Location
  • New Zealand
Length
52+ weeks
Program Tags
Au Pair Teach Abroad

Program Details

Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Host Family
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
18
Age Max
30

Pricing

Starting Price
$400 USD
Price Details
- Return trip flights to New Zealand
- Full travel and medical insurance
- Placement with a fully screened, safe host family in New Zealand
- Around-the-clock, qualified teacher support while you are here
- A 3 day orientation course
- Child first aid training and certificate from St John (including CPR)
- A completion bonus of up to $1,040 NZD (and a completion certificate!)
What's Included
Accommodation Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Activities Airfare Transportation Travel Insurance Visa
Dec 16, 2019
Feb 25, 2019

About Program

Experience the warmth of New Zealand’s welcome as part of the Au Pair Link family! Create lasting memories as you become one of the family and part of our network of au pairs - the largest in the Southern Hemisphere! Discover our enchanting landscapes and famous hospitality as you experience life in one of the world's most popular travel destinations. As part of our early learning programme you’ll get support from our team of qualified teachers, as well as access to regular playgroups, activities and events. With Au Pair Link it’s all taken care of!

Video and Photos

Our programs
  • AU PAIR 123 – Our most popular program, offering you the opportunity to learn professional childcare techniques and helping children under-5 to discover and explore their own unique skills and interests. 6-12 month placements, 30-45 hrs/week
  • AU PAIR WHIZ – Our early childhood program for qualified or highly experienced candidates, providing an opportunity to truly master your skills in a sole charge early childhood position. 6-12 month placements, 30-45 hrs/week (for candidates with an Early Childhood Education degree or diploma + 6 months experience OR one year's full time experience with under 5s)
  • AU PAIR ASSIST – Our short-term placement option for candidates already in New Zealand, allowing you to join a family pretty much immediately and is ideal for enthusiastic working travelers who want a rewarding short-term job before continuing on their travels. 3-4 month placements, 25-45 hrs/week.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

8.67 Rating
based on 18 reviews
  • 9-10 rating 61.11%
  • 7-8 rating 33.33%
  • 5-6 rating 5.56%
  • 3-4 rating 0%
  • 1-2 rating 0%
  • Housing 8.4
  • Support 8.2
  • Fun 9.5
  • Value 8.6
  • Safety 8.8
Showing 1 - 8 of 18 reviews
Bailey
7/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Lifetime Experience

Pros:
I enjoyed working in NZ as an Au Pair and would probably do it again. I'm also really happy that for my first time au pairing I went through an agency. Au Pair Link is a great agency and they do their best to help you out, they also generally make sure that you'll be going into a safe environment. The people working at Au Pair link were very kind and supportive, and they did their best to match me with a family, and they have a great re-matching process if you need it. If you choose to do this, you'll probably end up getting really close with your program manager and I totally recommend it! Especially if you're like me and do it at 18, it's really a Godsend to have someone who has your back. Kiwi culture is one of the warmest and most welcoming you could ever ask to experience! The kids were amazing in both of my host families! Also, New Zealand in general is full of lovely amazing people that will change your life! Host families can be hit or miss but most of my friends had really wonderful experiences (So I would say the odds are in your favour!). Besides the job aspect, NZ is full of so many fantastic outdoor and community opportunities if you have the chance to go, GO! :)

Cons:
I would say some of the only downsides about Au Pair Link is that they didn't really inform au pairs about how taxes/tax refunds in NZ worked, and they weren't really checking to make sure that if a host family was paying their au pair in cash that the family was paying the au pair's taxes (personally this ended up causing a massive dramatic scene with my first host family). Another factor of privacy is they didn't really require a host family to have a lock on their au pair's room door for privacy/safety (my first host dad (when intoxicated) would occasionally push my door open at night and ask me questions and my second host mum would go through my room on the weekends when I was gone). If those things are a concern to you, check with your host family before accepting a contract. However, my biggest con was that my program manager tried talking me into staying with my second host family even though they were treating me poorly. I would say just make sure you know what is best for you and really stand by it, even if your program manager might try and say otherwise (and even if you're scared of what could happen if you quit).

TIPS:
I would also ask your host family how much cleaning is involved because it may end up surprising you.
>Also I would recommenced that if you choose to do this, do at least 2-3 skype interviews and have questions prepared before each interview with your possible host family/ies.
>Read your contract and know what you're entitled to as an au pair!
>Also be aware that about half of your paycheck IS going to your host family for room and board so don't feel bad if you have dietary requirements and need to ask for specific foods! (though you should defo inform them of this prior to accepting a contract).

I wish you the best of luck!

What would you improve about this program?
I would have au pair link really makes sure their host families are paying the taxes of their au pairs.
I would also want au pair link to be more understanding and supportive if an au pair is not happy in their situation. I would never want another au pair to have to go through what I did with my second host family because she/he let their program manager talk them into staying rather than quitting.
I would also really ask that au pair link make sure that the bedrooms of the au pairs maybe have a lock on it? I don't know if there's a rule against it or anything but I had my drunk host dad push my door open a couple times and it terrified me.
17 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Josie
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Really worth the money

At first I thought it was pretty pricey but I'm so glad that I went for it! It is so worth it. It is my first time being away from home and so it is very comforting to have someone always there when you need them. The families are all screened, as well as the au pairs. My family is awesome, just take time to pick one! You each have a family programme manager who you meet with monthly and they give you a bag of themed books and toys for your kids under five. Also just checks that everything is going okay with your family and checks in with your host parents as well. There are also weekly coffee groups you can go to to meet people. And au pair events during each month! Overall it is so worth the money just to have that security that if something did go wrong you have support!

