Ting and Hao from Singapore

Cheong Yi Teng (Ting) and Chen Zhang Hao (Hao) chanced upon Taruna while visiting Hao’s uncle in Shangai who runs an International School there and is interested in incorporating aspects of Waldorf education. The Taruna teacher-training course was recommended to them, with the vision that they return to Shangai, bringing the appropriate skills and knowledge to help undertake this transition.

It was an adventurous step for the Singaporean couple, with the usual choices for overseas study being Australia and more populous countries. They hadn’t heard much about New Zealand, with the common perception being, “it’s just all rural.” But they found they were well-prepared by Taruna staff as to what to expect, through the website and other helpful links and information they were sent. The courtesy and welcome shown to them upon arrival meant they quickly felt at ease in the local community. Hao observes that “the people in New Zealand are all really friendly” and Ting chimes in, “they smile and say ‘hello’ to you when you pass them in the street.”

Ting has experienced Taruna as being “like a second home….Because it’s such a small class you feel like you make close friends really easily. Everywhere you go you meet people that you know.”

Help and support has been abundant in adjusting to the New Zealand lifestyle. the office assisted Ting and Hao with buying a car, directing them to the local auctions and websites like Trade Me, and when mid-way through the year they wanted to move out of the hostel, staff were especially supportive in helping them to find a place of their own, even down to the details of furnishing it.

Both agree that to come to Taruna you need to be open-minded, or as one of their tutors said, to say “oh” rather than “no” – to “not just reject” when you come up against something different or new. Taruna is a kind of micro-world, and this aspect Ting found especially invigorating: “Because most of us are international students, we bring a lot of different ideas and concepts into one place…it’s like a big melting pot. You hear ideas from other people, not just our classmates but maybe their spouses, their friends, different cultural and spiritual perspectives that you don’t really hear in Singapore.”

Ting and Hao highly recommend Taruna. For its small scale, its intimacy and friendliness, its dynamic multi-cultural concentration of students, and for the diverse and rich learning experiences offered.

Hans from the United States

Hans Meyer spent his first week at Taruna traversing Hawke’s Bay by bike, visiting different biodynamic farms and properties, getting a feel for the land and salt and waters of where he was, and loved it. During the year-long agricultural course he had time to travel more widely, which extended and enriched his study programme.

“A lot of the reasons I wanted to come to New Zealand was to experience a different place – there are 400, 500 courses in the States so I could have studied there. Now I’ve experienced a place and a culture, and I’ve studied Biodynamics! And also it was helpful being away, cos at home I have truck insurance payments, I have bills, I have work, all these friends knocking on the door. So to drop right out of my life into studying here, that was cool.”

“Hawke’s Bay’s a special place, a lot of great people…. All the farm hosts [where he worked in exchange for board] were really nice. They’ve been super, they recognise that I’m a student and I’m here to learn.” The biggest cultural difference Hans had to adapt to was drinking tea. “Back home at nine a.m. you have a coffee break, here you stop for tea.”

“I would thoroughly recommend Taruna to others living overseas. The year is really in-depth and the staff supportive. All the teachers who came in were top-notch, a real high level of knowledge…. Because you’re overseas you’re much more focused, and also being somewhere else in a new environment, it’s just a broadening experience in general. I’m very thankful I had the opportunity.”

To study in New Zealand, you will need to apply for a Student Visa or Student Permit.

Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights on employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at www.immigration.govt.nz .

Students not resident in New Zealand are required by the New Zealand Immigration Service to pay full fees in advance (into a Trust Fund) as a condition for receiving a Student Permit.

You will need to apply for a Student Visa if you are from outside of New Zealand, and are coming to New Zealand to study full time for longer than three months (Your partner and children who wish to accompany you can apply for a Visitor or Student Visa, but this must be done prior to arriving in New Zealand).

Potential students entering as visitors to New Zealand from visa free countries (see www.immigration.govt.nz) may apply for a Student Permit once an educational institute has accepted them.

You do not need a visa or permit to study in New Zealand if you are:

• a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand Resident Permit holder; or
• an Australian citizen or an Australian resident who holds a current Australian resident return visa;   or
• one of a group of people who are exempt from the requirement to hold a permit to be in New Zealand;   or
• studying a course of no more than three months (while on a valid visitor permit);   or
• a holder of a Limited Purpose Permit granted for the express purpose of attending a course of study or training;   or
• a holder of another type of temporary permit of which you have varied the conditions of your permit to allow you to undertake your course of study or training.

