What are children in New Zealand schools like?

Question

We're struggling to convince our 14 year old daughter to be brave for our move from the UK to NZ.

She is mostly concerned that she will struggle to make friends with other children at a new school.

Her point of reference is that when new children arrive at her current school in the UK hardly anybody makes the effort to befriend them.

I've tried to point out that as far as I'm aware, NZ is a very friendly nation, and the likelihood is that it simply won't happen.

If you've got any knowledge to pass onto me that would help, please answer this question.

Thanks so much.

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Answer 1

Well most of the time she need not too worry because the teachers will give her a little buddy too show her around, be with her in classes and such.

so on her first day the teacher will already introduce her too someone that will help her places too go, classes and stuff and too just like be her friend and if she gets along then they become friends she joins their group there you go. there will be somebody on her first day too show her around who she will most likely befriend

Answer 2

NZ'ers are generally welcoming people. When we had exchange students they settled in pretty quickly because most were interested about them. i don't reckon your daughter will have any troubles making mates.

Answer 3

The New Zealanders are the most friendly nation of people you could wish to come across.

All big cities have their own problems , but the people are great, move out of the centre of town and you will be near some very kind hearted neighbours.

I don't know about school, but if the parents are nice, I am sure the school kids are too.

Answer 4

Its definetly a tough thing moving schools at that age, however ultimately i think its a great experience too.

My family moved from the North island to the South island of New Zealand when i was 16, my goodness i was sssssssoooooooooo MAD and sad I just couldn't see why they would even consider moving me away from my best friends in the world. Now thats obviously not quite the same situation as your daughter is going to be in as the UK is a much longer flight away but as someone who's experienced moving schools that were far enough away from each other  to completely change my life (i.e too expensive/far for me to keep going back to see my "old" friends) i would say she will be fine.

In fact given that your coming from the UK theres an immediate conversation starter right there, kiwi kids will be fascinated by her accent and want to find out more. Also from what i've gathered schools in NZ are pretty good at introducing new students and maybe even buddying them up with another student for the first day to help them settle in.

I honestly think she'll be fine, of course convincing her is the hardest part but really i definetly agree that NZ is a friendly nation and she would make "new" friends in a flash.

Good luck! :-)

Answer 5

well im in year 11 at Mount Hutt College a secondary school in Methven, New Zealand. I say that there is no people that would not accept a new comer here actually people silently fight over who will be the new persons friend! Everyone here accepts people from everywhere beacause there are alot of different cliqes and most of them aren't actually labelled into certain people but more age groups because our school is a combined intermetiate and secondary school well aslo have a big buddy program where older students like year 12s or 13s show them round the school and look after them in their first year at a new place.

Answer 6

yes ,, i watch a tv prog from uk recently about schools   over there , i die with my kids when there ,,, our school system is good , high standard of education , of course some school are better than other ,,, high school  you have to zone in the area you live in ,,, but i might add all schools are not perfect ,,,yes we are know as the friendly people of the world

Answer 7

Well she does have a point & if she's shy & aloof she may have a problem.  True NZ is friendly in general, but schools can be another matter.  I recall at high school (like 20 years ago) that exchange students from Japan & Canada fared well & an English girl who was confident & had cool hair & dressed funky, fit in straight away, but a German brother & sister were totally hated & had no friends after a whole year there (no, nothing to do with the war!).  

It also depends what school you are going to & where you are going to live (like a bad suburb may have bullying problems or a high percentage of badly behaved kids).   Also Wellington would be easy - super social & friendly place, very welcoming to new comers.  Auckland might be quite cliquey but if desperate she can always hang out with the unpopular kids or geeks - they are guaranteed to be nice to her, so at least she would have someone for awhile until maybe making some better friends.  Small towns & rural areas are likely to be fine.  NZers are obsessed with sport (much to my disappointment - I live here & love the arts) so if she gets involved in a team of some sort or any sport or athletics, this will help alot.  Also she could join whatever other clubs they have at her school - photography club, drama club, etc that they have after school - I think that is a great way for her to befriends kids if she hasn't managed to do that with kids in her classes.  And if she's cheerful & takes any teasing about her accent in her stride that will help too.

On the up side, bear in mind we have alot of people from the UK here & the amount is increasing as more NZers are moving to Australia so we have a new influx of extra UK people coming to fill up the job vacancies.  This means a likelihood of UK kids at her school she can hang with (particularly if it's a large school - why not enquire at the school beforehand & ask if they have any UK students close to her age?).  Not just UK kids though, what about all the other immigrants with their kids who have no friends?  We have people from all over coming here, alot of South Africans, etc.

If she struggles at school she can make friends elsewhere like at things she can join after school re whatever her interests are.  Making friends at those things after school is less pressure & more friendly.  There are loads of things to join here for adults or teens, could be a course in jewellery making, tennis, badminton, dance classes, whatever.  She could also chat online & make friends that way, in fact she could start doing that now before she even arrives, so might have some friends to hook up with on arrival.  Auckland is a big city so try to hook up with locals as our public transport is terrible.

If worse comes to worse she can always home school (like if she's scared of being bullied you can point that out as a worst case scenario).  Or she could go to a Rudolf Steiner School  (google search it - kind of alternative but guaranteed no bullying & instant friends as they are small, supportive schools).  So you can suggest both of those as options in a worst case scenario.

I'm sure there must be ex-patriot organisations here for UK people (I know there is for Americans) where you can go to meet up with other UK migrants - which means some will have kids her age so she'll have other UK kids to confide in re moving here.  Try our UK embassy or consulate here for info.

I do think she would get more enthusiastic about coming here if she started chatting online to someone.  Maybe go to the NZ myspace page & she could even start her own group re 14 year olds that are new to NZ?

Good luck!