We are looking for Host Families for 2027.
Can you make someone’s Kiwi dream come true?
As a Host Family from one of our AFS Heartland Partner Schools, you will:
– Receive $200/week financial support*
– Be fully supported by AFS volunteers and staff
Interested in finding out more?
5 Months
Mid January – July 2027
Marie from Austria
Marie is an active and enthusiastic student who loves staying busy. She has been dancing ballet for eight years and also enjoys going to the gym, running, and spending time outdoors.
Marie loves baking and cooking and is excited to share traditional Austrian dishes with her future host family. An animal lover, she enjoys spending time with cats and dogs, especially her grandmother’s dog, Lilly.
Marie is looking forward to improving her English, experiencing New Zealand’s culture, and embracing this once-in-a-lifetime exchange adventure.
Age on Arrival: 15 years 9 months
Languages: German, English
Interests: Ballet, running, fitness, baking, cooking, animals
Magdalena from Austria
Magdalena is a friendly, creative, and curious student who lives with her parents, younger brother, and two cats near the German and Swiss borders.
She loves travelling, learning languages, and exploring different cultures. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, playing the cello and piano, drawing, spending time in nature, and caring for animals.
Magdalena is excited to experience New Zealand’s culture, improve her English, make lifelong friendships, and embrace all the opportunities her exchange has to offer.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 5 months
Languages: German, English
Interests: Cooking, music, drawing, animals
Sophia from Austria
Sophia is a friendly, caring and responsible. Born in the Netherlands and with a Canadian father, Sophia has grown up with a multicultural background and speaks French with her family.
In her free time, Sophia enjoys baking and trying new recipes, camping, spending time outdoors, and socialising with her friends and family.
She also loves board games, watching movies and listening to music.
During her exchange in New Zealand, Sophia hopes to become more independent and open-minded, improve her language skills and experience everyday Kiwi family life.
Age on Arrival: 15 years 6 months
Languages: German, French, English
Interests: Baking, camping, outdoor activities
11 Months
Mid January – December 2027
Thore from Germany
Thore is a kind, calm, and responsible young person who loves nature, outdoor activities, and spending time with friends and family.
He enjoys hiking, travelling, judo, swimming, windsurfing, and ice skating. He also plays clarinet in his school orchestra and is interested in healthcare, with hopes of becoming a doctor.
In his free time, Thore enjoys cooking, baking, reading, board games, and watching films.
He is excited to experience New Zealand and learn more about Māori culture, language, and traditions.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 3 months
Languages: German, English, Spanish
Interests: Sports, clarinet, outdoor activities
Maria from Iceland
María is friendly, outgoing and adventurous. She loves animals, especially horses and sheep, and enjoys spending time around farm life.
María has a strong passion for theatre and acting and is excited about the opportunity to perform and hopefully join a theatre club while in New Zealand. She is also passionate about youth rights and leadership, having been actively involved in youth groups and held leadership positions.
During her exchange, she is looking forward to learning about Māori culture, experiencing the New Zealand way of life, sharing her own Icelandic culture, and making new friends.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 8 months
Languages: Icelandic, English
Interests: Animals, theatre, youth leadership
Hosting an AFS exchange student is your family’s chance to bring a new culture into your life.
AFS friendships last a lifetime, expand your horizons and give you a new son or daughter.
An exchange student is not a guest in your house, but a new family member in your home.
They are expected to do dishes, make their beds – everything a member of the household is expected to do!
All types of families are encouraged to apply; there is no “typical” AFS Host Family. Some AFS families have children at home. Some are same sex couples. Others are empty nesters with adult children or are couples with no children at all. Single adults and single parents are also welcome. Even busy families find time to enjoy hosting AFS students!
Learn more by reading this website, or getting in touch by email or on our social media. You’re sure to have lots of questions and it’s better to get the answers straight from us!
Once you’ve talked it through with us and maybe your family or friends, then you’re ready to apply. We have students who are in the country for 11 months, 5 months, or short-term programmes, so there’s something for everyone.
Once all the paperwork is done, you’ll be introduced to the trained volunteers and staff who will support your family and help you learn how to make your AFS experience rewarding and fun. And then you get to select your new family member!
Exciting! Now you get to welcome your new family member. There will be laughs, challenges and lots of learning on both sides, as you learn from each other and evolve your family.
Our dedicated Hosting Coordinator will help answer your questions about hosting and let you know how to get started once you’re ready.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0800 600 300
Or use our online enquiry form
Experienced local AFS volunteers and staff will prepare your family for the experience of welcoming a new member from another country. You will have access to our online portal to written resources. Students will have their own set of in-person & online orientations (quantity depends on their programme lengths).
24/7 local emergency support, a contact person for your student & family. Alongside, additional support from the AFS national office is available. AFS students have full comprehensive medical insurance.
Trained volunteers and staff will support you throughout your hosting programme, including meeting with you and your family at least once a month to make sure everything is working out & bi-monthly support calls for all New Zealand host families.
Your support volunteers will guide your family and student through the AFS Host Family Intercultural Learning Journey activities to help make the entire experience more meaningful and lasting. A pre-arrival online orientation will also take place.
“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
“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
Need more info?
Check out our Host Family FAQs
or contact our Hosting Coordinator: [email protected] or 0800 600 300
