A Typical New Zealand Host Family

A typical Kiwi Host Family will have 2 or 3 children, most often aged between 1 and 12. Most Host Families live in detached 4 or 5 bedroom homes with a back garden where the children can play outdoors.

It’s typical for both Mum and Dad to go to work, though some Au Pairs will be in a parent help role where one parent is home much of the time. Families usually have 2 cars and will sometimes have a car just for the Au Pair’s use.

New Zealand Families are often sporty and enjoy spending time outdoors. They will often spend time together as a family in the weekends.

It is usual for Kiwi families to eat varied international foods. Hot meals are eaten in the evenings, often with all the family sitting down at the table together. Kiwis are well known as friendly and welcoming hosts.

Au Pair Duties

As an Au Pair in New Zealand you will be required to work between 20 and 45 hours per week. Your Au Pair duties will be mostly related to the children, providing care, supervision and an environment for learning and development. Either sole charge, where both parents are away at work, or as parent helper to share the workload, where there may be a new baby or multiple children to care for.

You can expect to play with and entertain children, attend the children’s activities and classes with them, drop off and pick up from school and kindergarten, cook or prepare snacks and meals for the children, bathe, dress, change and comfort the children.

Au Pairs enrolled in the Dream Education Programme will also be educating young children through play at home and will be expected to fully engage in all of the Education Programme requirements.

You will be responsible for tidying away toys at the end of the day, cleaning children’s bedrooms, playrooms and bathroom, changing their linen, doing children’s laundry, washing dishes and tidying the kitchen after use – all tasks which relate to the care and well-being of the children in your care.

An example of a typical Au Pair Job Description

Some flexibility will be required with your week schedule to allow for child illness, school holidays and changes to routines or parents work schedules.

An example of a typical Au Pair Job Description

Some flexibility will be required with your week schedule to allow for child illness, school holidays and changes to routines or parents work schedules.

Morning

  • Unpack dishwasher and reload it with dirty dishes
  • Sweep floor in dining room and kitchen
  • Empty rubbish bin in the kitchen
  • Put washing into washing machine
  • Hang washing on the line or on the clothes horse in garage
  • Ensure downstairs bathroom is tidy/clean

Afternoon

Remind children to:

  • Get lunch boxes out of school bags
  • Put shoes in the shoe box
  • Put school uniforms in the washing
  • Bring bikes/scooters/toys in from outside
  • Set the table for dinner

To be done in the afternoon:

  • Empty and wash lunch boxes
  • Bring washing in from the line, fold and put away into wardrobes
  • Ensure uniforms ready for the next morning
  • Put on another load of washing if required
  • Ensure house tidy and all toys put away
  • Ensure all bikes/scooters etc. brought inside
  • Wipe kitchen bench with spray and wipe
  • Wipe bench by toaster
  • Sweep floor in dining room and kitchen
  • Empty rubbish bin in the kitchen
  • Prepare dinner for the family

Weekly tasks

  • Bake muffins/cookies one afternoon per week
  • Change the sheets on the kids beds

Monthly tasks

  • Wipe out Fridge in kitchen
  • Wipe out Cutlery Drawer
  • Wipe out cupboard under the kitchen sink

Your time off – travel and adventures

You get two days off every week to explore your city as well as up to four weeks paid holiday for every 12 months worked. We recommend finding out about New Zealand before you arrive so you know what you'd like to do during your time off. We partner with Student Trips and can get you discounts on all of the amazing trips they offer.

Why use an agency?

By using an agency, you can avoid many of the potential issues you could face and just get on with having a fabulous time in New Zealand.

Some of the ways an agency can help:

  • Reviewing Host Families applications and homes
  • Providing a New Zealand Employment Contract
  • Ensuring your Host Family home is safe and welcoming
  • Providing an Education Programme licensed by the Ministry of Education
  • Qualified teachers to support you in your care of children
  • Police vetting of all Host Families
  • Providing an Orientation where you will meet other Au Pairs who have also just arrived
  • Strong local support during your placement
  • Regular coffee groups and social events where you can meet lots of other local Au Pairs
  • Re-match policy if your initial placement is unsuccessful
  • Emergency bed if you need it
  • Help with tax payments and tax refunds
  • Weekly pay paid directly into your bank account

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Contact us

+64 9 969 5451

contact@dream.co.nz

You'll find us at:
Level 4, 81 Grafton Road
Grafton, Auckland 1010

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