Code of Practice for Pastoral Care

Manaaki Akonga

We are committed to the care of our students. You can expect a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment, with genuine support for your wellbeing throughout your studies. If something isn’t right, a clear complaints process is in place, aligned with NZQA requirements.

He kaihaina a Te Wānanga Amorangi ki Ngā Tikanga Mahi Mātauranga (Te Manaaki i Ngā Ākonga Mātauranga Matua me Ēra o Tāwāhi) 2021.

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He kōrero anō

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Caring for our learners

Manaaki Akonga

Laidlaw College is a signatory to The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.

He kaihaina a Te Wānanga Amorangi ki Ngā Tikanga Mahi Mātauranga (Te Manaaki i Ngā Ākonga Mātauranga Matua me Ēra o Tāwāhi) 2021.

The Code

Te Ture

The Code sets clear expectations for learner safety and wellbeing in tertiary education in New Zealand. Under the Code, it is Laidlaw’s responsibility to help our learners be:

ngā kawatau mārakerake o te Ture ngā ākonga e whakaruruhautia ai, e hauora ai, i te ao mātauranga, i Aotearoa. I raro i te Ture, he haepapa Te Wānanga Amorangi kia āwhinatia ā mātou ākonga kia: 

  • Safe, physically and mentally
  • Haumaru ai ā-tinana, ā-hinengaro 
  • Respected and accepted for who they are
  • Whakautea ai, ā, kia whai wāhi ai ia i tōna ake mana 
  • Supported in their learning and wellbeing
  • Tautokohia ai i āna ako, i tōna hauora 
  • Connected with their social and cultural networks
  • Hono ai ki ōna taha whānau, ki ōna hononga ahurea 
  • Able to have their say in decisions about services
  • Āhei ai kia tukua ōna whakaaro e pā ana ki ngā whakatau ngā ratonga 

A copy of the Code is available from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority website:

The Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice

Kei te pae tukutuku o New Zealand Qualifications Authority tētahi kape o te Ture:

Tikanga Mahi Mātauranga (Te Manaaki i Ngā Ākonga Mātauranga Matua me Ēra o Tāwāhi) 2021. 

Know the Code videos

Ngā kiriata e mārama ai ki te Ture

The Code protects domestic tertiary and all international learners in New Zealand.

The videos on this page explain what support learners can expect for their wellbeing and safety while studying in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Learn more about the Code through NZQA’s videos, including:

Akongia tonutia te Ture ā NZQA kiriata, tae anō ki: 

  • An overview of the Code
  • He tirohanga whānui o te Ture 
  • Accommodation
  • Wharenoho 
  • Mental health
  • Hauora hinengaro 
  • Disability
  • Whaikaha 
  • Learner voice
  • Te reo o te ākonga 
  • Inclusive learning environments
  • Wāhi ako e whakawhāiti ana 
  • An overview for international learners
  • He tirohanga whānui ngā ākonga o tāwāhi 
  • Education agents
  • Kaiārahi mātauranga 
  • Enrolments and contracts
  • Ngā whakaurunga me ngā kānataraki 

Know the Code videos

Ngā kiriata e mārama ai ki te Ture

Laidlaw’s strategic goals – A distinctly Christian community

Ō Te Wānanga Amorangi whāinga rautaki - He hapori Karaitiana e kōhure ana

One of Laidlaw’s strategic goals is to develop a distinctly Christian community for formation and learning. Laidlaw’s current five-year plan outlines strategies to achieve this goal by:

Ko tētahi o ō Te Wānanga Amorangi whāinga rautaki, ko te waihanga i tētahi hapori Karaitiana e kōhure ana te auaha, te ako. te māhere o ngā tau e rima, o ināianei, ngā rautaki i whakaatu kia tutuki tēnei whāinga : 

  • Providing a rich student experience and hospitality tikanga
  • Te tuku i tētahi wheako rangatira ngā ākonga, ngā tikanga manaakitanga 
  • Developing an integrative and formative community fabric
  • Te waihanga i tētahi kaupapa pāhekoheko, e auaha ana 
  • Providing opportunities to join formational cohorts
  • Te tuku i ngā aheinga ki te hono ki ngā rōpū auaha 
  • Providing strong and supportive pastoral and academic care
  • Te tuku i te tautoko nui, e taupuhipuhi ana ā-hauora, ā-ako. 
  • Developing resources for lifelong discipleship and spiritual formation
  • Te waihanga i ngā rauemi te ākongatanga, te auaha ā-wairua; ake tonu atu. 

Laidlaw’s Self-Review

Te Wānanga Amorangi i āna ritenga ki ngā herenga o te Ture

Each year Laidlaw College reviews its practices against the Code’s requirements and notes steps taken to ensure the best possible learning environment for students. View our most recent self-report here:

I ia tau, ka whakataurite anō a Te Wānanga Amorangi i āna ritenga ki ngā herenga o te Ture, ā, ka rekoatatia ngā whakaritenga kia mīharo ai te wāhi ako ngā ākonga. Tirohia mātou rīpota hou rawa i kōnei. 

Code of Practice Self-Review Report

Tirohia tā mātou rīpota hou rawa i kōnei.

The Academic Registrar and Student Dean, together with relevant Student Experience staff, meet throughout the year to review sections of the Code, and seek to improve our systems in response to the Code’s requirements and identified student needs.