A Student Visa is:

• an endorsement you need in your passport to facilitate your travel to New Zealand for the purpose of study; and
• an endorsement you need in your passport if you are in New Zealand and wish to travel overseas and return to New Zealand for the purpose of study; and
• an endorsement showing you have permission to travel to New Zealand and may be granted a Student Permit when you arrive; and
• able to be issued for a single (one journey) or multiple (more than one journey) entry.

A Student Permit is:

• an endorsement in your passport which allows you to study in New Zealand. It will state the expiry date and give the conditions of your permit.

The conditions of your Student Permit will include details about:

• your course of study; and
• the educational institution; and
• the location of the institution in New Zealand; and
• any other restrictions (such as not being allowed to work).

• to fulfil course requirements; or
• up to 15 hours per week for tertiary students undertaking a long term course of study; or
• during the Christmas and New Year holiday period; or
• on completion of your course of study; or
• as a postgraduate student.

Note: No person who holds a temporary permit or limited purpose permit may provide commercial sexual services or operate or invest in a business which does.

Student Visa and Permit requirements are found on the Application to Study in New Zealand form. Contact www.immigration.govt.nz for details.

Do I Need A Medical Certificate?

You must be of an acceptable standard of health. This is to ensure that you are:

• not likely to be a danger to public health;     and
• not likely to be a burden on the health services;     and
• fit for the purposes of entry.

If you intend to study a course which is 24 months or longer you will need to provide a medical and x-ray certificate. Your medical and x-ray certificate must be less than three months old at the time your application is lodged.

If there is an indication of any medical condition which could mean you may not meet the provisions above, you may be required to provide a medical and x-ray certificate if the intention is to stay in New Zealand less than 24 months.

In some countries, the New Zealand Immigration Service selects medical panels of registered medical practitioners and/or radiologists. If you are resident in one of these countries, a panel member must complete your medical and x-ray certificate forms.

You may either refer to the New Zealand Student Visa Guide or consult the nearest branch of the New Zealand Immigration Service for details of the appropriate panel doctor for your area.

Do I need to be screened for TB?

You will need to be screened for TB if:

you are intending to stay in New Zealand for more than six months and the country stated in your passport is not included in the list below*, or you are intending to stay in New Zealand for more than six months and in the last five years from the date of your application you have visited, and/or lived in, a country or countries that are not included in the list below and the combined total of time spent in the country or countries adds up to three months or more.

*Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vatican City.

Do I Need A Police Certificate?

If you are 17 years of age and over and intend to stay in New Zealand for a total of more than two years, you must provide a police certificate to show you are of good character. In order to prove you are of good character, you must supply the following:

• a police certificate from your country of citizenship; and
• police certificates from any country you have lived for five years or more since reaching the age of 17 years.

Your police certificate must not be more than six months old at the time your application is lodged.

You can be refused a visa or permit if:

• you do not meet the entry requirements; or
• you are not a genuine applicant for a study visa or permit; or
• you are a person to whom Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1987 applies and you do not have an exemption.

Can my Visa or Permit be Revoked?

Student permits are issued to enable a person to undertake a particular course of study at a specified institution. Failure to do this may constitute a breach of the permit conditions, in which case the permit may be revoked.

Advance Passenger Screening

New Zealand has implemented a new system designed to enhance the security of New Zealand’s borders.  If you do not have the required visa to enter New Zealand in the passport you intend to use to travel or you have not met other relevant entry requirements you may be refused permission to board your flight to New Zealand.

To minimise any disruption to your travel plans please ensure your travel documents are up-to-date and that you have the appropriate and current visa and you meet all other applicable entry requirements.

If you have any questions, contact : www.immigration.govt.nz

For nformation and advice on driving laws, driver licensing requirements, and road traffic safety, including pedestrian and cycling safety, contact Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) New Residents and visitors — driving in New Zealand - or visit their website.

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH SERVICES: Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly-funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on their website at http://www.moh.govt.nz

ACCIDENT INSURANCE: The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website at http://www.acc.co.nz.

International students must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand. This must be in place, and checked by Taruna before the enrolment can be confirmed.

Guidelines for Travel and Health Insurance.

Generally, students should have combined travel and medical insurance on one policy, but separate policies are permitted.

