Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
30 Jun 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 7 days
Feedback
13
Facebook verified
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
Hello, I am Smokey.....a dashing, intelligent, sensitive, kind, caring,compassionate and handsome German Shepard. My humans are Smyth and David and we live outside of Blenheim .
Smyth is a stay at home mum about to start her Masters in Counselling( she is wonderful, funny and kind) and David is a farmer( he seems a bit gruff but is the kindest of the bunch).
They have four children ages 20-10. They NORMALLY like to take day trips, but in August 2024, Harry(13) contracted a virus and has never recovered. He has been diagnosed with MECFS and POTS.
Before getting sick, Harry enjoyed surfing, swimming, motorbike riding, bouncing on the trampoline and traveling. Harry spends much of the time in bed, but has recently bought himself a 3d printer. He is severely dyslexic, so passing the time with a book is not an option. He enjoys movies, crafts, cards, magic and good conversation. He is a kind young man with a brilliant sense of humor.
His little brother Louie (10) has been greatly affected by his illness, as he lost his playmate. It's been a rough 8 months, but we are seeing Harry improve slowly so we are moving in the right direction and are super grateful for that.
All of the kids are/were unschooled.
Louie LOVES basketball and is a really good player. He also loves video games(though I draw the line at active shooter games as he's still a little guy), Pokemon and Minecraft.
We live on a 5 acre lifestyle block in the top of the South Island where we share our home with 7 other dogs, a horse, a pig and 5 cats.We are a 10 minute bike ride into town and a two minute walk to the Wairau river where I especially love to go and swim!
They lease three farms where they farm sheep, cows and crops. One of their farms is near Nelson and is on the coast. They have kayaks and a private beach.There is a house and a self contained cottage that they use for our guests. It is their idea of paradise.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Pets
Movies & TV
Farming
Charity work
Plant care
Photography
Music
History
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Books
Architecture
Animals
Nature
Hiking
Dancing
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Learning about farming is a possibility as David is a farmer. We lease three farms. The first, a 3,000 acre farm 20 minutes outside of Blenheim.The second, a coastal farm one hour and twenty minutes away.And the 3rd, a few minutes away.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Playing video/board games, watching movies, playing chess, helping tidy up outside around the property
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We live in a two story open plan 5 bedroom two bathroom house. The guest house has a double bed and sofa. We are a family of half vegetarian, half meat eaters and Smyth hates to cook as no one appreciates her skills in the kitchen....I personally LOVE Smyths cooking....it's not her fault the children and David have the palettes of donkeys!!! .
What else ...
We have a bike you are welcome to if you would like to go into town. There is a good bike path. I (Smokey) am usually free, so perhaps we could go walking or swimming together?
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
My animals / pets
Feedback (7)
Playing with the 2 youngest boys was wonderful and they were so kind and helpful and we walked away with 2 Pokémon decks (that they helped us build) as well as hand painted Pokémon 3D prints 🎊
We also helped tidy… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Playing with the 2 youngest boys was wonderful and they were so kind and helpful and we walked away with 2 Pokémon decks (that they helped us build) as well as hand painted Pokémon 3D prints 🎊
We also helped tidy… read more
Esther was an absolute dream to have around our family! We are a very wild and crazy family of six and patience and a sense of humour is a must!!! Esther has both of these qualities as well as a quiet, easy going manner. The children love her as do we and we will miss her terribly. She… read more
The kids are indeed a handful, but they're all very nice people that will slowly let you enter into their life, which is really rewarding !
If you like craziness, a home full of life, animals, life in the… read more
