What host families say

Host a student

“You gain a lot more than you give and the more you put into making it work the better it works. It lets you grow as a family and gives you a new view on the world.” Tania King, AFS host mum, Christchurch

“Not only does the student become part of our family, but their family becomes part of ours and ours part of theirs. We’ve met our host son Edison’s parents and sister. It makes the events that happen in their part of the world more real. It makes the world a smaller place.” Lucy Brown, AFS host mum, Greymouth

“We enjoy having another teenager around and you get the chance to learn about another culture. We’re a small family so we liked the idea of an other teenager. And there’s also the possibility that your kids pick up another language.” Sue Ryall, AFS host mum, Wellington

“If you’re not going overseas yourself, it’s almost the same kind of experience in terms of having someone from somewhere else, the opposite side of the of the world, living in your house and bringing their own unique cultural identity to New Zealand.” Matt Paterson, AFS host brother