Creative hub in the country side near Wellington, NZ

New Zealand

Favourited 263 times

Host rating
Feedback
20
Last activity
08/05/2022
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Availability

2022

Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

Details

Description
Our property is located in the beautiful Wairarapa, about an hour out of Wellington. We have renovated stables to create an art and mosaic studio. I (Zelda) am a Mosaic Artist from South Africa and my husband Matt is a Kiwi. We live in a 2 storey house which we renovated over the years and we share it with Alfred the cat who is the king of the castle.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have space for up to 5 helpers which creates a social atmosphere and an opportunity to meet people from different cultures. I am South African and Matt is Kiwi and we like to share our culture with others.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
I am in the process of restructuring my mosaic studio so I need people who can help me with mosaics from time to time. I could also use some help with computer and social media to promote the upcoming event we are organising as a fundraiser for Life Flight Rescue Helicopter Service (non-profit organisation).

In December and January we are looking for people with the following skills: carpentry, painting. Additionally, if you like art, then we can always work on lots of Mosaic Art projects together.
Languages spoken
Afrikaans: Fluent
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have spacious accomodation in renovated stables (next to the main house) or on the top floor of the main house so you have your own space and privacy. The place is off the main road but with a nice view in the background. Wifi is available.
What else ...
We live close to Featherston in the Wairarapa region. It is about 10km from Lake Wairarapa where you can enjoy a relaxed afternoon. The area is a beautiful to explore with heaps of hiking tracks, vineyards in Martinborough. You can also do a day trips to Cape Palliser (about an 1 hr drive) where you can probably spots seals, or Castle Point.
There is a country Pub next door where you can play pool and they sometimes have live music and you can watch rugby games there.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
You can park a camper van on the lawn and work 2-3 hours per day instead of 4-5.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Photos

Feedback left by and about host (20)

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

06/10/2021

Left by Workawayer (Ebru) for host

Zeldas unique place was a very creative experience for me and just what I was looking for. She made sure to give me tasks that I can learn from and that I enjoy. My stay happened during the second lockdown in New Zealand and like every traveller I was a little worried. At the end I extended my stay, cause I was very interested to complete our… read more

(Excellent )

07/06/2021

Left by Workawayer (Karolina) for host

I have no words to describe my gratitude to Zelda and Matthew for welcoming me to their house. I had the most amazing time and felt very comfortable and taken care of the whole time I was there. All the projects we worked on were very interesting and there's no day that's the same. Renovated stables are very beautiful and the property is also… read more

(Excellent )

22/09/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Delphine)

Delphine stayed with us for 2 weeks and it was a pleasure to host her. She helped me with a mosaic project in my art studio and showed creative flair and attention to detail. She helped preparing meals and always helped to tidy the kitchen afterwards. We will welcome Delphine back any time.

(Excellent )

02/09/2020

Left by Workawayer (Delphine) for host

2 weeks spent at Zelda's where i discovered the mosaic for the first time. We cannot imagine the time it takes (around 50h for two to make 3 giant chessboard pieces) and at the end we savor the rendering and the work done, if we can call it work 🙂.
I was the only volunteer. So it was a luxury for me to have the studio upstairs only for me ! Those… read more

(Excellent )

26/08/2020

Left by Workawayer (Josh & Aurea) for host

We arrived in March and wanted to stay for a month and as lockdown happened, Zelda and Matthew offered us to stay. We were busy every day doing lots of different tasks as painting, mosaic, fixing, gardening, cleaning ...We have learned a lot over there and had a great time, we were able to cook so many different good dishes and nice dessert ,… read more

(Excellent )

25/05/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Josh & Aurea)

Josh and Aurea stayed with us during the Lockdown period, so they were here for more than two months. It was a pleasure to host them. We got so much done during the time they were here. They helped me with so much, from spring cleaning to gardening. We also got a lot done in my Art Studio, creating ceramic mosaic tiles, which can be very time… read more

(Excellent )

18/06/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Celine)

Celine and Alfonso stayed with us for about 2 weeks. They created a video for my website and designed a logo for my business. The video is really great. They also looked after our house and cat while we went away for about a week.
They are both very creative and talented. Communication was a little difficult as they are still improving their… read more

(Excellent )

15/06/2020

Left by Workawayer (Celine) for host

I had a really pleasant stay at Zelda and Matthew’s place, for about 2 weeks. They are welcoming, interesting and easy going people.

