Profile information
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Host rating
80 %
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Last replied
18 Sep 2026
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Feedback
26
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Email verified
Badges (3)
Find your perfect host
Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks
Details
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Description
Do you enjoy youth, nature, regenerative agriculture, holistic wellbeing?
We run a youth program . It is for youth who struggle in mainstream education and who come for one day a week to hang out with us. Their vision is to create a food forest in every school in the Lower North Island. We together learn about regenerative agriculture, propagation techniques, and local commerce.
We are currently building a flower farm to help fund this vision.
Current help Needed:
Wood working skills - We are building out things from pallets that will help enhance our program like tables, and solar dehydrators and dahlia tuber processing station, and flower cart
Bushcraft + Primitive survival skills.
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. We are building out the flower farm and could use support here.
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 socialise 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 Hakomi Therapist Graduate, Creative Ecotherapist, Master Photographer, Multi-Award-Winning Film Director and the Founder Director of the Trust. 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 26 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
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Light maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
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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
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Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
- Regenerative Flower Farming
- Youth work
- Syntropic food forest design
- Marketing and sales to help fund a non profit. -
Registered charity
This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).
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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. We collectively make one to two meals a day but you are welcome to three. -
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
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Internet access
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Limited internet access
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We have pets
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We are smokers
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Can host families
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How many Workawayers can stay?
One
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My animals / pets
Gritty (5 years)
Irish Doodle princess that runs the house.
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (10)
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
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
