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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
23 Apr 2026
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Description
Do you enjoy kids, nature, regenerative agriculture, holistic wellbeing?
We run a non profit country school. This is a very small start up alternative education program that works with homeschoolers and kids who need nature enrichment in their school week. We are a place-based farm school learning with a focus on regenerative agriculture.
Current help Needed:
DIY help - creating shelving, building a natural playground, building a posh chicken coup, tree houses, and forts.
Bushcraft + Primitive survival skills to help with Forest Friday
Tree net weavers
Playful souls that enjoy working with youth and learning about regenerative agriculture.
How are you at organising and tidying? We are doing a deep clean and shedding in the house/storerooms and need help through this process.
General house help / help in the garden / tidying up and re-sorting a load of clutter.
The Trust Gardens -
Our trust is run out of our property in Upper Hutt. Currently, the gardens are a hot mess and we need to do some landscaping to get them back up to scratch.
Organizer Extraordinaire-
Someone to help organize and put order to things. So if you love the Konmarie method and the idea of getting rid of clutter and creating order out of chaos gets your blood warming and your hands rubbing together then we could use your brilliance.
Photographer or videographer or graphics designer? - Great we always need extra help here too on some of our smaller trust projects. Recording content and editing...you are our sort of person.
Ambivert? Social Introvert?
We have a lovely room in our home but we are looking for someone specific. We are looking for an ambivert/introvert who is happy with their own company but can also communicate and socialize a bit (we are an ambivert and an introvert so highly extroverted people overwhelm us).
You need to have a good sense of humour and be compassionate. A strong work ethic and a desire to leave the world better than when you found it.
We have lots of books mostly of a Buddhist /Taoist, or non-fiction photography and filmmaking and self-development variety.
Part of your chores will be to keep the house clean and tidy. Help with cooking too.
There are miles and miles of walking trails around us and we have a beautiful home and a section on a river with an organic garden.
We work in Collaboration with the farm that hosts Earth School and sometimes workaways will stay there. It depends on if you want more of a social scene. If so the farm is a better home but you will be likely pulled into farm specific work as well as working with the kids.
Lodging:
You have your own private bedroom.
The bus line is at the top of the drive and you are allowed to double up on workdays to take full days off to explore the region.
The People:
Mandi is a Master Photographer, Multi Award Winning Film Director and the Founder Director of the Trust. She is also the project lead for the development of Earth School. Wicked sense of humour and life experiences that range from serving as a Nurse in the U.S. Navy, to organic blueberry farming, and 18 years following her creative heart. American by birth, Lived in Japan for 3 years, and New Zealand for 25.
Craig is a Business analyst and does all of the behind-the-scenes work for the trust. Even more wicked sense of humour. He is from Rhodesia, via South Africa and has lived in NZ for 20 years.
Please note that we are friendly introverts. If you are a super over-the-top bubbly soul and constantly need companionship, we might not be the best choice. But if you are an ambivert, an introvert, or an extrovert who is skilled at finding ways to keep your extroverted awesomeness entertained, then we would be a great fit.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Self development
Technology
Videography
Sustainability
Charity work
Art & design
Plant care
Photography
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Animals
Outdoor activities
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Camping
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will have an opportunity to learn what it looks like to be involved with a social enterprise startup. If interested you can pick the brain of Mandi Lynn New Zealands Creative Photographer of the Year 2017 and get involved with her many creative projects.
If you enjoy kids you could get an opportunity to assist in youthwork projects.
Registered charity
This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).
Help
We need help keeping the house in order while we run the Charitable Trust + Photography Studio.
Daily chores may involve:
- Feeding the Animals
- Tidying the studio and house (vacuum, dust, put props away)
- Helping with Meal Preparation
- Gardening (if its nice weather for it)
We also need project specific help which just depends on what is happening creatively at the time and what your unique skill sets are.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Accommodation
Comfy double bed. Warm blankets and your own room in a beautiful home by a river in a quiet semi rural neighbourhood with public transport at the top of the driveway.
You will help with meal preparation and we can cater for vegans but we are omnivores. You will get three meals a day for your support plus a lovely private space to sleep.
What else ...
There are several LOTR film sites near by and beautiful hiking.
Wellington is a 40 minute train ride away and Upper Hutt has all of the essentials that you need, a great library, and arts centre.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
My animals / pets
Gritty (4 years)
Irish Doodle princess that runs the house.
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (10)
What stood… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.8)
What stood… read more
She is patient in chaotic and challenging situations as I took her on the road to help with a workshop series. She nailed it and was a delight to have on the team.
Not only that but she is an extremely talented artist who helped create work that we will be using for years to come.
I… read more
Staying at Mandi's and Craig's was an absolute pleasure. The both of them are truly the most beautiful human being I got to meet (yes Craig you too !!). Gritty the dog was not only a dog, she was also my best friend ! Always keen to go on an adventure or just chiling by the fire. I never felt so welcomed and loved as in their… read more
Camille was fantastic with our dog, Gritty, regularly taking her for walks and giving her the attention she so loves.… read more
What a gorgeous soul. She has the deep spirit of an adventurer and is so freaking capable. Give her a task and it is sorted. She is a calming quiet presence but still full of light and energy. If she asks to stay at yours grab her with both hands.
We had to live in close quarters as we travelled in a vintage caravan down to the south… read more
While at the house, I had so much fun with all the animals. If you stay in winter/colder months, definitely remember your warm gear to sleep in! It… read more
As stated in the profile the help is mainly feeding the animals, cleaning and organizing as they are both really busy with those beautiful projects they have!
I was lucky enough to… read more
He helped with a tall list of daily housework chores and caring for our small menagerie of animals. Daily prep of lunches was a treat. A responsible individual, good company and a positive attitude.
Their place is so charming and I’m totally in love with their backyard, where you can meditate and lose track of time while hearing the sound of the nature!
Mandi taught me a lot about life and… read more
She also has the sweetest disposition possible. She is so… read more