What would you improve about this program?
Make the au pair trips more frequent.
14 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story
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Nora
8/10
Yes, I recommend this program

My Year as an Au Pair

The beginning is always hard. I was in a new family and in a new city. I was alone and I missed my friends. But when the kids come for the first time to cuddle you you know you've done everything right. And even if not everything is perfect they love you and you love them too. :) Beeing an Au Pair is more than just a Job. It's about becoming a member of a second family.

What would you improve about this program?
More support in the first few weeks when everything is new and you don't know anyone around. It would be good to have someone that helps a little bit more at the beginning.
14 people found this review helpful.
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Emelie
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Opportunity Ever

From day one I knew that I had chosen the right thing to do. I left my safety zone in Sweden to go over 17000km away, to New Zealand.

I was going to take care of three boys, and how was I supposed to manage that? I'm only 19 (20 now). But after a few weeks with these boys I fell in love. They are so caring and they have been giving me everything I wanted. They have made me grow as a person.

How are you supposed to leave such a great family, that has given you everything. They have given me a new way to see life, they have given me a woundeful friendship and a reason to come back here. I can't believe that a year ago I was stuck in my little hometown just dreaming about going overseas and here I am, I'm overseas with an amazing family that has made my time here so worth it.

If anyone ever had a chance to go overseas, I just want to say this -TAKE IT. Because it will change your life forever.

15 people found this review helpful.
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Franziska
8/10
Yes, I recommend this program

New People

Beiing Aupair in New Zealand is one of the best thing you could do in your life. Since I'm here I had met lots of different people and I made lots of new friends. And I also found a second family! It is the best way to travel a new country and to learn something about New Zealands culture.

What would you improve about this program?
More located events in diffrent places
12 people found this review helpful.
Response from Au Pair Link - New Zealand

We're so glad you enjoyed being part of our programme! Thanks so much for the lovely feedback.

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Hannah
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Best year of my life!

The decision to become an au pair was the best think I could ever do after school!
You have the possibility to live in a lovely kiwi family and on the other side you can travel around in your free time!

I'm really enjoying my time in NZ and I'm glad that I have got such a nice family and program manager from Au Pair Link.

That's probably the best time of my life and I will never regret my decision!

What would you improve about this program?
One thing I would change is about the application.
I think it is kind of unfair, that the au pairs have to write so much about themselves and make a movie...
And some families just wrote 5 sentences and that's all.
It would be nice, If the families had something like a video too.
Because on my opinion it is important to, that the au pair knows in what kind of family she/he will live.
15 people found this review helpful.
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Samantha
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Sweet and Difficult, Yet Rewarding Experiences

I honestly am beyond grateful for the experiences that Aupairlink has provided me with thus far in my journey throughout New Zealand. It was always my plan to travel the country, but having Aupairlink facilitate a big part of this exploration has made the trip and experiences that much easier and more beneficial.
I really enjoy the outings that are organized through au pair link as well as the playgroups. There are a few things that I find to be a bit frustrating at playgroup when it comes to the language barriers, but overall I have had the chance to meet many fellow au pairs through these weekly meet ups. I also think that the coffee groups were an amazing idea as well. I enjoy meeting new people, especially at the beginning, i found it very helpful to have the coffee groups to go to on the nights where I just wanted to get out of the house.
I am also grateful for the contract that is agreed upon in the beginning between the host family and au pair. Although I haven't had any issues whatsoever with my host family that we needed the contract to solve, I have noticed that my friends who are not with aupairlink have suffered from the lack of a contract to fall back on. I am so happy these problems were never ones I had to deal with. Makes me really feel a part of the family when we know the boundaries, rules, and regulations ahead of time in order to meet all expectations from both ends.

What would you improve about this program?
I believe playgroup leaders/program managers could do a bit more with making sure the au pairs are getting along and communicating with each other in English. I know it is hard when the majority of people feel most comfortable talking in their native language, but it is quite frustrating for those of us wanting to be involved in the conversation and are unable to because of the language barrier.

Also, I feel as though a way to get more people on board with some of au pair outings, outside of work, would be to make a short list of possible prices/discounts depending on who comes. For instance, if there is a weekend trip to Waitomo planned the post might say.

"If we can get 20 au pairs the price will be:
$150pp
If we can get 40 au pairs the price will be:
$100pp
Make sure to sign up you and your friends in order for all of us to save a bit on an amazing trip!" And maybe include some photos along with it in case people are unfamiliar with what it is.

Other than this, I think aupairlink is a major helper in making New Zealand feel like home to any foreigner.
13 people found this review helpful.
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Georgia
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Really Great

I have not had any problems whilst I have been with Au Pair Link but I have a great relationship with both my host family and family manager so I think any problems could be easily sorted. The number of au pairs in my area is great and I made friends quickly and easily. Myself and the boys always look forward to playgroup.

What would you improve about this program?
Sometimes I get multiple notifications for one event on the online system. It would also be good if you could reply to emails on your own email address instead of having to log on to the online system.
13 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

An applicant can apply at 17 – they will not be able to come until they are 18 as that is the legal age for a working holiday visa. We do welcome applicants that are 17 however.

I honestly don’t know the answer to that but my guess is that it completely depends on the family. I don’t know that they would be completely opposed but it would probably require interviewing both and seeing how both people interact with the kids.

Hi Matthew, Absolutely male candidates are accepted as au pairs! In terms of visa, as long as you are between the ages of 18 - 30 (assuming you are a US citizen?) then you shouldn't have a problem getting a working holiday visa after you apply. Hope this helps! Mallory