Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
2 May 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
20
Facebook verified
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
(1 helper) Most of my adult life has been working in the area of social justice. I am currently retired and enjoy my hobbies and interests which include contributing to the community, writing and producing theatre. I have an ebike which makes it very easy to get around town. I dabble in sculpture and I sew. In fact if you have ever made a concrete outside sculpture I'd be keen to learn from you. I want to make a straw bale seat outside.
I am a New Zealander but have lived in many places. Five years ago I began traveling in a camper van which lead me to where I live now. Reefton is a small town in the West Coast of the South Island. Visitors to the town come to ride the trails, tramp, hunt or fly fish. Or if not they are passing through to Christchurch or north to Nelson. Reefton is a quiet peaceful town with more than it's fair share of creative people.
New Zealanders are generally very easy going people who are interested in the world as we are a very small country.
I have a TESOL qualification and would be happy to help with your conversational English.
I need help with with my garden. I'm starting to think it is too big for me (lol). It's wonderful to have Workaway helpers to get things done. It is such a big help.
You can suit yourself as to when you would do the work, e.g. 8 hours one day and nothing the next.
This is a non-smoking house.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
Interests
Self development
Events & social
Culture
Charity work
Drawing & painting
Performing arts
Writing
History
DIY & crafts
Gardening
Cooking & food
Art & design
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Reefton (SOUTH ISLAND) is a town of 1,000 people. It is very easy to get to know people. The life-style is relaxed, no city hustle or bustle. We have the Reefton Club with was the RSA. I'm happy to take you there where you'll find a different group of people. If you have lived in a city all your life, you will find this small town quite different. Reefton has attracted many creative people.
The Inangahua River runs beside the town. The town is in a valley surrounded by hills. It is 1 hour to Greymouth and 1 hr to Westport. So that's 1 hr to the the wild west coast. Both routes are stunningly beautiful.
An important aspect to New Zealand is Maori culture. I have studied Maori history and am always keen to talk about what makes New Zealand unique.
I run a small production company that produces New Zealand plays, including ones that I have written, in the Oddfellows Hall (on the committee for this too), which is one of Reefton's oldest buildings. If there is a play in production you would be welcome to come along and lend a hand.
Help
I live in a small house (50 sqm) with a large deck and suburban sized a garden with fruit trees and vegetables.
Having someone to help with basic gardening tasks would be a big assistance to me.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
The house is small with one bedroom, I would sleep in the guest accommodation. I have no pets except tropical fish.
I love to cook. I am gluten free myself and I'd be happy to accommodate food preferences.
My home is very well insulated so it's always a comfortable temperature. I have air conditioning and insect screens (the South Island is famous for its sand flies but my home is far enough from the river for this not to be a big problem).
The street is a 50 km/hr road. There is a park on the other side of the road and another at the back door.
What else ...
Staying in a small town is not for everyone. Things are quiet here for the most part. Reefton is often on the route for motoring and biking clubs. On the weekends or holidays during the summer and spring the main street is full of these visitors. The Paparoa ranges are at our door and in the season you can hear the deer bucks roaring. Weka wander about if you live near the race course or the river. Kereru feed on the fruit trees. Reefton itself is flat so it is easy to walk everywhere. The surrounding hills are criss-crossed with walking and bike trails. There is no public transport but you can get to Christchurch by a private minibus that runs in the warmer months. There are service is run by East West Coaches. Otherwise I can pick you up from Westport, Greymouth or Inangahua Junction.
The temperatures vary but summer is very warm. We occasionally get snow in winter. There is very little wind so we can get mists in the mornings which makes things seem mysterious.
Race days (in January) are very popular and the A & P Show (I'm on this committee) is the highlight of the year, oh except for the Christmas parade which is a hoot.
If you are interested in NZ history, Blacks Point has a fascinating museum that is chock full of our past and papers for researching possible family links.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
The internet is unlimited and is generally stable (fibre)
Space for parking camper vans
The driveway is available to park on. It is near the road, which while not busy is still a road with the occasional large trucks.
Can possibly accept pets
We can discuss. The yard is not contained.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Feedback (7)
Reefton is a place with a lot of historical heritage, which Kay was very keen to show to me. The importance she finds in the place and its community is inspiring.
During my time I met people in the community, took part in a game night and in a pub quiz, got to see rehersals for two different plays and even… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Reefton is a place with a lot of historical heritage, which Kay was very keen to show to me. The importance she finds in the place and its community is inspiring.
During my time I met people in the community, took part in a game night and in a pub quiz, got to see rehersals for two different plays and even… read more
This may seem a small thing to others, but I really appreciate the way he does the dishes and clears the bench. I feel good whenever I go into the kitchen. He is a very capable person and gets on and does what is asked with intelligence and diligence. I enjoy our conversation, and his cooking :-)
I could divided the working hours as I wanted and I get absolute clear instructions of the work that I had to do.
Thank you Kay that I could… read more
Actually I had lots of fear because I couldn't speak English well. But It was almost no problem.
Because she tried understand what I said. And she offered some tasks were almost simple.
she explained me many times when I couldn't understand (Maybe she was… read more
