NorthTec: Helping international students feel at home

Published on 04 September 2026

External Engagement Manager Jo-Ann Hogan shares NorthTec’s story with us as part of a series celebrating the contributions of welcoming organisations and international students in our community for Welcoming Week 2026.

“At NorthTec Whangārei Education Centre, welcoming international students begins before classes start. 

“Many students arrive about a week early, and we see that time as our first real opportunity to help them feel grounded, connected and at home in Whangārei.

“We offer a wide range of study opportunities, from short stays through to longer programmes, and our relationships extend well beyond Aotearoa. 

“Recently, we visited our sister schools in China, and we continue to strengthen those partnerships, so students know they are part of something that reaches across countries, cultures and communities.

“When students arrive, we want them to experience more than an orientation. We want them to feel a genuine sense of welcome. That might begin with a city tour, a trip to Waitangi, a pōwhiri alongside mainstream students, or dinner with our leadership team. Each moment is a chance to say: you are not just studying here, you belong here.

“One of the things students often notice first is the laid-back atmosphere of Whangārei. It can feel different from the places they have come from, and sometimes the questions are simple and practical, ‘Where is the mall?’, but those questions are part of settling in. They open the door to conversations, local knowledge, shared laughter and connection.

“For many students, the cultural performance at Waitangi, our NorthTec pōwhiri, and making local friends is a highlight. It offers a powerful introduction to the history, culture, spirit and people of this place. Experiences like these help students understand where they are, who they are learning alongside, and how their own story can become part of the wider story of Whangārei.

“NorthTec is also in a moment of transition. We are working to build stronger local connections with our diverse communities. For me, that is what belonging looks like: creating spaces where students, staff, whānau and community partners can meet each other, learn from each other and feel part of the same place.

“This Welcoming Week, the theme ‘Together we belong’ reminds us that belonging is something communities build together – through welcome, formal and informal education, and community connections.”

Nau mai, haere mai – welcome to Whangārei. Together, we belong. 
NorthTec

Welcoming Week is an annual event that brings people together to honour the cultures, stories and contributions of newcomers in our communities, including migrants, former refugees, international students and anyone who has recently made this place home.

Find out more about Welcoming Week, including events and stories to help mark the occasion and roll out the welcome mat:

Welcoming Week | Te Wiki o Manaaki