About us
Frenz is a not-for-profit organization helping public schools across New Zealand open and operate quality French-English bilingual programs. The bilingual units are fully integrated within each school, with students participating in all aspects of school life.
Bilingual education offers children the opportunity to become proficient in all academic subjects in both languages.
You can follow our activity via our Facebook page!
How Frenz Helps?
Support
Our volunteers are parents of children in the bilingual programmes. They support your children by helping in the library, fundraising and finding stagiaires to come help teachers in the classroom
Partnership
We provide schools with:
-All the French-language learning resources
-A French library onsite
-Financial support
-Enrollment process support
Promotion
We maintain relationships with various embassies and promote bilingual education in New Zealand online and at events such as the French Festival
Helping units off the ground
We support parent groups
interested in opening a bilingual
programme in their community. We apply for grants to help schools set up new units.
Seal of Quality
We help schools apply and maintain the LabelFrancÉducation, a seal of quality awarded by the French Ministry of Education that validates the French-language skills of children outside France’s school system
Meet The Frenz Committee
Frenz is governed by a committee, all elected from Frenz members for a mandate of one year, which can be renewed. The committee members are all volunteer parents and presently consists of a treasurer,
2 co-presidents and a representative from each school offering a bilingual programme. Frenz employs a
manager to run the association.
Kevin
Frenz Manager
Kevin grew up in New Caledonia and spent many years teaching French in different countries across the Pacific ocean.
He arrived in Auckland in 2019 and joined Frenz four years later,
willing to get more involved in the
French speaking community of
New Zealand.
Chloé
President
.
Chloé
Treasurer
Hello my Name Is Chloe!
I come from France. We came to New Zealand with our 2 children 6 months ago for my husband's work.
I don't speak English at all. It's an 18-month adventure for the whole family. We haven't yet thought about the outcome of this one.
Nolwenn
L'Archipel Unit
Representative
Born and raised in France, Nolwenn and her husband David decided to live abroad after studying in Iceland, Finland and Canada. They moved to New Zealand for 2 years, more than 10 years ago! Long term planning has never been easy!
Their children, Louenn and Elliot, were born in Tāmaki Makaurau and are currently in l'Archipel.
Nolwenn and David are deeply grateful for FRENZ as they know its crucial role in keeping their children connected with their whānau in France.
Pascale
L'Étoile du Nord Unit Representative
Pascale is originally from
New Caledonia, where she has spent a large part of her life.
She arrived in New Zealand in 2022, with her husband and two children, Nathan and Berenice.
Joining Etoile du Nord enabled the children to benefit from a smooth transition between the French-speaking and English-speaking worlds, and to maintain a strong attachment to French culture. Pascale joined the Frenz committee in 2023.
Cécile
Kowhai Intermediate Unit Representative
Cécile met her Kiwi husband in London and they moved to Auckland in 2009.
A couple of years later twin boys were born. Antoine and Aurélien became bilingual thanks to all the resources available through Frenz. They went to Les Petits Lascars, La Petite École and after the primary years spent at an English speaking school they joined La Grande Envolée and are enjoying Kowhai.
Julie
Ruru La Chouette Unit
Representative
Hi! I'm Julie,
I come from France and moved to Wellington 3 years ago with my husband and our son, Leo.
After spending 15 years in London, teaching in
various schools, I joined Ruru La Chouette as a teacher as soon as I arrived in Wellington.
Now, I am happy to also be part of the
Frenz community as a parent.
Élodie & Richard
La Découverte Unit
Representatives
Elodie grew up in Paris, while Richard's home was Auckland. They met while both working for Medicine Sans Frontiers MSF (Doctors without Borders). They came to NZ to start their family, and now their four children attend La Découverte in Christchurch.
How it
started
Frenz has been making
French-English bilingual education
a reality in NZ since 1994.