Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
27 Aug 2023
Feedback
45
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Our voluntary conservation work requires lots of work at our base in Hokitika, West Coast, South Island. That work is primarily in summer, with some short hard-working trips over winter too. The conditions there are very primitive. Certainly no cellphones or internet.
Over the winter we make use of a time with no field work to recycle old aircraft at a hangar in Hawkes Bay. We take care of equipment, restore our vehicles, organise field work and undertake data entry and analysis on our computers. So there's something for everybody. A great opportunity to learn whilst doing.
Types of help and learning opportunities
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Help with Eco Projects
Help with Computers/ Internet
Help
Building maintenance, painting, sanding, fabric work, care and cleaning of field equipment, computer work including working with data collected during our forest survey work.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
In Hawkes Bay for winter: an aircraft hangar with a shared apartment. Pretty basic facilities. It's a few km from Napier and Hastings. Rural quiet. Will you share a room with someone? A person? We have shared space with your own sofa bed! A Labrador dog? Yes. Most likely. This is Labrador friendly, large two room studio apartment with several beds.
What else ...
We also do some winter work at our Hokitika base, where we are more permanently located over summer. If interested please ask.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Very little office space and internet available.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
Would have to be a very well behaved dog.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Flexible, but a minimum of four hours in the morning from 8 until 12.
Host ref number: 747897294327
Feedback (20)
3 Jan 2020
Left by host for Workawayer (Daniel)
Daniel was great. Intelligent and dilligent. He fitted right in to our family, and was always interested and willing. A great workaway. Thanks so much.
(Excellent
)
31 Jan 2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Fischer)
Fisher helped with numerous challenging tasks and was a great worker. He is a hardworking, reliable and intelligent man. He was always happy and enthusiastic in the rough of Hokitika. He quickly learnt new tasks, including building construction and digger driving. He could responsibly work in complex tasks with no supervision. Really nice company… read more
(Excellent
)
3 Jan 2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Camille)
Camille only stayed a week, but it was great and it would have been even better if she had stayed longer. She was always happy and enthusiastic in the rough of Hokitika, South Island. She quickly learnt new tasks, including painting, gardening in competition with wild weka and cows, demolition and tractor driving. She could responsibly work in… read more
(Excellent
)
Feedback
3 Jan 2020
Left by host for Workawayer (Daniel)
Daniel was great. Intelligent and dilligent. He fitted right in to our family, and was always interested and willing. A great workaway. Thanks so much.
(Excellent
)
31 Jan 2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Fischer)
Fisher helped with numerous challenging tasks and was a great worker. He is a hardworking, reliable and intelligent man. He was always happy and enthusiastic in the rough of Hokitika. He quickly learnt new tasks, including building construction and digger driving. He could responsibly work in complex tasks with no supervision. Really nice company… read more
(Excellent
)
3 Jan 2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Camille)
Camille only stayed a week, but it was great and it would have been even better if she had stayed longer. She was always happy and enthusiastic in the rough of Hokitika, South Island. She quickly learnt new tasks, including painting, gardening in competition with wild weka and cows, demolition and tractor driving. She could responsibly work in… read more
(Excellent
)
17 Jan 2017
Left by Workawayer (Sander & Iris) for host
We stayed for a week at Seans place in Hokitika, which is a fantastic place to stay, the weather wasn't good when we were there, so be prepared to live in a wet, muddy and rainy area. If you like adventure, nature and wilderness you'll love this place. The place we stayed was a conservation project of Sean where he and Richard worked to set up… read more
17 Jan 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Sander & Iris)
Sander and Iris are really great Workaways. Very hardworking, conscientious and clever. Very capable. Very interested in learning new skills.
They stayed at our Hokitika (South Island) property for a week, and experienced all the challenges that the roughest of NZ has to offer. Floods, storms and difficult conditions. It was clearly something… read more
They stayed at our Hokitika (South Island) property for a week, and experienced all the challenges that the roughest of NZ has to offer. Floods, storms and difficult conditions. It was clearly something… read more
(Excellent
)
31 Jul 2016
Left by Workawayer (Mathieu) for host
We stayed two weeks at Sean and Lizzy's place. They were really welcoming and friendly. Sean is clever and helpful. And Lizzy is friendly and an excellent cook. They introduce us with there family and friends who are really interesting. You will share good cheese and wine. We had a beautiful walk in the snowy mountain around.