With another travel mate we enjoyed a lot making a video and some graphic/web design for a mandala mosaics project which was satisfying.

We had our own privacy in the separate stables with a nice fire place to get… read more

(Excellent )

07/03/2020

Left by Workawayer (Joanne & Niko) for host

Our stay with Zelda and Matt very enjoyable. We helped Zelda reorganize her studio and created a new website for her. This was a new and interesting project for us and Zelda let us take the lead but we were all learning in the process. We all shared interesting stories and insights from our respective countries over dinner which was very welcomed.… read more

(Excellent )

23/02/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Joanne & Niko)

Joanne and Niko stayed with us for almost two weeks and it was a pleasure to host them. They helped to organise my Mosaic Studio, created a new web site and helped to finish a few mosaic projects. They are hardworking and complete every task to a high standard.
We highly recommend Joanne and Niko, they go the extra mile. We will welcome them… read more

(Excellent )

23/02/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Domagoj)

Domagoj stayed with us for a week and it was a pleasure to host him. He helped us grout big wall mosaics and did a great job. He worked well as part of a team, always helped in the kitchen with meal preparation and tiding up. He taught us Tai Chi in the mornings which was a new experience for us. He is friendly, helpful and a pleasure to have… read more

(Excellent )

21/02/2020

Left by Workawayer (Domagoj) for host

This was my first experience with Workaway and it was awesome! Zelda and her husband Matthew were extremely welcoming people with warm and open hearts. I really appreciate all the kindness and generosity I experienced while staying with them. Zelda is such a nice and cool person and working with her was so awesome. It was a pleasure helping Zelda… read more

(Excellent )

15/12/2019

Left by Workawayer (Bruna & Andre) for host

We spent two weeks with Zelda and Mathew and it was an amazing experience. Most of the time we were with Zelda but every time Mathew was at home he tried to make sure we were well served and cosy. The whole time with Zelda was just incredible, we learned a lot about South Africa, mosaics and we had a great opportunity to build a wooden wall to… read more

(Excellent )

09/10/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Bruna & Andre)

It was a pleasure to host Bruna and Andre. They stayed with us for two weeks and helped with so many projects. Andre build a fence to hide the water tank, he did the hole project, from design to finish and it looks stunning. Bruna did a Mosaic Project with lots of creative flair. Every project they did with enthusiasm and dedication. They also… read more

(Excellent )

12/02/2019

Left by Workawayer (Hanna & Joanna) for host

We stayed 10 days at Zelda's home and we really enjoyed the time there. We helped her with preparations for an Art and Music Festival. Our work was mainly painting walls, making decorations, finishing mosaic piano (which went for charity auction), preparing meals or doing some cleaning. The work was fun, it wasn't hard and never boring!
During… read more

(Excellent )

09/02/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Hanna & Joanna)

Hanna and Joanna stayed with us for about two weeks helping us prepare for our Art, Music and Food Fair. Every task they tackled they did with dedication and perfection. They took initiative and did things that needed to be done without waiting for instructions. They helped to complete the Mosaic Piano, took the photo's at the event, which are… read more

(Excellent )

11/02/2019

Left by Workawayer (Adrien) for host

I had a great time at Zelda and Mathew. Interesting person with various topics of discussion. The work was good and i could easily find some things to do. The accommodation is very good and the kitchen is perfect for the taste buds. The fact is we are 8 volunteers was a good time. I just think there is a lack of communication sometimes between… read more

(Very good )

05/02/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Adrien)

Adrian stayed with us for almost 3 weeks and is extremely hardworking. He tackled all his jobs with enthusiasm and will carry on until it is done. He did so much cleaning and tidying up as we had a dead line to have the house presentable for our open home. He cooked amazingly tasty meals and always left the kitchen tidy. He cleaned the fridge and… read more

(Excellent )

01/01/2019

Left by Workawayer (Florence Potvin) for host

I stayed for around 2 weeks at Zelda’s house with other helpers and i really liked my experience. The work was nice to do, we did activities and explored around, we went to the pub & river next to the property. I had lovely conversations with Zelda and appreciate my stay! Thank you

(Excellent )

21/12/2018

Left by Workawayer (Miguel) for host

Thank you Zelda for welcoming me to your home and giving me your friendship. I only stayed 10 days in your house, enough to know that you are a great person and a wonderful artist. I hope your projects keep moving forward

(Excellent )

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