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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
25 Feb 2026
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Details
Description
We are a warm, creative, slightly chaotic family who loves nature, good food, being outdoors, and meeting people from around the world. We host Workawayers because we enjoy sharing our home, ideas, skills, and garden — and because we love the cultural exchange that naturally grows from living and working together.
In December 2025, we moved into our new home in Ōhau which is in Horowhenua, just north of the Kāpiti Coast: a nearly 1-hectare lifestyle block with paddock, trees, and huge potential. Our dream is to turn it into a permaculture-inspired food forest for our family and friends (not a business!). It’s a big, exciting project and we’d love you to be part of it.
Alongside the garden work, you’ll also be part of our relaxed, near screen-free family rhythm and help spend afternoons with our 6-year-old daughter, who loves games, art, stories, and outdoor play.
You’ll join us for family dinners every evening, take part in outings if you’d like, and enjoy plenty of time to relax in our two lounges or explore the area. This isn’t a hostel or a commercial farm where you live separate from the family — it’s a social, friendly home where you’ll be welcomed as part of our little community.
Nau mai, haere mai!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Languages
Farming
Charity work
Technology
Politics / Social justice
Events & social
Culture
Sustainability
Self development
Plant care
History
DIY & crafts
Books
Cooking & food
Gardening
Drawing & painting
Nature
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Mountain
Beach
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
With us, you’ll experience:
--> daily life in a Kiwi-Taiwanese–German family
-->time and space to arrive and be, let your experiences settle and recharge before you continue on
--> a warm, social home with shared meals and conversation
--> exposure to German, English, Te Reo, and sometimes Mandarin
--> the beginnings of a real food forest
--> homeschooling activities, nature play, and creative learning
--> local outings (beach days, forest walks, geocaching, museum trips)
-->the chance to meet other Workawayers from around the world
You’re free to join us in our activities — or to head out and do your own thing. Both are completely fine.
Au Pair Help
This host is looking for Au pair help.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
What We’re Really Looking For:
Our Workaway is primarily about helping in the garden. If you love being outdoors, working with plants, soil, and food systems, you’ll feel right at home here.
Roughly speaking, the help usually looks like this:
~70% garden & outdoor work
~20% household & kitchen tasks
~10% time spent with our daughter
Spending time with our daughter is part of daily life here and can be lovely and fun, but this is not a babysitting or childcare placement. One parent is always at home, and you’re never left solely responsible for her.
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1. Garden & Household Help (Main Focus )
Most of the help here is outdoors and garden-focused. Our property is already active and evolving, not a place for “busy work”. Everything we ask for has a purpose and fits into a bigger plan.
Our lifestyle block is a mix of paddock, established ornamental plantings, hedges, roses, and young food-forest areas. We’re gradually shaping it into a resilient, permaculture-inspired system.
Typical tasks include:
planting, weeding, mulching, and watering young trees
pruning hedges, roses, and established trees
cutting, stacking, and processing firewood
preparing and improving garden beds
identifying existing plants and learning how they fit into the system
seasonal jobs such as preserving food or processing garden materials
helping with cooking or sharing favourite recipes
household tasks like cleaning windows, cupboards, and general tidying
We don’t do meaningless busywork. If something is being done, it’s because it improves the land, the house, or the system as a whole.
We’re always happy to explain why we do things the way we do, whether it’s pruning timing, mulch choices, or how one task supports another. If you enjoy understanding the bigger picture and learning as you work, you’ll fit in well here.
Gardening or permaculture experience is welcome, but not required. Curiosity, care, and a willingness to get your hands dirty matter far more.
2. Time with Our Daughter (Small but Meaningful Part 🌈)
A smaller portion of the help involves spending time with our daughter, usually in the afternoons:
playing, crafting, building, reading
bouncing on the trampoline or playing badminton or ball games
outdoor adventures and imaginative play
boardgames and jigsaws
chatting with her in English, German, Mandarin, or Te Reo Māori (any is fine)
She is curious, energetic, and loves connecting with people. This time is about being present and playful, not supervising or taking responsibility. A parent is always nearby or at home.
Hours & Schedule
We ask for 25 hours per week, with plenty of flexibility.
we usually alternate between work days and days off, rather than doing a little bit every day
this means full, focused garden days followed by real downtime
no early mornings — sleep-ins are welcome
most work happens from late morning through the afternoon
days often finish with doing the dishes together
This rhythm leaves lots of space for:
hiking and exploring nearby tracks
swimming in the ocean or rivers
resting, reading, or social time
We plan the week around the weather, our daughter’s routine, and everyone’s energy levels. If you have preferences (for example, mostly garden days, or needing certain days free), just let us know. Clear communication keeps things smooth for everyone.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Chinese (Mandarin): Fluent
Maori: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
Our family language is English, but there is a good mix of the other languages to find in our every day life, too!
Accommodation
You will have your own private room — unless you arrive with a friend, partner, or family member and choose to share. This is our family home after all, not a hostel, so your personal space matters to us.
We have two guest bedrooms:
1. The bigger room with a queen sized bed, comfortably sleeping 2 adults
2. The bunk room has a bunk bed with king single mattresses each, sleeping very comfortably two adults (arguably more sleeping space each)
We also have a sofa bed that sleeps 1 adult or 2 kids and a spare mattress for on the floor, both could easily be placed in either of the rooms, making sleeping arrangements flexible for families, couples and friends alike.
You will also have access to:
--> two lounges (one upstairs, one downstairs)
--> plenty of books, jigsaws and board games (please note we do not own a TV)
--> several quiet spaces indoors and outdoors
--> a large garden and wide open paddock (which slowly transforms into a food forest)
There is lots of room to spread out, relax, and enjoy privacy whenever you want.
