi saying is “four seasons in one day” and it’s not an exaggeration. You can start the morning in sunshine, hit rain by lunch, get a cold wind in the afternoon, and be back to clear skies by evening. It keeps you on your toes.

• Reversed seasons. Summer is December–February, winter is June–August. If you arrive in July, bring warm clothes — it will be mid-winter.
• Temperature range. Summer averages 20–30°C, winter 5–15°C depending on location. The South Island (Dunedin, Christchurch) is significantly colder than the North Island.
• Rain is constant. Rain is frequent everywhere in New Zealand. Always carry a rain jacket — not an umbrella (the wind makes umbrellas useless). Wellington is especially notorious for sideways rain.
• Extreme UV radiation. New Zealand’s UV radiation is extremely high due to the thin ozone layer over the Southern Hemisphere. Sunscreen is essential year-round, even on cloudy days. Skin cancer rates are among the highest in the world.
• Temperate maritime. Mild overall — no extreme heat or extreme cold in most regions. But “mild” and “changeable” go hand in hand. Layered clothing is the key strategy.
• South vs North Island. If you’re studying at Otago (Dunedin) or Canterbury (Christchurch), expect colder winters, occasional frost, and the possibility of snow nearby. Pack accordingly.

Cultural Adjustment

New Zealand has its own social norms, especially around Māori culture, that might be different from what you’re used to. None of this is hard to learn — but knowing it in advance saves you from awkward moments.

1. 1
   Kiwis are friendly, informal, and direct

   New Zealanders (called Kiwis) tend to be relaxed, approachable, and straight-talking. First names are used immediately, even with professors. Don’t read formality as respect here — informality is the norm and it’s not disrespectful.

2. 2
   Learn basic Māori greetings

   “Kia ora” (hello) is used everywhere and by everyone. “Haere rā” (goodbye) and “Nau mai” (welcome) are also common. Using them shows respect and people genuinely appreciate the effort.

3. 3
   The hongi is a formal greeting

   The hongi (pressing noses together) is a traditional Māori greeting used at certain formal events like pōwhiri (welcoming ceremonies). You will likely experience one during orientation. Follow the lead of whoever is greeting you — they will guide you through it.

4. 4
   “Bring a plate” means bring food to share

   If someone invites you to a gathering and says “bring a plate,” they mean bring a dish of food to share — not an empty plate. This catches international students off guard regularly. Prepare something simple from your home country and people will love it.

5. 5
   Don’t sit on tables or place bags on them

   In Māori culture, sitting on tables or placing bags or shoes on tables is considered unclean and disrespectful. Tables are for food. This norm is widely observed across New Zealand, not just in Māori settings.

6. 6
   Wait for karakia before eating at formal events

   At formal gatherings, meals often begin with a karakia (blessing or prayer). Wait until the karakia is finished before starting to eat. It’s a brief moment of thanks — similar to saying grace in some cultures.

7. 7
   Kiwi humour is dry and self-deprecating

   New Zealanders love understatement and poking fun at themselves. It can sound sarcastic if you’re not used to it. They are not being rude — it’s how they show they’re comfortable with you. Don’t take it personally.

8. 8
   Punctuality matters in academics

   Being on time is expected in lectures, tutorials, meetings, and especially exams. Social events are more relaxed, but if a professor schedules a meeting at 10am, be there at 9:55am. Consistent lateness is noticed and reflects poorly.

Transport by City

Public transport varies significantly between New Zealand cities. Here’s what’s available where you might be studying.

