Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
6 Mar 2026
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 18 days
Feedback
5
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Tena koe, nau mai, haramai ki Tokomaru Bay, a small, predominately Maori seaside community on the East Coast. We are Jan and Bill who live on a four acre lifestyle block in the peaceful Kaiawha Valley about a two minute drive from the village and the beach.
We have six children and one mokopuna, three of whom live in Gisborne our nearest city, the others are spread out across NZ/World. There is a 4 Square Supermarket, a cafe and a tavern in the village. We have a room with a queen bed in a sleep out, with helpers own separate lounge/kitchenette. Access to washing machine. The bathroom is inside the main house located a few metres away.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Sustainability
Culture
Farming
Charity work
Gardening
Cooking & food
Animals
Nature
Camping
Beach
Hiking
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our social activities revolve around helping with projects in our community, Te Reo Maori Classes, Exercise Classes, helping at the marae, working alongside hapu and iwi in various projects, karakia/church, supporting our children and friends in their activities, visiting friends, going to the beach to gather kai, hunting and gathering.
We have a range of skills- speaking Te Reo Maori, gardening, animal care, preserving, cooking and baking, raising chickens.
We have travelled extensively in our younger days, we always enjoy meeting new people and showing manaakitanga/hospitality. We have hosted at DOC campground on Queen Charlotte Walkway/Te Araroa and enjoy interacting with others.
Help
Most of the work we require is gardening, landscaping, milking cow, feeding animals, helping with projects on our whenua/land, preserving food.
Sometimes we'll be working cooperatively sometimes you'll be working on your own.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Maori: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
We are very much involved in the revitalisation of Te Reo Maori, particularly our local dialect and both teach in this domain.
Accommodation
We have a room with a queen bed in a sleep out, with helpers own separate lounge/kitchenette. Access to washing machine. The bathroom is inside the main house located a few metres away.
What else ...
We are an isolated, rural community, people are laid back and you just have to take us as you find us. Most of our community life revolves around the marae. Jan is a teacher at a Kura Kaupapa Maori three days a week and Bill works from home developing Te Reo Maori learning resources for our local tribe and teaches Te Reo Maori one day a week. There are opportunities to explore our coastline and beaches. If you have an international licence you may borrow our vehicle, we also have a bicycle. We don't drink alcohol or smoke at our home. Single people or married couple workawayers are very welcome to stay with us.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
plenty of space
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Daphne
Milking Cow
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (4)
They were very friendly and warm,
I felt included, and they offered me to join many cultural event where they were going to.
I quickly felt part of the family, and they managed many things to offer me opportunites.
Morever, they were very respectful about the voluntering, always checking with me if the task were… read more
The work they gave me was very achievable, largely outdoor physical work, and cooking, which was a real pleasure.
They are real stand up members of… read more
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:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
They were very friendly and warm,
I felt included, and they offered me to join many cultural event where they were going to.
I quickly felt part of the family, and they managed many things to offer me opportunites.
Morever, they were very respectful about the voluntering, always checking with me if the task were… read more
The work they gave me was very achievable, largely outdoor physical work, and cooking, which was a real pleasure.
They are real stand up members of… read more
Die beiden haben sich wirklich sehr darum bemüht,… read more
