Homestay Host Payments

The Basics

Each visiting student pays a homestay fee to New Zealand Homestay to cover management and supervision of their stay, 24/7 emergency support services, insurance and airport transportation services. The majority of the homestay fee is passed along to hosts to cover day-to-day food and accommodation expenses. Homestay fees vary from state to state and range depending on accommodation, meal plan and location.

Are you a student? Please visit the “Student Pricing” page for student homestay fees.

Payment Process

  1. New Zealand Homestay processes payments directly into your nominated bank account once a fortnight according to a schedule.
  2. Once your student begins the homestay and has settled in, you will need to mark them as arrived in the system to activate your host payment. Payments will generally be made on a Tuesday for relevant guests who have arrived by the Friday of the week prior.
  3. New Zealand Homestay will collect fees from your student and make ongoing fortnightly payments to you – provided that the student has paid on time – for the duration of the placement. Payments will generally be made on a Tuesday.

Note: New Zealand Homestay cannot pay ongoing weekly fees to the host until we have received the funds from the student.

How Much Homestay Hosts Are Paid

Each city has host reimbursement rates specific to the living costs and services available in that region. Host payments include meals, internet, utilities (e.g. power, water) and laundry facilities. Homestay insurance coverage is also included.

All rates are quoted in New Zealand Dollars (NZD)

2024 Host Rates

Auckland
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$340$340-$360*
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$310$330
Private RoomDinner Only$280Not Offered
Private RoomNo Meals$250Not Offered
*Payment may vary depending on school reimbursement policies
Tauranga
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$300$330
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$270$300
Private RoomDinner Only$240Not Offered
Private RoomNo Meals$210Not Offered
Hamilton
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$300$330
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$270$300
Private RoomDinner Only$240Not Offered
Private RoomNo Meals$210Not Offered
Wellington
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$310$340
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$280$310
Private RoomDinner Only$250Not Offered
Private RoomNo Meals$220Not Offered
Christchurch
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$280$310
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$250$280
Private RoomDinner Only$220Not Offered
Private RoomNo Meals$190Not Offered
Dunedin
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$290$320
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$260$290
Private RoomDinner Only$230Not Offered
Private RoomNo Meals$200Not Offered

2025 Host Rates

Auckland
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$340$350-$360*
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$310$330
Private RoomDinner Only$280Not Offered
*Payment may vary depending on school reimbursement policies
Tauranga
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$320$340
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$290$310
Private RoomDinner Only$260Not Offered
Hamilton
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$320$340
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$290$310
Private RoomDinner Only$260Not Offered
Wellington
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$340$360
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$310$330
Private RoomDinner Only$280Not Offered
Christchurch
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$320$340
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$290$310
Private RoomDinner Only$260Not Offered
Dunedin
Host Reimbursement Rates (Per Week)
Room TypeMealsOver 18Under 18
Private RoomComplete Homestay
3 meals, 7 days per week		$320$340
Private RoomTraditional Homestay
2 meals Mon to Fri, 3 meals Sat & Sun		$290$310
Private RoomDinner Only$260Not Offered

Rates are for our standard homestay packages and may vary depending on the student’s education provider.

Additional reimbursement may be offered if hosts are requested to supply special services to guests.

Rates are subject to change without notice.

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