What if nobody in Gisborne does this?
Then the honest answer is that it comes from out of the region, and the quote should say so with the travel in it. NovaPay asks locally first and widens rather than pretending the choice is bigger than it is.
Does the tutor need to know NCEA?
For a secondary student, yes. Knowing the subject is not the same as knowing how the standards are assessed, and the second is usually what lifts a grade.
How often should sessions be?
Weekly is the usual rhythm, more in the run-up to exams. What matters more is whether the work between sessions actually happens, which a good tutor will set and check.
Online or in person?
Both work. Online widens who you can choose from and suits older students; younger children usually do better in person. Say which you prefer in your request.
Are tutors vetted?
It varies, and it is fair to ask. For one-on-one work with a child, ask about police vetting and references before the first session rather than after.