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.
Élodie & Richard
Co-president & Tresurer
Elodie and Richard have been involved as parent representatives for La Decouverte since 2019. Three of their children have been through the program and their youngest child is in year 4 at the new unit L'Aurore at Haeata campus in Christchurch. Elodie is originally from Paris and loves to bring communities together, Richard is from the North shore of Auckland and works for Christchurch City Council as well as volunteering for different outdoors/environmental organisations.
Mathilde
Co-president
Mathilde is originally French and has lived in New Zealand for 10 years with her French partner Matt.
They have 2 boys, one in year 2 at l'Étoile du Nord and one at Kindy.
Florence
L'Archipel Unit
Representative
Florence grew up in Paris but have lived most of her adult life in various places around the world: Exeter, London, Geneva, Dubai and Hong-Kong, with her Kiwi husband Richard - and now Auckland.
She loves travelling (clearly!), and she is passionate about cultures and languages - hence her involvement in Frenz.
Her 2 older kids Sophie and Lucas are both in l'Archipel, and Félix who isn't two yet is already very familiar with l'Archipel big family.
Émilie
L'Étoile du Nord Unit Representative
Emilie is originally from Paris and lived in London for 12 years, building both her career and her family. She has two children and moved to Auckland in 2022 with her Kiwi husband to start a new chapter. In 2024, her older son joined the Étoile du Nord unit, where she is proud to serve as the parent representative.
Mathieu
Kowhai Intermediate Unit Representative
Mathieu grew up on the French Riviera. He discovered New Zealand in 2005 as he was sailing around the world while working on a sailing yacht.
In 2017 he moved permanently to Auckland with his family.
They are very happy that Frenz opened those bi-lingual classes as it was very important for them that children kept speaking and learning French.
Estelle
Ruru La Chouette Unit
Representative
Estelle grew up in France and Mike hails from Auckland. They met in Wellington after she backpacked through New Zealand in 2012, “just for a year.”
They have two daughters, the youngest is currently in Ruru la Chouette. Estelle started as a teacher assistant six years ago and is now in her second year as a full-time teacher. Their whānau is deeply grateful for FRENZ’s work in uniting French and Kiwi parents and teachers to raise well-rounded “Friwi” children in a supportive, multicultural environment.
Stéphanie
La Découverte Unit
Representatives
Stephanie has been a parent at La Découverte since 2022 and has two children there, one in year 2 and one in year 4.
She has been involved with Frenz since last year.
Marine
L'Aurore Unit
Representatives
Marine is originally from Southern France and has been in NZ for the last 3 years with her French husband after a long stay in Australia. She has one child in year 3 at l'Aurore and another one starting soon. She was the powerhouse behind the establishment of Christchurch new FRENZ unit L'Aurore
How it
started
Frenz has been making
French-English bilingual education
a reality in NZ since 1994.