KiwiClass is registered and accredited as a multi-site Private Training Establishment by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) pursuant to the Education Amendment Act 1990. KiwiClass is accredited to provide education and training and has consent to assess for unit standards on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF). KiwiClass is very proud of the support it provides its students and communities. We have agreed to observe and be bound by the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, which supports the wellbeing of tertiary and international learners in New Zealand Education. The Code outlines the requirements that education providers must meet to ensure the wellbeing and safety of their learners. Under the Education Code of Practice, KiwiClass carries out an annual review of its practices against the Code.
KiwiClass participants
At KiwiClass, we work with former refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, many of whom have experienced displacement and whose first language is not English. Refugees are people who have fled their home countries due to a well-founded fear of persecution, as defined by the 1951 Refugee Convention. Asylum seekers are individuals who have requested refugee status but whose claims are still being assessed.
Our students often show remarkable resilience in overcoming adversity and rebuilding their lives in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We’re committed to supporting all participants to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to New Zealand society.
Our Approach at KiwiClass
Many of the people we support have faced incredibly tough journeys. We walk alongside them as they build new lives in Aotearoa New Zealand, recognising the strengths, skills, and resources they bring. Our services are culturally respectful, welcoming, and shaped by the voices of our communities.
We are guided by the values of:
- Whakamana (uplifting others)
- Manaakitanga (respect and care)
- Whakawhanaungatanga (building relationships)
- Ako (reciprocal learning)
- Tika (being the best we can be)
Our frameworks are community-driven, trauma-informed, and grounded in social justice. Through a strengths-based approach, we support people to develop independence and create successful pathways. Above all, we believe in working together to build a more inclusive, vibrant, and compassionate New Zealand.
Tikanga Māori
We have included the words He Amo Taunaki into our new brand. The name is based around the role KiwiClass plays in the community, a role of providing support. Gifted to us by local members of Taranaki Whānui iwi, ‘He Amo Taunaki’ is the equivalent of the phrase, ‘Pillars of Support’. We believe these words truly encapsulate the role of KiwiClass to act as unwavering pillars of support for those newly welcomed to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Te Reo Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi are important features of the mahi (work) we do at KiwiClass. We support our students to develop an understanding of the principles of Tikanga Māori, and basic Te Reo Māori words, empowering them to feel more at home in Aotearoa New Zealand, and appreciate the culture they are becoming part of.
In 2019, we were proud to receive the Community-based Programme of the Year – Tangata Tiriti award from Ace Aotearoa for our Tikanga Programme.
