Trimester Programme Students
3 Months
Mid January – April 2027
Adirra from India
Adirra is an outgoing, kind and supportive student who enjoys meeting new people and adapting to new experiences.
Her friends describe her as someone who listens, encourages others and never gives up on the people she cares about. She is very close to her family, values kindness and communication, and considers herself the funny one at home. Adirra enjoys science at school and loves playing volleyball, listening to music and watching movies with her friends and family.
She is excited to come to New Zealand to experience a different culture and perspective, make new friends and become part of a host family, not simply feel like an exchange student.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 3 months
Languages: Tamil & English
Interests: science, volleyball, music
Semester Programme Students
5 Months
Mid January – July 2027
Nikolaus from Austria
Nikolaus enjoys making people laugh and has a great sense of humour.
He loves spending time with friends and family, whether it’s gaming, going to the gym, skiing, hiking, or exploring the outdoors. He also has a strong interest in technology and enjoys studying Digital Literacy at school.
Open-minded and eager to embrace new experiences, Nikolaus is excited to immerse himself in a new culture, become part of a host family, and share his Austrian background while building meaningful connections.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 3 months
Languages: German, English & Spanish
Interests: hiking, skiing, technology
Vincent from Switzerland
Vincent is a curious and motivated student with a strong passion for mathematics and physics, which are his favourite subjects at school.
He enjoys exploring these areas beyond the classroom through tutorials, problem-solving, and participating in academic challenges such as a national physics tournament. Vincent has been an active member of his local Scout group since 2019 and enjoys adapting to new situations while spending time outdoors.
He values family time through shared meals, game nights, and outings. Vincent is excited to experience New Zealand’s culture and natural beauty, make new friends, and become part of a host family.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 9 months
Languages: German, English & Swiss German
Interests: problem-solving, game nights, outdoor activities
Maurits from Switzerland
Maurits is an active and adventurous student who enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it’s swimming, playing volleyball, skateboarding, snowboarding, or relaxing by the lake with friends.
He has a keen interest in technology and loves building projects, including his own gaming PC and smart home devices.
He is excited to experience New Zealand’s culture and outdoor lifestyle while sharing his own traditions with his host family.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 4 months
Languages: German, English, Dutch & French
Interests: technology, outdoor activities
Murilo from Brazil
Murilo is a curious and motivated student with a strong interest in mathematics and science, which he studies at Instituto Embraer.
He enjoys meeting new people, discovering different cultures and lifestyles, travelling, and exploring new places. Living with his parents, older brother and their five dogs, Murilo values family time, especially sharing meals together.
He is excited to experience New Zealand’s landscapes, culture, and way of life while becoming part of a host family, sharing his Brazilian traditions, and creating meaningful memories during his exchange.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 10 months
Languages: Portuguese & English
Interests: mathematics & science, travelling
Laura from Germany
Laura is a kind, outgoing student with a passion for music, performing, and spending time with the people she cares about.
She loves playing the violin in a string quartet, singing in the choir, dancing, cooking, watching movies, and going for walks with friends and family. At school, her favourite subjects are Music and Computer Science, and she is also looking forward to a short exchange to England later this year. Laura enjoys giving back to her community as a church ministrant and by assisting younger children with gymnastics.
She is excited to experience New Zealand’s beautiful scenery, unique culture, and the opportunity to become part of a welcoming host family.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 8 months
Languages: German & English
Interests: performing arts, cooking, movies
Mathias from Paraguay
Mathias is a friendly and resilient 15-year-old from Paraguay who loves sports, especially rugby.
He is sociable, organised, and enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, volunteering, and being involved in his community. Having stayed with host families abroad, he is comfortable adapting to new environments and is excited to experience New Zealand, meet new people, and share his Paraguayan culture.
Mathias is also interested in education, business, and entrepreneurship and looks forward to becoming part of a host family.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 1 month
Languages: Spanish & English
Interests: sports, business, cooking
Lily From the USA
Lily is a kind, adventurous, and enthusiastic girl.
She is passionate about music and loves singing, playing the piano, and performing in school musicals. She also enjoys playing soccer, exploring nature, camping, going to the beach, and meeting new people.
Lily is excited to experience New Zealand’s culture, landscapes, and way of life while becoming part of a host family’s everyday life. She looks forward to sharing her positive attitude, curiosity, and willingness to help around the home.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 9 months
Languages: English
Interests: animals, playing piano, camping
Melinda from Austria
Melinda is a friendly, independent and adventurous 16-year-old from Austria. She enjoys horse riding, reading, music, travelling, diving and spending time with her friends and family.