It's really funny to… read more
It's really funny to… read more
25 Jul 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Mathieu)
Matt and Remi were great workaway helpers. Good natured, very thorough and careful. Really recommended. The weeks they were here flew by and we are so greatful for all the great things they achieved. All the best, Sean.
(Excellent
)
25 Jul 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Remi)
Remi and Matt were great workaway helpers. Always happy. Good natured, very thorough and careful. Really recommended. The weeks they were here flew by and we are so greatful for all the great things they achieved. All the best, Sean.
(Excellent
)
10 Jul 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Kristin Marie)
Kris is a great workaway - and we miss having her around already.
She quickly fits into new environments, loved challenges and didnt mind working with new people.
She's very intelligent, easy going and hard working. Best of luck from Sean, Lizzie and Wiki.
She quickly fits into new environments, loved challenges and didnt mind working with new people.
She's very intelligent, easy going and hard working. Best of luck from Sean, Lizzie and Wiki.
(Excellent
)
20 Dec 2015
Left by Workawayer (Annette) for host
What an amazing experience! I still can hardly believe it that I only stayed 2 weeks with you as it felt like home with Sean, Lizzy and not to forget lovely 'useless' dog Vicky. I did some work in the garden together with Lizzy and got 'my' project which was sanding and bogging a jeep and masking it that Sean could spray some new paint. Sean… read more
6 Dec 2015
Left by Workawayer (Nicolas) for host
I had an amazing time here !
Sean and Lizzie are so friendly and their place is really nice and comfortable. I stayed here for about 2 weeks, working mainly on aircrafts and helicopters (what an opportunity, I would never have imagined doing that during my trip in NZ !). I learned so much working with Sean. And Lizzie's meals are always… read more
Sean and Lizzie are so friendly and their place is really nice and comfortable. I stayed here for about 2 weeks, working mainly on aircrafts and helicopters (what an opportunity, I would never have imagined doing that during my trip in NZ !). I learned so much working with Sean. And Lizzie's meals are always… read more
3 Nov 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Anina Marisa)
Anina Marisa is a great workaway. Really flexible and willing to try her hand at new jobs. She was great to have around. Best of luck, Sean.
(Excellent
)
28 Jul 2015
Left by Workawayer (Anina Marisa) for host
Sean, Lizzy and Wiki are wonderful hosts.
Unfortunately, I only spent 6 days with them. They live in a lovely hangar, restore aircrafts, and go for flights occasionally. Being able to go flying with them was incredibly amazing!
They also are great cooks and their (new) horse Libby is so lovely, as well. Basically, I just gave them a hand with… read more
Unfortunately, I only spent 6 days with them. They live in a lovely hangar, restore aircrafts, and go for flights occasionally. Being able to go flying with them was incredibly amazing!
They also are great cooks and their (new) horse Libby is so lovely, as well. Basically, I just gave them a hand with… read more
30 Jun 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Alexandre)
Alex is a wonderful workaway. Thoroughly recommended. He is courteous, friendly, helpful and great company. A very careful and conscientious person. We miss him staying here, and hope he comes back before he leaves NZ!
(Excellent
)
25 Jun 2015
Left by Workawayer (Alexandre) for host
What a wonderful time spent on Hawkes Bay with Sean, Lizzie and of course Wiki. Sean and Lizzie are amazing host who really care about your welfare. You can learn so much with them : airplanes, construction, horses, hawkes bay, english and plenty more. Their welcome with all the family was so great and kind to me, and I really thanks them for all… read more
23 Feb 2015
Left by Workawayer (Claudia Francesca) for host
Sean and Liz are very very friendly and very kind!They let me feel as part of family! they let me the oportunity to know and do things that i never know and did. I enjoyed a lot time with them. Thanks and see you soon!
