Kellogg Grantee Guide

Whether or not this is your first time away from your country, you are probably thinking about the different aspects of living in a new culture. Most grantees find that they must make some adjustments, since many things are new or unfamiliar. The process you will go through may be difficult, but it is also exciting and contributes to your personal enrichment and understanding of other ways of life.

Adapting to another culture may be frustrating at times, but there are people at your host university and at LASPAU who are able to help. Temporary problems should not discourage you. A growing familiarity with the new culture and with the resources available to you will greatly increase your enjoyment of your surroundings. You can read more about the process of cross-cultural adjustment by downloading this document in PDF format.

Immigration

Below, we have provided you with links to governmental websites containing general information about immigration requirements. Please pay particular attention to the material on visas. It is critical that you obtain the appropriate immigration documents for yourself and your family prior to entering New Zealand. For further information on immigration regulations, please contact the nearest New Zealand Embassy.

The New Zealand Immigration Service website provides extensive information on immigration requirements, forms and fees, and working in New Zealand. Please see the "Studying in New Zealand " section for specific information on immigration requirements for students.
The Ministry for Education website and the New Zealand Educated website also offer information on visa requirements.

Health Care

If included in your contract, LASPAU will automatically enroll you in the Virginia Surety insurance plan once you become a LASPAU-administered grantee, unless you inform us that you have alternative coverage. The Virginia Surety insurance plan, provided at no cost to you, is only for you and does not include any of your dependents. LASPAU will pay for insurance for your dependents, but you are responsible for arranging this coverage. Please click here for more information on the Virginia Surety insurance plan, as well as on how to obtain coverage for your dependents.

Education and Culture

There is a a lot of useful information about living and studying in New Zealand Immigration New Zealand website. You may find the following sections particularly useful:
- "Preparing for Your Departure": travel documents, currency information, and other helpful information for visitors.
- "Arriving in New Zealand": airport transportation, as well as customs and hotel information
- "Settling In": banking, housing, living in New Zealand, and community directories and support groups.
The Ministry for Education's Guide to Living and Studying in New Zealand is also very good resource. It is directed at Chinese students in, but provides a lot of important information about all aspects of living and studying in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Educated website is also a great resource on life in New Zealand for international students.

Employment

If you or your dependents would like to work while in New Zealand, you must be certain that both your program sponsor and the New Zealand government will allow you do so:

To verify whether your program sponsor will allow you to work, please contact your LASPAU program advisor or coordinator.
To verify whether the New Zealand government will allow you to work, please see the "Work" section of the New Zealand Immigration Service website. Please also consult with your international student advisor at your host institution.

If you work or receive grant funding in New Zealand, you may be expected to pay taxes. Please consult with the international student advisor at your host institution or the appropriate New Zealand government agency.

Housing and Your Mailing Address

Local newspapers, websites such as apartments.co.nz, craislist.org, or expatriates.com and your host university's international office can often serve as excellent resources when searching for off-campus or on-campus housing. The "Housing" section of the Immigration New Zealand and the "Accommodation" section of the New Zealand Educated website also offers helpful info on housing.

Make sure your mailbox at your home, dormitory, or residence hall indicates your full name (first and all surnames), since some postal carriers in New Zealand may not be accustomed to multiple surnames.

You must register your address with the proper authorities in New Zealand. The international advisor at your host institution should be able to give you information on who you need to register with.

Redirecting Your Mail

The New Zealand Postal Service provides a mail redirection service if you want to have your mail forwarded to you after you return to your home country. This is generally done by filling out a mail redirection form. You will also want to fill out this form if you move while in New Zealand. There is sometimes a small fee for the forwarding service. Click here to access the New Zealand Postal Service website.

Please note that the external website listed above are not maintained by LASPAU and LASPAU is not responsible for any of their contents. Please let us know if you find other online resources that might be helpful to international students in New Zealand.