Kia ora and welcome to Taranaki, where the best of New Zealand is right on your doorstep!
Live and study alongside friendly locals, improve your English in classes with small numbers of international students, work with education providers to develop your individual talents, and come away with qualifications that lead to fantastic career opportunities in sectors such as energy, engineering, food and fibre and the visitor sector.
Combine this with a lifestyle that offers wealth of events, great places to eat and visit no matter what your budget.
It’s very easy to get here, Taranaki is just a short direct flight from Auckland (40 minutes), Wellington (45 minutes) and Christchurch (1.25 hour) flying with Air New Zealand, once you land at New Plymouth Airport, its just a quick 15 minute drive to the city centre. Alternately Taranaki is a scenic 4.5 hour drive from Auckland or Wellington, 3.5 hours to Rotorua, and is connected to the rest of the country through daily bus services.
There's something for everyone in Taranaki
Taranaki offers international students a quality education and the best of Aotearoa New Zealand’s famous lifestyle right at your doorstep. Our compact region makes it easy to fit a lot into your day.
If you love the outdoors we offer the best surfing in the country. No matter what the weather, somewhere in Taranaki the surf is up! Love hiking? Why not try one of the hundreds of hiking routes on the Taranaki Maunga (Mountain). If organised sport more your thing, we grow young sporting talent and offer excellent school and community sports facilities.
Love music and performing arts? The performing arts thrive in our school system and with international festivals like WOMAD regularly coming to town – you’ll get your fix of arts and culture.
Want to learn about our country’s history and indigenous Māori culture? Our schools and teritary providers offer ample opportunities to learn Te Reo Māori (language), culture, and our nation’s history.
Our business, and education communities are closely connected through the Young Enterprise Scheme. Secondary school students can start businesses while at school, and work with business mentors from the community. Most of our tertiary programmes offer internships or opportunities to meet with business leaders.
Taranaki is a safe and welcoming region.
Our education providers offer support for English language. They also help students settle by providing pastoral care for new students, and personally checking, and police vetting all homestay options.
Discover what it's like studying in Taranaki
Explore our Education Providers
In Taranaki, there are educational options for everyone from early childcare through to schools, tertiary institutions, and adult education classes.
Take a look at some of our schools.
Student Life In Taranaki
How can I get around Taranaki?
The region's compact size makes travel mean that now where is too far away. There is a comprehensive school bus network throughout Taranaki. Students can buy a bus card which allows them to travel on all city and regional buses.
WITT students have free travel as part of their study package. For fare and timetable information, see fare and timetable information.
New Plymouth District has a cycle strategy and a comprehensive network of cycle trails.
What is the cost of living like?
Taranaki offers a comparatively less expensive cost of living than New Zealand's larger centres. Food transport and eating out are around 20 per cent cheaper and accommodation approximately 60 per cent. See here for a comparison between New Plymouth City and Auckland:
What is the job market like for part-time work while I study if I need to work?
There is a range of roles open to students. The tourism and hospitality industry has skill shortages, and international students' language and cultural knowledge are in high demand. If your education provider has a student job service, talk to them about what you are looking for. Student job search is an excellent place to start.
Student Life In Taranaki
The region's compact size makes travel mean that now where is too far away. There is a comprehensive school bus network throughout Taranaki. Students can buy a bus card which allows them to travel on all city and regional buses.
WITT students have free travel as part of their study package. For fare and timetable information, see fare and timetable information.
New Plymouth District has a cycle strategy and a comprehensive network of cycle trails.
Taranaki offers a comparatively less expensive cost of living than New Zealand's larger centres. Food transport and eating out are around 20 per cent cheaper and accommodation approximately 60 per cent. See here for a comparison between New Plymouth City and Auckland:
There is a range of roles open to students. The tourism and hospitality industry has skill shortages, and international students' language and cultural knowledge are in high demand. If your education provider has a student job service, talk to them about what you are looking for. Student job search is an excellent place to start.
Ash came to NZ as an international student. See how she made Taranaki her home.
Taranaki Story Resources
Taranaki story is a resource for images, videos, and other marketing assets that can be used to promote the region and its lifestyle.
Apply to enrol to study in New Zealand
From 31 July 2022, the border reopens and international students can apply to enrol to study in New Zealand.
Get Work Ready
Resources and tools to help you get ready for work in New Zealand, and make the transition from studying to working.
These resources are a guide to finding work and presenting yourself to employers.
Living Here
Find out more about what its like moving to, and living in Taranaki.