What else ...
We have no pets and are non-smokers, and we only will accept non-smoking Workawayers.
Sometimes we host up to four Workawayers (if they arrive in pairs or groups or as a family).
Sometimes you will be the only one. Both create beautiful experiences.
If a family with children is staying, we won’t host additional Workawayers at the same time, to keep things comfortable for everyone.
We prioritise kindness, communication, shared meals, and a relaxed atmosphere.
We’d love to welcome you into our home — whether you’re a gardener, a creative spirit, a nature-lover, or someone who simply enjoys being part of a warm, lively family and willing to lend a hand.
Life is chaotic but we make a point of sharing at a minimum dinner as a family, and we cover the cost of all meals for our Workawayers (bring your own snacks).
We are on a restricted water supply and have our own septic system so need to be mindful of water usage and what goes down the drain.
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Our location strikes the perfect balance of nature and accessibility:
About an hour’s drive from both Wellington and Palmerston North.
InterCity buses stop in Levin — another convenient arrival option.
We are surrounded by stunning landscapes:
༄.°Beautiful beaches just 10 minutes away
༄.°Tararua Ranges offering incredible tramping and hiking opportunities
༄.°Kāpiti and Mana Islands, must-visit wildlife reserves showcasing some of New Zealand’s most spectacular ecosystems
We warmly welcome families (including single parents) and individuals from all backgrounds. As LGBTQIA+ allies, we strive to create a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for everyone.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have plenty areas to sit (or stand) while working at a PC and have a 4G connection.
Space for parking camper vans
Our driveway has space to park up your vehicle safely.
Can possibly accept pets
We do not have pets but would potentially consider hosting someone with a pet, this needs to be discussed in advance though.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (13)
I quickly felt at home in their beautiful house. I had the cosiest room and woke up to the sound of birds every morning. I felt really at peace, largely because the ethos of the… read more
She was wonderful with our daughter and also with the children of friends who visited while she was here. Whether it was jumping on the trampoline, reading books, or diving… read more
He arrived as planned, and during his first week we had two other Workawayers staying as well. The three of them worked together smoothly and things flowed really well. Not long after, life and weather had other… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I quickly felt at home in their beautiful house. I had the cosiest room and woke up to the sound of birds every morning. I felt really at peace, largely because the ethos of the… read more
She was wonderful with our daughter and also with the children of friends who visited while she was here. Whether it was jumping on the trampoline, reading books, or diving… read more
He arrived as planned, and during his first week we had two other Workawayers staying as well. The three of them worked together smoothly and things flowed really well. Not long after, life and weather had other… read more
We had a lot of good talks with Daniela and learned a lot about the culture and sorrounding area. She also gave us many tips about what we can do in our free time and was very… read more
In their work, they were thoughtful and reliable. They always checked in if… read more
During her stay she helped with weeding, some vacuuming, assisting with… read more
Daniela is very organized so you know what comes next and she also makes sure you take enough breaks. Ray is a wonderful cook and we enjoyed the meals together a lot.
The house is… read more
The work arrangements were always flexible and fair, and the work itself… read more
Both of them are strong workers who don’t shy away from physical tasks. They helped with heavy jobs… read more
We felt welcomed the moment we arrived!
Konnie, their six year old, was instantly open interested and showed us the huge and beautiful garden.
Moreover, Ray is the best sourdough bread baker ever, let us tell you when we first smelled the bread in the morning,… read more
Few days before arriving, they asked a favour: whether two friends they had met on a Kiwi farm and were now travelling with could join… read more
Daniela and Ray are genuinely great people. If you are looking for a space to feel truly welcomed and to recharge your during your travels - I can highly recommended you visiting them.
They are the opposite of what Daniela likes to call "Energy Vampires".
I recommend to visit this family as well if you like… read more
I received a very warm welcome and immediately felt at home. I was invited to join them for pancakes for breakfast.
I'm looking forward to spending a longer time with Daniela as a workawayer one day. I'm sure it will be fun, easygoing, and full of enriching conversations. Julia
We had been talking for a while beforehand, sharing stories about travelling, comparing notes about teaching, and chatting about all the different ways children can learn. Since we’re homeschooling and she’s also a teacher, we were really excited… read more
From the… read more
From the moment she arrived, Jojo slotted beautifully into our family rhythm. She was kind, reliable, and incredibly patient with our daughter, who absolutely adored spending time with her. Whether they were reading together, playing games, exploring outside,… read more
Konnie is a funny and active child and was not shy at all, I really enjoyed hanging out and playing with her during the day.
Daniela and Ray are so warm- hearted and always included me in their activities. We had great chats (also in German… read more
I enjoyed every single second with you and am grateful that you shared your live so openly with me. From the very beginning, I felt like a member of the family.
You are super kind, funny and have a remarkable lifestyle.
Ray is a wonderful cook. With great patience, he showed me how to use the bamboo steamer and how… read more
She joined in with everything we… read more
Staying for 2 weeks with Daniela, Ray and Konnie was perfect! As a family of 4 we know it can be a lot staying with people you don't know before, but it was incredibly quick that we realised it was a wonderful match!
Thanks to their large house we could fit in with space for everyone, with many nationalities and… read more
They were a huge help, especially when we went into the… read more
It was a wonderful experience that I won't forget. I felt at home from the very first beginning. During the three weeks we were able to get to know each other well and I really felt like a member of the family!
It also felt great to stay in one place for a while after long periods of… read more
We loved spending time together, whether it was going for walks or exploring Te Papa. Coco quickly… read more
Sara was our very first Workaway guest, and we are truly blown away by the experience. She seamlessly became part of our… read more
