Welcoming our International Students

20 Feb

The International Department at Westland High School is experiencing a strong period of growth, with 14 international students enrolled this term.

This represents the highest number of international students the school has welcomed since the global pandemic, and there continues to be significant interest from students wishing to experience all that Hokitika and our kura have to offer for the remainder of the year.

This term, we are pleased to welcome the Lau family (Amelie, Noam, Yuna and Mayalin) and Mats from Germany; Shinji, Yuki and Chiori from Japan; and Thomas, Federico, Gaia and Cecilia from Italy through the In Viaggio con Fede programme. They join Leevke and Jonas from Germany, who have been part of our school community since Terms 3 and 4, 2025, and have remained with us over the summer period.

In May we will welcome 6 French students and one Japanese student and seven more German students in July. 

If you are interested in hosting an international student please get in touch via our website or

Email janebrownie@westlandhigh.school.nz

Phone (021) 150 5568

(03) 7556169 Ext 823

Students pictured left to right:

Front row: Amelie Lau, Yuki Fujiwara, Chiori Sugiyama, Cecilia Porta,Shinji Maruyama, Gaia Remonti, Noam Lau and International assistant, Annemarie Greig

Back Row: Maylin Lau, Yuna Lau, Federico Bonomi, Thomas Defendi, Jonas Pinkerneil, Mats Schmidt, Leevke Ahlers and International Director, Jane Brownie