Visit the webpage for your local language centre to find out when it opens in January. In the meantime, all the information about our courses and volunteer opportunities are on our website.
Our national office in Wellington is closed from 1pm on Tuesday 24 December and will reopen at 9am on 3 January 2024.
We are a not-for-profit and we teach English to migrants and people with a refugee background at 21 language centres around Aotearoa New Zealand and online.
In the 1970s, a large number of non-English speaking people came to live in New Zealand. Many of them were from Southeast Asia or the Pacific Islands.
Some immigrants needed help learning English for daily life. Many women with young children could not attend classes, so volunteer tutors gave them lessons at home.
ESOL home tutoring started independently in different towns and cities. In 1992, the National Association of ESOL Home Tutor Schemes (Inc.) was formed. In 2009, the organisation was renamed as English Language Partners New Zealand.
In 2012, English Language Partners celebrated 20 years as a national organisation.
At a Special General Meeting in September 2014, English Language Partners voted to amalgamate into one legal entity (from 23 distinct legal entities). This amalgamation enables the organisation to achieve increased efficiency and ensures that a consistently high level of service continues to be delivered to learners throughout the country.
“Kotahi te kohao o te ngira e kuhuna ai te miro ma, te miro pango, te miro whero. I muri, kia mau ki te aroha, ki te ture, ki te whakapono.”
“Through the eye of the needle pass the white threads, the black threads, and the red threads. Afterwards, looking to the past as you progress, hold firmly to your love, the law, and your faith.”
This whakatauki was gifted by the late Tamehana Tai Rakena of Tainui to individual leaders in the disability, and then wider community sector to support us in our work. It originated with Potatau Te Wherowhero, the first Maori King, who, at the birth of the Kingitanga movement, spoke of strength and beauty through both unity and diversity, by alluding to the beauty and the strength of the woven tukutuku. Individual threads are weak, but the process of weaving makes a strong fabric. Individual colours tell no story, but woven together they become beautiful, and can tell a story.
Former refugees and migrants settle well and succeed in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our vision is a cohesive society where our learners can settle well and achieve their goals. This includes feeling safe, a sense of belonging and being able to participate in and contribute to all aspects of life (social, economic, cultural and political).
We help people learn English to settle, work and succeed.
We teach English to people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, providing excellent English language education in context for everyday life and work.
Diversity: we are welcoming
Aotearoa New Zealand has become a very diverse country, with people from all cultures settling here, enriching our lives, neighbourhoods and communities. Everyone is equally welcome.
Respect: we care, listen and respond
We have many ways to show respect. In many cultures, it is customary to remove one’s shoes before entering a home. Doing so, regardless of one’s own culture and preferences, is a sign of respect. The world runs better
with respect.
Partnership: we work together for success
Working in partnership allows people to co-operate. By talking through ideas, and working side by side, we can achieve much more together than alone. Whether we work together as a couple, a group or a whole society, using language well is the key to our success. Let’s talk about working together.
Excellence: we value our work and aim high
At English Language Partners, we want to be the best in the world at what we do, which means setting ambitious goals and reaching them. Being a Kiwi means achieving triumphs.
Learners from refugee and migrant backgrounds are the centre of everything we do.
We respond to learners’ needs and aspirations to use English confidently to settle into our community.
We support learners’ voices to be heard, both within English Language Partners and in the wider community.
We provide quality and relevant learning opportunities.
We value the contribution of volunteers and staff.
We respect Te Tiriti o Waitangi in how we work.
We base our policies on the values expressed in these documents:
- UNHCR Convention (1951) and Protocol (1967) relating to the status of refugees
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations (1971)
- Universal Declaration on Volunteering (1990).
We are alert to the changing needs of the community, and respond in a viable and sustainable way as relevant for learners.
We continually strive for improvement and innovation in everything we do.
Click on the image below to view our strategic plan for 2022 - 2024
The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 supports the wellbeing of tertiary and international learners enrolled with New Zealand education providers.
It sets out the requirements that education providers must meet for the wellbeing and safety of their learners.
