International students quickly feel at home with our friendly students and spacious campus. Read on to learn how we welcome international students.
Living in New Zealand
New Zealand is a safe and beautiful country situated in the South Pacific. The country enjoys a temperate climate and beautiful scenery. New Zealand has a high standard of living, is part of the OECD and WTO and is one of only six officially English-speaking countries in the world.
The population of 4 million is made up of many races living predominantly in the three largest cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
New Zealand is a very safe country with a low crime rate and is free from political unrest. It operates under the British legal and educational systems. Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. With a population of 400,000 people, it is also the arts and cultural heart of New Zealand.
New Zealanders are well known for their warm hospitality and friendliness. They have an informal approach to life and usually use first names even in business. New Zealanders call themselves 'Kiwis' after their native bird. The people are very caring and are always interested in others. The culture is mainly European and the Maori people, the original settlers, are the biggest non-European group. It is an English speaking country.
ClimateNew Zealand is situated in the Southern Hemisphere. The country has four distinct seasons and its climate is mild with wet winters and warm summers. The daytime temperature ranges, on average, from 5 degrees in the winter to 22 degrees in the summer.
New Zealand consists of two long narrow islands, the North Island and the South Island. Chilton Saint James School is situated at the southern tip of the North Island at Lower Hutt, a city fifteen minutes from the capital city Wellington. Mountain ranges run the length of the whole country and they are usually snow-covered in winter.
The coast, with its beautiful beaches of golden or black volcanic sand, is always within a short distance.
Lower Hutt is a city of 100,000 people situated beside the Hutt river. The city is safe with a vibrant shopping centre and good restaurants for fine eating. Nestled in a beautiful scenic valley, the city has numerous sporting and recreational activities. The road, bus and rail systems make Lower Hutt an easy drive or ride from the capital, Wellington and from the surrounding towns and scenic destinations.
Homestay accommodation
International students are placed in quality homes in the immediate community. School staff personally select homestays according to the wishes of the International student and her family. Living in a homestay helps students to learn English faster and gain some understanding of New Zealand culture and customs.
Each student will be provided with her own bedroom. This room will have a bed, a desk, clothes storage and heating. She will be involved in family life and the family will take a continuous interest in her activities. The homestay family will be available to transport the student in the family car to most of her activities.
The family will provide three meals a day, including lunch that is taken to school.
The host family will carry out the student's washing if she so wishes. As the international student is a member of the household she will be expected to help with small tasks around the home just as New Zealand students do.
Keep browsing this International student section to learn more about the academic and cultural programmes on offer at Chilton, the university pathways a Chilton education can bring, and student comments on their time as an international student at Chilton.
To read more about the New Zealand Immigration Service or our Local Government websites (Hutt City Council and Wellington City Council) please follow the links.