Travel insurance policy components

Where students have separate travel and medical insurance policies, the travel insurance policy should cover:

• Loss of baggage and other personal effects
• Accident and injury
• Disruption to travel plans
• Cost of medical care in any “stopover” countries.

Suggested minimum content for appropriate insurance policies

Start of cover

The policy should:

• Commence the minute the student leaves home for the airport on their way to New Zealand
• Apply while in transit
• Apply while the student is in New Zealand
• Cover the student for any trips to other countries during the period of study
• Cover the student for any holidays back to their home country during the period of study.

If you are enrolling and are already in New Zealand, we require proof of insurance prior to confirmation of enrolment.

High sums insured and medical benefits

“Sums insured” is the money available in the event of a claim. It is imperative that the sums insured are very high so they will not be exceeded in any possible claim. Current policies range from $600,000 to “unlimited cover”. In order to “future proof” policies, sums insured of one million dollars plus are suggested.

Medical benefits generally range from general practitioner visits and prescriptions through to major hospitalisation (both public and private), optical cover and emergency dental cover.

It is preferable that no excess is applied to medical claims as this can discourage you from seeking treatment.

Emergency evacuation / repatriation

Repatriation represents the cost of getting the student home.

The benefit works two ways:

• If the student becomes seriously ill or injured and needs to be accompanied home (either alive or deceased) with medical professionals these costs are met by the insurance company.
• If members of the student’s immediate family living overseas become critically ill or die, the policy will fly the student home, and then back to New Zealand to complete their studies.

Ideally the policy should have “unlimited cover” as very large sums can be incurred in these situations.

Accompanying relative cover

If an overseas student in New Zealand becomes seriously ill or dies the policy should pay for parents to fly to New Zealand on the first available flight. The day-to-day accommodation and reasonable living costs in New Zealand for the parents should be met, as should the cost of their airfares home.

Personal effects

Insurance should cover students’ personal effects, including items like expensive musical instruments, lap top computers, and sporting equipment.Limits should be realistic but able to be increased to represent the actual value of particular items.

Personal liability cover

This benefit applies when a student causes accidental damage to property at an education provider or homestay (e.g. breaking expensive laboratory equipment, spilling paint on the carpet).

While persons affected could claim on their insurance, their insurance company should be provided with details of the student’s insurance to recover costs from the student’s insurer.

Desirable additional policy components

Loss of fees due to emergencies

This benefit should cover fees that are lost due to unforeseen events that are insured and unrecoverable from any other source. For example:

• The student is ill, injured, or deceased in New Zealand and unable to complete a course
• Travel delay occurs en route to New Zealand
• A relative becomes critically ill, injured, or dies in the student’s home country.

Fee payment should be recoverable, or tuition reinstated.

Mental illness

Mental illness is generally excluded from “standard” travel and medical insurance cover. However, some in-bound student plans offer varying amounts of mental illness cover.

Continuation option

Travel insurance usually ends when the student has returned to their home country. We recommend that you ask your insurer if a continuation option is available if a student needs to return to his/her home country because of illness or injury during the policy period and is able to use the policy for on-going treatment until the policy has expired.

Implementation of compulsory medical and travel insurance

Compulsory insurance affects three categories of students:

• New students who will be coming to New Zealand in 2012
• Students currently enrolled in a New Zealand education provider who are not insured
• Students on short courses

Taruna requires proof of your insurance cover as part of the enrolment process. We are required to retain a record of the insurer and policy number of all International Students, which may be used in the event of an emergency.

Taruna must know at all times which insurance each student has and what the expiry date of that insurance is.

The student is asked to provide sufficient information about their insurance policies that enable Taruna to check:

1. The insurer / re-insurer is a reputable and established company with substantial experience in the travel insurance business, and has an excellent credit rating. AAA is the highest credit rating. The credit rating should be no lower than A from Standard and Poors, or B+ from A M Best.
2. The insurer is able to provide emergency 24-hour, 7 day per week cover.
3. Students have a “certificate of currency” and policy wording from the insurance company stating that the student has purchased the cover for the duration of the planned period of study (e.g. start date 02/02/10 until 02/02/11). The certificate and policy wording must also detail medical sums insured, repatriation benefits etc. This is standard insurance practice to validate cover.

If the insurer is an overseas company, we request the policy details are provided in English.

