Cost
No matter which system you use, there is a financial cost in educating children. However, should you choose to educate at home, New Zealand is unique in that the government gives families a homeschooling allowance to offset the expense. This makes homeschooling a very viable option.
Beyond this, as a charitable trust, HSNZ does not need to make a profit from families – we simply need to cover operating expenses. Taking into account school fees, transport, books and clothing, it is therefore usually much cheaper to homeschool than to attend a regular school.
There is one off registration payment of $150, which covers the office work involved in setting up a family. Thereafter, annual costs are estimated to be as follows. (Note that this pricing model is based on a family using a full Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E.) homeschooling package. However, whichever curriculum package or combination you wish to use, the costings will ultimately work out much the same.)

The worst-case scenario is that a full home-schooling programme will probably cost you less than $1.50 a day!
Annual Costs
Approximate figures only, based on an average use of Abeka or A.C.E curriculum.
Costs | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children |
---|---|---|---|---|
Annual HSNZ Support Donation | $548, or $45.67 per month | $599, or $49.92 per month | $647, or $53.92 per month | $647, or $53.92 per month |
Curriculum Costs | $875 | $1200 | $1600 | $2000 |
Sub Total | $1423 | $1799 | $2247 | $2647 |
Less Homeschooling Allowance | $769 | $1423 | $1959 | $2344 |
Less Tax Rebate on Donation | $183 | $199 | $215 | $215 |
Actual Annual Out-of-Pocket Cost | $471 | $177 | $73 | $88 |