The 2025 self-review process focussed on reviewing the Outcomes of the Code relevant to Laidlaw College’s enrolment of domestic and international learners (over the age of 18):

  • Outcome 1:  A learner wellbeing and safety system
  • Outcome 2:  Learner voice
  • Outcome 3:  Safe, inclusive, supportive and accessible physical and digital learning environments
  • Outcome 4:  Learners are safe and well
  • Outcome 8:  Responding to the distinct wellbeing and safety needs of international tertiary learners
  • Outcome 9:  Prospective international tertiary learners are well informed
  • Outcome 10:  Offer, enrolment, contracts, insurance and visa
  • Outcome 11:  International learners receive appropriate orientations, information and advice
  • Outcome 12:  Safety and appropriate supervision of international tertiary learners

The review process focussed on identifying gaps in Laidlaw’s practice around these outcomes. Areas that require further implementation during 2026 were identified as:

  1. A strategy around lifelong connection to learners to be written.
  1. The updating of our critical incident and emergencies procedures manual to be finalised.
  1. Staff training around diverse learner groups to be included in regular staff meetings.
  1. A Health and Wellbeing Hub on Moodle to be updated with more resources around budgeting services, and outside support agencies.
  1. Keeping students’ contact details updated to be strengthened through regular reminders in student newsletters, and at course selection.
  1. A ‘disability column’ to be added to Ebs reports to enable better communication between Admissions and Student Support.
  1. A written policy on staff doing welfare checks at a student’s home to be developed and included in staff handbooks.
  1. Pastoral interviews to be held with Education and Counselling international applicants applying for 2026 study year.

Complaints

Ngā Kōamuamu

Laidlaw has a formal process in place to address any complaint a student may have, whether it be academic, of a general nature, or a financial complaint. Our processes are outlined in section 5.7 “Grievance Procedures” of Laidlaw’s General Regulations. Laidlaw aims to resolve any concerns or complaints in a fair, open manner with students able to have a support person with them at any stage of the process.

Kei a Te Wānanga Amorangi tētahi huarahi kōamuamu ōkawa kia whakatikaina ngā raru o ngā ākonga, ahakoa he mea ako, he mea pūtea, he mea whānui rānei. 

Kua whakaatuhia ā mātou whakaritenga i te Wāhanga 5.7 “Grievance Procedures” o Te Wānanga Amorangi General Regulations

In the 2025 review period there were six complaints received: Grading – 4;  failure of a practicum, and changes in classroom policy. Grading complaints were reviewed by the Head of School in consultation with lecturers concerned. All grades were upheld and reasons given to the relevant students. In one case, further training on a referencing style has been introduced during Orientation, and guidelines for markers expanded in the Academic Policies Manual. The Academic Dean reviewed the practicum documentation and upheld the decision. A Head of School met with students concerned about changes in classroom policy and explained the pedagogical reasoning behind the changes. No complaints were escalated beyond the level of Head of School or Academic Dean.

Laidlaw aims to resolve any concerns or complaints in a fair, open manner with students, who are able to have a support person with them at any stage of the process.

C. Complaints (General)

If you have a complaint relating to personal, pastoral or community matters, first seek resolution – talk to the person concerned, if you feel comfortable doing this

Concern not resolved

Concern resolved

Talk to the Student Dean (Auckland/Distance Learning) / Campus Coordinator (Christchurch)

Not resolved

Resolved

Take your concern to the National Principal, through the Principal’s Executive Assistant (kscrimgeour@laidlaw.ac.nz)

Not resolved

Resolved

The matter may then be referred to the Chair of the National Governing Council who may arrange mutually agreed moderation if necessary

Not resolved

Resolved

If all these procedures do not result in a satisfactory resolution, the matter
may be referred to Study Complaints | Ngā amuamu tauira,
https://www.studycomplaints.org.nz

  • At all points in the process you are encouraged to bring a support person with you to any meeting. The person you are meeting may also ask another staff member to be present as an observer.

For course related concerns, including teaching, grading and examinations, talk to the lecturer or tutor involved

Concern not resolved

Concern resolved

Talk to the Head of Programme

Not resolved

Resolved

Take the issue to the Academic Dean, Maja Whitaker (e. mwhitaker@laidlaw.ac.nz)

If all these procedures do not result in a satisfactory resolution,
the matter may be referred to Study Complaints | Ngā amuamu tauira,
https://www.studycomplaints.org.nz

  • At all points in the process you are encouraged to bring a support person with you to any meeting. The student representative on the National Academic Committee is also available to support you. The person you are meeting may ask another staff member to be present as an observer.

For complaints related to fees or other financial matters

Concern not resolved

Concern resolved

If a student has a finance complaint, they should contact the Finance Operations and Systems Manager

Not resolved

Resolved

If this does not resolve the matter, the student should refer the matter to the Chief Financial Officer

Not resolved

Resolved

Take your concern to the National Principal, through the Principal’s Executive Assistant (kscrimgeour@laidlaw.ac.nz)

Not resolved

Resolved

If all these procedures do not result in a satisfactory resolution, the matter
may be referred to Student Complaints Ngā Amuamu Tauira.
See https://www.studycomplaints.org.nz

  • At all points in the process you are encouraged to bring a support person with you to any meeting. The person you are meeting may also ask another staff member to be present as an observer.

Critical Incidents and Emergencies

There were no reported critical incidents and emergencies during the review period.