Arrival meeting service
Arriving in a new country can be exciting but also challenging. To make your arrival as stress-free as possible, we provide a free arrival meeting service for all new Victoria University of Wellington international students, or international students coming to Wellington for the first time.
Our welcoming team will:
- confirm your pre-arranged accommodation with the Accommodation Service (if applicable)
- meet you at the airport when you arrive
- give you a welcome pack
- transport you to your accommodation in person.
If you are a new international student, all you need to do is complete our arrival meeting service form to let us know when you will arrive in Wellington.
This service is free to all new international students and students coming to Wellington for the first time. You can use this service even if you are staying with a homestay family.
If you are arriving on a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship, the fare for family travelling with you will be covered by the scholarship.
Register before you travel
This step needs to be done at least three working days in advance.
Complete our arrival meeting service form to let us know when and where you will be arriving in Wellington.
You will first need to log in, or sign up to Pūaha by following these instructions.
If you are a current student you should log in with your myvuw email address and password (You can find instructions here).
When you arrive
The person meeting you will be wearing a green t-shirt and carrying a sign showing the Victoria University of Wellington logo and your name.
If you are arriving:
- at Wellington Airport from a domestic flight, wait by the baggage claim area on the ground floor
- at Wellington Airport from an international flight, collect your bags and we will meet you as you leave Customs
If you can’t find us, contact the meeting service on +64 29 463 5350.
Arrange to be met when you arrive
The International Student Experience team provides a free meeting service for all new international students, or international students coming to Wellington for the first time.
Our meeting service team will confirm your pre-arranged accommodation, meet you with a welcome pack at Wellington's airport, ferry, or train station when you arrive, and transport you to your accommodation in person.
This is a free service, all you need to do is complete our arrival meeting service form to let us know when you will arrive in Wellington.
What to pack
You won’t be able to fit everything you need into your suitcase. Do some research before you come about the cost of any household items you might need to buy when you arrive.
You should pack:
- certified photocopies of important identification documents, such as your birth certificate and passport—do not bring your original documents
- any documents you might need if you want to open a New Zealand bank account
- your driver’s licence, if you plan on driving in New Zealand
- your medical history in English, including your immunisation history and current prescriptions
- your medication in its original containers, plus the original prescription from your doctor in English—there are restrictions on bringing prescription medicines into the country
- your mobile phone—you may also need an adaptor plug and voltage converter for your charger and other electrical items. The New Zealand power system is 240 volts, 50 hertz
- clothing and personal items—include warm and waterproof gear, good walking shoes, sunblock, and a sunhat
- a face mask—you may need them on your international flight depending on the requirements of your airline and the countries you transit through
- some money to spend when you first arrive—we recommend about NZ$400 on a pre-paid credit card and about NZ$100 in cash.
Most banks are not open over the weekend so keep this in mind when planning how much cash you will bring with you.
For more information about what to bring, and items you cannot bring, go to the NauMai NZ website.
Bag allowance
Check the baggage allowance of your flights before you leave. If you book a domestic flight (for example, from Auckland to Wellington) separately to your international flight, the baggage allowance may be less and you will then have to pay for any extra luggage.
What you need at the airport
At the airport, New Zealand Customs will ask to see documents to support your entrance into New Zealand. These will include:
- your passport
- your student visa
- a copy of your Offer of Place letter
- if you are a New Zealand Scholarship student, a copy of your Scholarship Letter of Offer.
It is also good to bring with you:
- a list of important phone numbers, such as:
- your bank (in case you lose your credit card)
- your emergency contact details (your family)
- your high commission or embassy (in case you lose your passport)
- contact details for the University’s International team and our arrival meeting service.
Don’t bring any food into New Zealand—or make sure you declare it on your passenger arrival card. New Zealand has very strict biosecurity rules and strong penalties for breaking them. Find out what you have to declare when travelling to New Zealand.
Travel tips
If it is your first time flying overseas, or you just want to know what to expect, here are some tips for your travel.
Arriving at a different airport
If you arrive at Auckland International Airport, make your way to the domestic terminal to catch your connecting flight to Wellington. There is a free shuttle bus service every 15 minutes—or it is an easy 15-minute walk.
You must collect your luggage from the international terminal and clear Customs before your domestic flight to Wellington. You can check in your luggage for the domestic flight within the international terminal at a counter located close to the exit point or check it in at the domestic terminal when you get there.
If you arrive at Christchurch Airport to fly to Wellington, the international and domestic terminals are in the same building. You will still need to collect your luggage and check it in for your flight to Wellington.
Contact your family
Once you have arrived in New Zealand, contact your family and let them know you have arrived safely. Most airports have free WiFi that you can access.
What to expect when you arrive
Depending on where you are travelling from, you might be arriving in a different season to at home. We suggest you look at the weather in Wellington before you travel so you know what to expect. Wellington’s weather is fairly temperate—not too hot, not too cold—but it could still be very different from what you are used to.
Some useful things to know about Wellington are:
- The sun in New Zealand is strong, and you can be burned even on cloudy days.
- The weather in Wellington can change quickly, even in summer—it could also be quite windy.
- All the tap water is fresh and safe to drink—but don’t drink directly from rivers or streams.
- You can get around Wellington easily by walking and cycling, but there are a lot of hills.
Find out more about Living in New Zealand.
Get ready to study
It is a good idea to get your health checked before you travel and to get immunised for common illnesses. Find out more about healthcare.
Have you got your student visa and accommodation organised? Find out what else you need to do to get ready.
Arrival meeting service coordinator
If you do not have a local SIM-card and cannot make international calls when you arrive to New Zealand, you can contact our Arrival Meeting Service coordinator using WhatsApp or WeChat. New Zealand airports usually have free Wi-Fi available to travellers. Please scan the QR codes below or add us using the number +64 29 463 5350.
If your plans change
If your plans change, please update your application via Pūaha. You can find your Meeting Service request by navigating to the Services page and click on MyRequests. Alternatively you can email us at international-support@vuw.ac.nz with your new travel details at least two working days before you arrive.
If a flight is delayed or your plans change while you are travelling, call us as soon as possible on +64 29 463 5350. If no one answers, leave a message including your:
- full name
- new arrival information—arrival date and time, and flight number if you are travelling by plane
- mobile phone number if you have one with you, including your international code.
We will try our best to still meet you, but we can’t guarantee that we will be able to respond to late requests in time.
If you have to find your own way into the city, you can take a taxi from the airport for about NZ$40–$50 or the airport bus for about NZ$12.
Cancelling your booking
If you no longer need to be picked up when you arrive, you must cancel your existing request.
You can cancel your request via Pūaha or by emailing us.
Prepare to travel
Find out what else to prepare before you travel, and read our tips for packing and travelling by plane.