• Auckland. Get an AT HOP card for buses, trains, and ferries. Students get 40%+ off fares with a concession. There’s a NZ$50 weekly fare cap, so once you hit that amount, the rest of the week is free. Auckland is spread out — you will use public transport daily unless you live within walking distance of campus.
• Wellington. Get a Snapper card for buses. Wellington is compact but extremely hilly — buses are essential unless you enjoy steep climbs several times a day. The good news is that everything is close. The cable car from Lambton Quay to the Kelburn campus is iconic and practical.
• Christchurch. MetroCard with youth discounts for buses. Christchurch is flat, which makes it the most bike-friendly city in New Zealand. Many students buy a second-hand bike and ride everywhere. The city was rebuilt after the earthquakes with excellent cycling infrastructure.
• Hamilton. Bee Card bus system with student discounts. The Waikato campus is walkable from central Hamilton. It’s a smaller city, so getting around is straightforward. Most students walk or bus to campus without any issues.
• Dunedin. Most students walk everywhere — a car is not needed. The university is right in the centre of town and student accommodation clusters around it. Dunedin has buses but most scholars never use them. It’s that compact. Save yourself the transport money.

Social Life and Community

Your social life is not going to build itself. The scholars who thrive in New Zealand are the ones who actively put themselves out there in the first few weeks. The ones who struggle most are often those who retreat to their room and wait for friendships to come to them. New Zealand was the first country in the world to implement a Code of Practice for the pastoral care of international students — today the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 — so the support systems exist. But you have to use them.

• Join clubs and societies. This is the single best way to meet people. The University of Auckland has 200+ clubs, Canterbury has 150+. Sports, cultural, academic, hobby-based — there is something for everyone. Sign up at orientation week. Most clubs are free or charge a token fee.
• Attend international student orientation. Every university runs orientation events specifically for international students. These aren’t optional extras — they are where you meet other scholars, learn about support services, and get practical information about living in your city. Go to all of them.
• Buddy programmes. Most universities offer buddy programmes that pair new international students with current students. Your buddy can show you around, explain how things work, and introduce you to their own friend group. Sign up before or during orientation.
• Friendships take time. Building friendships with local Kiwi students can take time. Kiwis are friendly but they already have established friend groups from high school. Don’t get discouraged. Keep showing up to the same activities and friendships will develop naturally over weeks, not days.

On homesickness: it is completely normal and it hits everyone. Most international students go through it. It usually peaks around week 4–6 and gradually eases. Staying busy, maintaining routines, and staying connected with family back home (without withdrawing from NZ life) is the best way through it. If it becomes overwhelming, use your university’s free counselling services.

Scholar Code of Conduct

As a Manaaki scholar, you are representing your country. The scholarship comes with clear behavioural expectations that apply from the day you leave home until you arrive back after your studies. Violating these can result in scholarship termination and a requirement to repay costs. Take them seriously.

• Obey all New Zealand laws. You are subject to NZ law from the moment you arrive. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
• Attend all classes, complete assessments, sit all exams. Full attendance and academic engagement are non-negotiable. Skipping classes or missing assessments without valid reasons can trigger a review of your scholarship status.
• Devote yourself to full-time study. The scholarship is awarded for study, not work. You are expected to treat your degree as your primary commitment and complete it on time.
• Treat others with respect and behave with integrity. This includes academic integrity. Plagiarism, cheating, and dishonesty are taken very seriously at New Zealand universities and can result in academic penalties on top of scholarship consequences.
• All forms of violence (physical, sexual, psychological) are criminal offences in New Zealand and grounds for scholarship termination. This is enforced without exception.
• Physical discipline of children is prohibited in New Zealand, as is neglecting or exploiting children in your care. This is important for scholars arriving with families. What may be considered normal discipline in your home country can be a criminal offence here. If you have children, familiarise yourself with NZ parenting laws before arrival.

Advice for Settling In

The scholars who settle in best tend to do three things. They say yes to orientation, clubs and buddy programmes in the first weeks, even when they feel tired or shy. They treat the first months as a learning curve, not a test they are failing. And they keep in touch with family at home without withdrawing from life in New Zealand.

Education New Zealand publishes scholar stories on its official channels. Read a few from your own region before you arrive, and ask your institution to put you in touch with current Manaaki scholars.