Taruna has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students published by the Minister of Education.  Copies of the Code are available on request from this institution or from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website at http://www.minedu.govt.nz

Taruna has appointed Michelle Vette, Acting Manager as the Taruna Administrator of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.  Taruna has appointed Rachel Chapman as the Accommodation Administrator of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.

In the case where outside help is needed for the welfare of students Michelle Vette, (Administrator of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students) will facilitate, if required, in finding appropriate help – e.g. an anthroposophical Medical Practitioner and/or nurse, counsellor, psychologist, and/or other therapist.

Introduction

When students from other countries come to study in New Zealand, it is important that those students are well informed, safe, and properly cared for.  New Zealand educational providers have an important responsibility for international students’ welfare.

This pamphlet provides an overview of the “Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students” (the Code), and provides a procedure that students can follow if they have concerns about their treatment by a New Zealand educational provider or agent of a provider.

What is the Code?

The Code is a document that provides a framework for service delivery by educational providers and their agents to international students.  The Code sets out the minimum standards of advice and care that are expected of educational providers with respect to international students. The Code applies to pastoral care and provision of information only, and not to academic standards.

Who does the Code apply to?

The Code applies to all education providers in New Zealand with international students enrolled. The Code is mandatory to these providers and must be signed by them.

What is an “international student”?

An “international student” is a foreign student studying in New Zealand.

How can I get a copy of the Code?

You can download a copy of the Code from the Ministry of Education website at www.minedu.govt.nz/codeofpractice.

How do I know if an education provider has signed the Code?

The New Zealand Ministry of Education maintains a register of all signatories to the Code.  This is available online from www.minedu.govt.nz/international.  If the education provider that you are seeking to enrol with is not a signatory to the Code, you will not be  able to study at that institution.

What do I do if something goes wrong?

If you have concerns about your treatment by your education provider or by an agent of the provider, the first thing you must do is contact the principal, the international student director, or another person who has been identified to you as someone that you can approach about complaints at your institution.  The Code requires all institutions to have fair and equitable internal grievance procedures for students and you need to go through these internal processes before you can take the complaint any further.

If your concerns are not resolved by the internal grievance procedures, you can contact the International Education Appeal Authority (IEAA).

What is the International Education Appeal Authority (IEAA)?

The IEAA is an independent body established to deal with complaints from international students about pastoral care aspects of advice and services received from their education provider or the provider’s agents.  The IEAA enforces the standards in the Code of Practice.

How can I contact the IEAA?

You can write to the IEAA at:

International Education Appeal Authority
Tribunal Unit
Private Bag 32
Panama Street,
Wellington 6146

Phone: +64 4 462 6660

Fax: +64 4 462 6686

Email: ieaa@justice.govt.nz

www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/international-education-appeal-authority

What will the IEAA do?

The purpose of the IEAA is to adjudicate on complaints from international students.  The IEAA will investigate complaints and determine if there has been a breach of the Code.  The IEAA has the power to impose sanctions on education providers who have committed a breach of the Code that is not a serious breach.  These sanctions include an order for restitution, publication of the breach, and / or requiring that remedial action be undertaken.

The IEAA will refer complaints that are not about pastoral care to another regulatory body if appropriate.

The education provider will be given a reasonable time to remedy the breach.  If the breach is not remedied within that time, the IEAA may refer the complaint to the Review Panel.

The IEAA can determine if it considers that a breach of the Code is a serious breach.  If the breach is a serious breach, the IEAA will refer the complaint to the Review Panel.

What can the Review Panel do?

The Review Panel can remove or suspend an education provider as a signatory to the Code, meaning that the provider would be prevented from taking any more international students.  Only the IEAA can refer complaints to the Review Panel.

A summary of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students

The Code sets standards for education providers to ensure that:

• high professional standards are maintained
• the recruitment of international students is undertaken in an ethical and responsible manner
• information supplied to international students is comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date
• students are provided with information prior to entering into any commitments
• contractual dealings with international students are conducted in an ethical and responsible manner
• the particular needs of international students are recognised
• international students are in safe accommodation
• all providers have fair and equitable internal procedures for the resolution of international student grievances

Full details of what is covered can be found in the Code itself. The New Zealand Ministry of Education is the Administrator of the code.  If you have any inquiries about the code, you can email: info.code@minedu.govt.nz

You can get more information about the visa process from website:

www.immigration.govt.nz

You can get more information about education in New Zealand from:

• The Ministry of Education
• TeachNZ
• New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
• Education New Zealand