Under the Education Code of Practice, ELP:
carries out an annual self-review of how well we meet the Code outcomes and processes
documents the self-review
makes the self-review report available, in an accessible format, to our learners, staff and the general public
attests annually to NZQA that we have undertaken this self-review
Our teaching and learning strategy describes how we maintain our teaching and learning quality standards. The strategy helps us to maintain consistency across all the programmes we teach.
We reviewed our strategy in 2023 to align it with the Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice and to reflect changes in our own teaching and learning practice.
I was born in India and migrated to New Zealand in 1988, having spent a couple of years in Singapore en route. My career has been in IT, and has included managing major technology programmes, right through to founding a tech start-up.
For over 25 years, I’ve operated my own consulting practice in Wellington, providing project management services and digital transformation consultancy. I am currently the President of Wellington Chamber of Commerce, an independent director on the board of Copyright Licensing NZ and a board member of AngelHQ.
I’ve volunteered for ELPNZ’s Job Mentoring Service for several years, mentored small businesses, and assisted students enrolled in the IT Professionals TechHub programme.
I’m fluent in English, Hindi, Konkani, and Tamil, with basic skills in several other Indian languages.My recreational interests include tramping, cycling, skiing, travel, and the performing arts.
My educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Technology (Computer Science) and a Master of Business Administration degree, and I am a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
I work as a consultant for government agencies and educational organisations in New Zealand and internationally. Until 2015, I was Deputy Chief Executive, Quality Assurance, at NZQA, responsible for regulating the quality of tertiary and vocational education and the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. Prior to that, I led tertiary education policy at the Ministry of Education.
My government experience includes senior management, policy advice and research on gender, crime and justice, family violence, child protection, alcohol and drugs, climate change and natural resource management.
I volunteer as a mentor for the First Foundation, for the Women in National Security project and provide strategy advice to Zealandia wildlife sanctuary.
I’m a board member of the Primary ITO and sit on the Hong Kong Council for the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications.
I enjoy gardening, travel, tramping, reading, movies, conversation and ideas.
I have a Master of Psychology. I am based in Wellington.
I am originally from the Philippines having migrated to New Zealand about 13 years ago. I’m now based in Auckland. Despite knowing English when I arrived in New Zealand, I struggled to understand New Zealand-accented English, so I understand the importance of learning another language including the dialect and colloquialisms. I also understand how it feels to re-establish oneself and family in a new country and to eventually consider it home.
I am a director at PwC's audit and assurance Practice and a Certified Public Accountant. I have a strong background in finance, audit and risk. As an auditor and director of PwC, I have significant experience reporting as the external auditor to Boards of large and small corporates, as well as closely working with chairs of audit committees of my clients.
I work as a consultant in research, monitoring frameworks and evaluation, and my work regularly extends into strategy, policy and planning.
I cover a range of sectors including sport and recreation, health, education, land and property information, and regulatory systems in not-for-profits and government agencies in New Zealand and internationally.
I’m a member of the Australian Evaluation Society New Zealand regional committee, and recently became the New Zealand Regional Convenor, representing New Zealand members with the Australian regional branches.
I am familiar with ELPNZ’s volunteer programme through my work as a refugee resettlement volunteer, and I’ve been a passionate side-line supporter of their work ever since. I’ve supported development of ELPNZ’s Outcomes Model and Evaluative Self-Assessment system and have been a national board member since 2015.
When I’m not tied-up with my work and voluntary commitments, my husband and I spend quality time with our two children. I also love trail running and getting out in our beautiful environment or sitting down doing absolutely nothing.
I have a PhD in International Development and Conservation, living and working in Cambodia for a period of time. Prior to this, I lived in Japan, teaching English.
I also have a Bachelor of Commerce and Science, and a Post-graduate Diploma of Environmental Science. I am based in Christchurch.
