You have several options for accommodation in Auckland:
‘Home-stay’ means living with a New Zealand family in their home. The family provide you with a furnished bedroom, breakfast and dinner seven days a week, and lunches on weekends and public holidays.
We recommend you live with a New Zealand home-stay family for a minimum of eight weeks when you first arrive in the country. This will give you a secure and welcoming environment, and a feel for the ‘kiwi way of life’ and language.
We can arrange a home-stay for you, and meet you at the airport to drive you directly to your home-stay accommodation. Please contact us to arrange this.
All home-stay families are checked for suitability by a registered home-stay company. They agree to abide by the conditions of the Code of Pastoral Care of International Students.
If you want to change your home-stay or leave your home-stay, you may do so. However, you will need to let our home-stay co-ordinator know of this at least two weeks in advance.
Home-stay accommodation costs NZ$210 per week (over 16 years of age) and is payable one month in advance. There is a non-refundable home-stay placement fee of NZ$250.
Flatting is a common option in Auckland, where you share a flat with people who have already rented a house or apartment. There are advertisements in most daily newspapers under the heading ‘Flatmates Wanted’.
If you join an existing flat, you will typically rent an unfurnished room and therefore need to buy your own bedroom furniture.
A room can cost from NZ$90 to NZ$200 per week, and you will normally be expected to pay rent in advance plus a bond. Food expenses are shared by flatmates who take turns cooking, or you buy and cook your own.
The rent does not normally include utilities such power, water or telephone, and these costs are shared by all members of the flat.
For more information on flatting see:
‘Going Flatting’ on the Tenancy Services website and ‘Flatting 101: Your guide to flatting’.
To view or find a flat to rent, go to:
www.trademe.co.nz
www.studentrent.co.nz
Renting is a popular choice for many long-term students. Most landlords require a bond plus two to four weeks rent in advance. The bond is deposited with the Ministry of Housing, and can be used to repair any damage you cause to the property, or for unpaid rent.
Rental properties in Auckland are not usually furnished, so you would need to provide your own furniture. They will have built-in cooking facilities, and some may also provide a fridge or washing machine. Check what furnishings are available before you sign up.
You can find a house or apartment to rent in the ‘To Let’ section of the local daily newspaper, on www.trademe.co.nz or by contacting a local Real Estate Agent or Letting Agent. An agent will charge a fee of about one weeks rent.
NEVER sign anything that you do not agree to or do not understand.
Please read the rental advice on the Tenancy Services website before renting an apartment or house. The website offers excellent advice on all aspects of renting accommodation - from how to find a flat, to what your rights and obligations are.
If you have any problems with a landlord, or do not understand your rental agreement, you can contact the Tenancy Service for advice and information on free-phone 0800 83 62 62.
These options are the most flexible for you when you first arrive, however they are also the most expensive:
Backpackers
There are numerous backpacker hostels in Auckland central city locations. If you have not arranged permanent accommodation before your arrival in New Zealand, then you may choose to stay at a Backpackers Hostel while you look for somewhere to live. You will be a great distance away from KAAT in East Tamaki, and will need to use public transport to travel from Auckland City to the campus – approximately 45 minutes return journey.
Backpackers cost between NZ$30 - $40 per night for a shared room, or up to NZ$120 for a private room. Food is not provided and bathroom, laundry and cooking facilities are shared.
You can choose one of the many Backpacker Hostels in Auckland on the Internet by searching under Auckland + Backpackers or by looking up the Yellow Pages.
Hotels
Hotels start at $170 a night for a single room, excluding food and drinks. They offer restaurant and laundry facilities.
Motels
Motels are similar to Hotels, however a lot less expensive. They have self-contained units with a private bathroom and kitchenette, but do not provide meals. You must either dine out or cook your own food at a motel. There are many motels near us at KAAT. Prices start at NZ$100 per night.
You can find many motels on the Internet by searching for Motel + Papatoetoe or by looking up the Yellow Pages.