Travelling/Leaving NZ

The Ministry of Education’s policy on being out of Aotearoa while home educating is as follows:

If you and your family plan to be away from NZ then it may impact on your Certificate of Exemption and your home education supervision allowance:

0-28 days – no effect on your Certificate of Exemption and allowance

More than 28 days, but less than 6 months – no effect on your Certificate of Exemption, but your allowance will be recalculated and only paid for the time in New Zealand

More than 6 months – no effect on your Certificate of Exemption, but your allowance will stop and you will need to apply for it again when you return to New Zealand

If you are going to be away for more than 28 days then you need to let your local Ministry of Education office know.

The home education declaration is one way for the Ministry of Education to check whether home educators are meeting their obligations. If the form is not signed and returned to the Resourcing Division of the Ministry of Education when required twice each year, then the Ministry may ask the Education Review Office to conduct a review of your learning programme. If you are away when the declaration form is due, it’s important that you make arrangements to handle your legal obligations so that your child’s exemption is not unduly affected.