She has been horse riding for eight years and is passionate about dressage and jumping. Melinda loves trying new foods and cooking, especially traditional Austrian dishes.
At school, she particularly enjoys history and politics. She is very excited to experience life in New Zealand, explore its nature and wildlife, learn about Māori culture, make new friends and improve her English.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 7 months
Languages: German, English & Russian
Interests: horse riding, cooking, nature
Lykke from Greenland
Lykke is a friendly, caring and open-minded 16-year-old from Greenland.
She is creative and enjoys drawing, arts and crafts, music and singing. She is also passionate about politics, social studies and children’s rights through her involvement with the Children’s Council in Greenland.
Lykke enjoys spending time with family and friends, meeting new people and learning about different perspectives. She is excited to experience a new culture, make new friends and become part of a host family during her exchange.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 9 months
Languages: Greenlandic, English & Danish
Interests: politics, meeting new people
Year Programme Students
11 Months
Mid January – December 2027
Almendra from Peru
Almendra is a warm and family-oriented student who enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones. She loves cooking, especially making desserts, and is passionate about sharing food with others.
She also enjoys staying active through bike riding and going to the gym. Almendra values exploring new places and creating memories with her family, often travelling outside their small city to relax and discover new surroundings.
She is excited to experience New Zealand’s culture, share her love of food and family traditions, and build meaningful connections with her host family.
Age on Arrival: 17 years 2 months
Languages: Spanish & English
Interests: cooking, staying active, exploring new places
Chiara from Switzerland
Chiara is a friendly, open-minded, and caring 16-year-old from a small village in the Swiss Alps. She enjoys reading, snowboarding, listening to music, cooking, and baking, and has a passion for animals, hoping to study Zoology in the future.
Although she no longer rides horses due to her school schedule, she still volunteers at her local stables teaching children. Chiara is excited to experience New Zealand’s culture, improve her English, meet new people, and share a little of Switzerland with her host family.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 9 months
Languages: German & English
Interests: cooking, horse riding, reading
Raku from Japan
Raku is a cheerful, friendly and independent 16-year-old from Japan who loves sports and outdoor activities.
He particularly enjoys surfing, swimming, snowboarding and camping, as well as listening to music, reading manga and watching movies. Raku is a confident and sociable young person who enjoys making friends and has previous international experience from a one-month study programme in Australia.
He is looking forward to experiencing New Zealand, improving his English, exploring the outdoors and sharing Japanese culture and food with his host family.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 9 months
Languages: Japanese & English
Interests: surfing, snowboarding, reading manga
Yiran from China
Yiran is a friendly, responsible and independent 16-year-old student.
He is a quiet and caring person who enjoys helping others and takes pride in being dependable. Yiran has a strong interest in science, particularly chemistry, and has been recognised at school for his involvement in science experiments and activities. Outside of school, he enjoys playing badminton, swimming, photography and spending time in nature. He also likes cooking simple Chinese dishes and dumplings.
Yiran is very excited about his AFS exchange and hopes to experience New Zealand culture, improve his English, share Chinese traditions and become an active and valued member of his host family.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 10 months
Languages: Mandarin & English
Interests: chemistry, cooking, badminton
Kaori from Japan
Kaori is a thoughtful, mature and open-minded 16-year-old. She enjoys connecting with different people, learning from others and building genuine relationships while respecting personal space.
She is interested in traditional Japanese tea, sustainability, social issues, business and cross-cultural understanding. At school, she enjoys spending time with a variety of friends and is proactive about learning from professionals in fields that interest her.
Through her exchange, Kaori hopes to improve her English, learn about New Zealand’s sustainable practices and gain a deeper understanding of different cultures. She hopes to study overseas in the future and work towards creating fairer and more sustainable business systems. She is looking forward to becoming part of a host family, sharing everyday life together and developing a warm, honest and natural connection.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 8 months
Languages: Spanish & English
Interests: Japanese tea, sustainability, meeting new people
Hannes from Sweden
Hannes is a friendly and adventurous boy. He is an active and independent young person who enjoys meeting new people, experiencing different cultures and embracing new opportunities.
Football is Hannes’ greatest passion. He plays at a high level for his club in Sweden and is excited about the opportunity to continue playing while in New Zealand. Outside of football, he enjoys camping, fishing and spending time outdoors. He also loves animals, particularly dogs.
Hannes is very social and enjoys spending time with his friends, while also looking forward to making new friendships in New Zealand. Having grown up with both Japanese and Swedish cultural influences, he is comfortable with different cultures and perspectives.
