Help with housesitting, animal care. Hokianga, New Zealand

Details

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  Description

  Dates help wanted: 6 weeks Apr-Jun 2026.
  We are looking for an active person or couple to look after our lifestyle block for approx. 6 weeks sometime during Apr-Jun (dates not yet confirmed) 2026.
  
  Our names are Rick and Lindy , and we are a couple in our 60s and 70`s, living on a 125 acre lifestyle block in the Hokianga, where we have a few cattle - 8 mixed beef animals, plus 3 Scottish Highland Cattle.
  
  We live near the village of Okaihau - 4 hrs north of Auckland; 30 mins from Kerikeri or Kaikohe; and 40 mins from Paihia.
  We have a small herd of a mix of Scottish Highland cattle (3 cows) and some dairy/beef animals. 11 cattle in total.
  We also have 1 dog and some chickens, plus a large vegie garden & orchard,
  Accommodation will be in a separate cottage on the property (the little brown cottage - photo 2).
  Our own home is shown in photo 5. We will be here for the first & last days of your stay so that we can hand over before we leave, and also touch base when we get back.
  There is no bus service so you will need your own transport to get here, and to explore the area at your leisure.
  Duties will include feeding the chickens & dog, plus exercising the dog; collecting eggs, watering a few pot-plants, moving the cattle to new paddocks as necessary. There is also likely to be the need to feed-out hay to the cattle each day, so quad-bike experience is required.
  If this appeals to you please get in touch.
  
  Type of help:
  Animal care,
  Gardening
  
  Your accommodation will be in the cottage on the property, rather than in our own house. This is a small 2 bedroom cottage slightly away from our house.
  
  Northland is a wonderful place to visit and has some really beautiful scenery. It is not as populated as other parts of new Zealand so has some remote areas plus beautiful native forest and white sandy beaches.
  We are well situated for travelling further north – up to the top of the country, Cape Reinga – or across to Russell or Paihia, Karikari peninsula etc – or maybe south through the Waipoua Forest, to visit the huge Kauri tree “Tane Mahuta”, the interesting Matakohe museum and many other places in Northland.
  
  There is a cycle-trail (Pou Herenga Tai - Twin Coast Cycleway) in our area which is lovely to do, or there are many local bush walks. The gorgeous Bay of Islands is very handy.
  
  We have cellphone reception - however your mobile phone must be Volte or HD capable, as the cell-tower is 4G ONLY.
  There is WiFi access at the cottage, but data is limited. However we have unlimited WiFi at our own house.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  Animal Care
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Help

  Work would include feeding the chickens & dog, plus exercising the dog; collecting eggs, watering a few pot-plants, moving the cattle to new paddocks as necessary, and feeding-out hay once per day.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  Helper accommodation will be in the 2 bedroom cottage we used to live in (the small brown house in photo 2). This is slightly apart (approx 200m) from our own home further up the hill.
  The cottage has 2 bedrooms - the main bedroom has a queen bed, the 2nd bedroom has 2 single beds. We would prefer NOT to host families of more than 4 people.

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  What else ...

  Northland is a wonderful place to visit and has some really beautiful scenery. It is not as populated as other parts of new Zealand so has some remote areas plus beautiful native forest and white sandy beaches.
  
  We are well situated for travelling further north – up to the top of the country, Cape Reinga – or across to Russell or Paihia, Karikari peninsula etc – or maybe south through the Waipoua Forest, to visit the huge Kauri tree “Tane Mahuta”, the interesting Matakohe museum and many other places in Northland.
  
  There is a cycle-trail (Pou Herenga Tai - Twin Coast cycleway) in our area which is lovely to do, or there are many local bush walks. The gorgeous Bay of Islands is very handy.
  
  We have cellphone reception - however your mobile phone must be Volte or HD capable, as the cell-tower is 4G ONLY.
  There is WiFi access at the cottage, but data is limited. However we have unlimited WiFi at our own house.

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  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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  Space for parking camper vans

  A large campervan can be parked outside the cottage. There is an outside power outlet that the campervan can hook up to.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Bubbles, Tara, Claire, Spots, Bracken, Bella, Blanche & 4 unnamed ones! (25 years)

  A small herd of cattle - 11 in total.
  3 are Scottish Highland cattle, while the rest are mixed-breed beef animals.

  

  Max (12 years)

  A mixed-breed dog - he is now around 13yo, and is starting to go a bit deaf. He loves people, and is very friendly.

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