I have travelled extensively around the world and moved to New Zealand from the UK in 1995,finally settling in Southland in 1997. I developed a strong governance capability following a career as a veterinarian, growing our business from a six-vet local practice to an international veterinary company employing over 200 staff. Our business attracts significant immigrants: over half our employees are migrants, from around 15 countries.
For over 15 years I have been on the boards of not-for-profits and commercial organisations. I play an active role on the board of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. I am a member of the Institute of Directors and have completed their company directors’ and finance courses.
My wife, children and I live on a large sheep farm, which we farm with the help of our manager. I am also a keen skier, mountaineer, mountain biker and surfer.
I have a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, a Master of Veterinary Studies (Hons) and a MACVSc(Epidemiology). I am based in Southland.
I am the General Manager, People and Kōrako, at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), an organisation with people employed in 41 different countries. I lead a team that guides and supports all culture and people-related activities across the world. The team helps attract talented individuals and provide care, knowledge, and resources so the NZTE people can grow companies, grow New Zealand, and grow themselves. The team is also responsible for overseeing the implementation of NZTE’s organisation improvement programme, Kōrako. In my time at NZTE, I also led strategy and customer teams. Before joining NZTE, I worked in management consulting, government policy and Ministerial advisory roles. I hold an honours degree in applied economics from Massey University and a Master of Public Policy from Victoria University. I am also a volunteer tutor in my spare time. I am based in Wellington.
I have held general management roles in large New Zealand organisations, with responsibilities across HR, planning and performance, communications and other corporate functions. I have also led a range of change initiatives, including major restructuring programmes and innovation processes. I apply my wide-ranging experience of corporate management, strategy and organisation development in my work as an independent contractor and in governance roles.
I hold a master’s degrees in history and management and have a post-graduate diploma in creative writing. I am a Fellow of HRINZ and a member of the Institute of Directors.
I’m also a keen tennis player and sea swimmer. I am based in Wellington.
I am a career consultant at Victoria University of Wellington. I have a career portfolio that spans education, policy implementation and stakeholder engagement. I have previously worked in a range of government agencies in the areas of tertiary education, international education, workforce development, and career services for new migrants.
I have a Master of Arts in TESOL from the University of Southern California and a PhD in Education from the University of Waikato. My research was about understanding how international students engaged their peers for support in their academic learning.
I am also a migrant with a Southeast Asian Chinese heritage. I moved from Singapore to New Zealand in 2014 and now call Wellington home.
I’m passionate about how lifelong learning empowers people to reach their own aspirations and contributes to the wellbeing of themselves and their families. I acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi as our nation’s founding document, and practise and support a bicultural Aotearoa as a foundation for celebrating our multicultural and super-diverse community.
Before retiring from paid work in 2023, I was Chief Executive of Te Hononga Akoranga COMET, an organisation driving systems changes to make education and skills development more equitable. Before that I had a long career in leadership roles across not-for-profit, government and corporate organisations.
I appreciate the wisdom and connections ELPNZ’s board members bring and enjoy using my own governance and leadership experience to support organisations that are making a difference in Aotearoa.
I have a Diploma in Secondary Teaching, a Bachelor (Hons) in Biochemistry and Physiology, and a Master of Education. Alongside my role with ELPNZ, I also co-convene Languages Alliance Aotearoa NZ, and am board chair of Acorn Neurodiversity and of Te Papapa Preschool Trust. I am based in Auckland.
Please visit our Ethnic Advisory Group page for details
I’m very privileged to be the Chief Executive of English Language Partners having joined the team in 2022.
I’ve worked in the refugee and migrant sector for the past seventeen years and I’m passionate about ensuring people new to Aotearoa New Zealand are welcomed well and are supported in achieving their hopes and aspirations of their news lives here. Learning English enables good settlement to occur – being able to communicate means people are able to connect, contribute and thrive.
I have a Masters of Migration Studies focused on integration and belonging, including a specific focus on labour market integration. Previous roles include General Manager of Migration at New Zealand Red Cross, and the lead advisor to the Race Relations Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission.
I live in Wellington which is where I’ve spent most of my life, and love to frequent the cafes, bookstores and beaches.