Independent, adaptable and open-minded, Hannes is excited to experience everyday life in New Zealand and become part of a host family. Although he knows he will miss his family and friends in Sweden, he is looking forward to the adventure, new experiences and connections he will make along the way.
Age on Arrival: 17 years 1 month
Languages: French, Japanese & English
Interests: Football, camping, meeting new people
Sae from Japan
Sae is a cheerful, outgoing and positive student from Japan who loves meeting new people and making friends.
She has a strong passion for musicals, singing, dancing and gymnastics, with Frozen being one of her favourites. She also enjoys outdoor activities, spending time with friends and caring for younger children.
Inspired by her brother’s AFS experience, Sae is excited to come to New Zealand to improve her English, experience Kiwi culture and nature, and make lasting friendships. She is caring, responsible and determined, with a positive attitude towards taking on new challenges.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 7 months
Languages: Japanese & English
Interests: musicals, gymnastics, meeting new people
Amelie from Germany
Amelie is an open-minded, friendly, and humorous girl who loves spending time with her family and friends.
In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and series, cooking, drawing, playing the piano, and playing games with her family. She is also part of a dance academy and would love to try gymnastics during her exchange. Amelie is excited about the opportunity to improve her English, experience a new culture, and try new things.
Her parents have visited New Zealand and loved the country and its friendly people, which inspired Amelie to choose New Zealand for her exchange. She is looking forward to meeting new people, making memories, and experiencing life in New Zealand.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 1 month
Languages: German & English
Interests: dance, gymnastics, meeting new people
Yurina from Japan
Yurina is a friendly and creative 15-year-old student from Japan. She enjoys drawing, art, creative crafts, playing video games, and spending time with her family and friends.
Although she can be a little reserved at first, she becomes warm and talkative once she gets to know people. Yurina is excited to come to New Zealand to improve her English, experience a new culture, enjoy the beautiful nature, and try new school subjects.
She is looking forward to becoming part of a host family and making new memories during her exchange.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 3 months
Languages: German & English
Interests: creative crafts, video games, nature
Javier from Chile
Javier is a charismatic, curious, and active young man who enjoys meeting new people, trying new experiences, and bringing positive energy to those around him.
He is very close to his family and values respect, teamwork, responsibility, and supporting others. Javier enjoys sports and staying active, as well as hands-on hobbies such as building, construction, and welding. He particularly enjoys working with tools and materials, learning practical skills, and creating things from scratch.
He is organised and responsible, balancing school, sports, family time, and his hobbies well. Javier is excited about his AFS exchange as an opportunity to become more independent, experience a different culture, step outside his comfort zone, and build meaningful connections with his host family and community. In the future, he hopes to study agricultural engineering, combining his interests in technology, innovation, and practical skills.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 8 months
Languages: Spanish & English
Interests: building, sports, meeting new people
Ditte from Denmark
Ditte is friendly and outgoing. She is very close to her family and enjoys spending time with friends, shopping, watching movies, listening to music and attending concerts and festivals.
Ditte is very active and passionate about running, regularly competing in 5 km and 10 km races. She also enjoys strength training, padel, soccer and other outdoor activities. In her free time, she loves reading, spending time with her dog and getting creative with DIY projects and decorating.
Ditte is excited to come to New Zealand to experience a new culture, improve her English, make new friends and share Danish traditions with her host family.
Age on Arrival: 16 years 3 months
Languages: Danish, German & English
Interests: running, DIY projects, soccer
Giulia from Canada
Giulia is a friendly, outgoing and creative student who loves music, art and meeting new people.
She plays piano and bass clarinet, enjoys singing and participating in band, and spends her free time painting, drawing, sewing, reading and doing crafts. Giulia is hardworking and independent, with a strong interest in maths and science as well as the arts.
She is excited to experience New Zealand’s culture and education system, make new friends and create lasting memories with her host family.
Age on Arrival: 17 years 2 months
Languages: English
Interests: drawing, maths, singing
Start the application process
All types of families are encouraged to apply; there is no “typical” AFS host family. As a not-for-profit organisation, AFS doesn’t pay host families. Hosting an AFS exchange student is your family’s chance to experience a new culture in your own home. AFS friendships last a lifetime, expand your horizons and give you a new son or daughter. AFS offers support throughout the entire process.
Email us [email protected] or complete our Hosting Enquiry form
Talk with our Hosting Coordinator
Our dedicated Hosting Coordinator will help answer your questions about hosting and let you know how to get started once you’re ready.