21 Feb 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Claudia Francesca)
Claudia is a lovely and really helpful workaway. A really nice nature, clever and always willing to even the toughest of jobs. Highly . We hope to see you again soon.
(Excellent
)
21 Feb 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Alexandre)
Alex was one of the best workaway helpers we've had. A great guy. Really hard working and adaptable. Always willing, clever and reliable. Highly recommended. Thanks so much for your help Alex, I'm truely grateful and hope to see you again.
(Excellent
)
21 Feb 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (antonaing)
Antoine was a first rate workaway helper. Really hard working and adaptable. Always willing, clever and reliable. Highly reccomened. Thanks so much for your help Antoine, I'm truely grateful and hope to see you again.
(Excellent
)
15 Jul 2014
Left by Workawayer (Orsolya) for host
Dear Sean,
I cannot say how thankful I am! Thank you Sean for the lots of emails during my prepair! It was an amazing place, my second home! And it was quite difficult to leave the place. But, I hope we see eatch other soon in Summer! I miss you guys!
Take care yourselves, and enjoy the holiday!
Big hugs! O., the elf :)
I cannot say how thankful I am! Thank you Sean for the lots of emails during my prepair! It was an amazing place, my second home! And it was quite difficult to leave the place. But, I hope we see eatch other soon in Summer! I miss you guys!
Take care yourselves, and enjoy the holiday!
Big hugs! O., the elf :)
15 Apr 2014
Left by Workawayer (OSCAR ) for host
I stayed with Sean more than a week, this experience was great for me. I learned a lot of things in his hangar, working with planes and making holes in iron pieces with lathe !!! Every day Sean cooks healthy meals, and he is always taking care of you. Wiki is very quiet and affable. The best of best this week was when Sean took me by plane, Was… read more
6 Mar 2014
Left by Workawayer (Alexandra & Jonathan ) for host
Our stay with Sean was really good! We learned a lot! The work was fun and adapted to what we could do, sometimes challenging which is great! He's a great cook and a very generous person. Always tried to make us feel home. He taught Jonathan to use new tools which he was really wanting to get a grasp on. And he always gave us a lot of reassurance… read more
26 Feb 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Alexandra & Jonathan )
Alexandra and Jonathan are great. They're great guests and great workers. They are really interested in all types of work and quickly learn new tasks. The are really happy working long hours unsupervised and are very independent. They're both really easy to get on with, really pleasant and are very responsible. Highly recommended.
(Excellent
)
27 Feb 2014
Left by Workawayer (Alexandra & Irene) for host
We stayed very comfortable with Sean hospitality. He cooked for us very good and he showed us the fantastic air show in Napier. Also we can share travels experiences and it was so cool. We learned a lot listen to him! Thanks for all Sean. See you in Spain maybe ;-)
26 Feb 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Alexandra & Irene)
Irene and Sandra stayed for only a couple of days, but were great guests and are welcome back anytime. They are great company, responsible and open-minded. Good luck with your travels.
(Excellent
)
21 Feb 2014
Left by Workawayer (Evgeniia) for host
Oh, I had such a great time at Sean's place!
…and the windshield polishing and cooking was hardly any work!:)
Very hospitable host, very nice man. It was such a good change from my usual hostel traveling :) Pablo and the workawayers were great company as well. And Wiki of course:)
Great contacts!)) Some new skills and useful information about… read more
…and the windshield polishing and cooking was hardly any work!:)
Very hospitable host, very nice man. It was such a good change from my usual hostel traveling :) Pablo and the workawayers were great company as well. And Wiki of course:)
Great contacts!)) Some new skills and useful information about… read more
26 Jan 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Evgeniia)
Evgeniia only stayed a few days, but it was great and it would have been even better if she had stayed longer. Awesome Russian cakes, nice stories and always happy and enthusiastic. She quickly learnt new tasks, and was a great workaway. Really nice company and a great help.
(Excellent
)
1 Feb 2014
Left by Workawayer (umcormil) for host
I enjoyed my time with Sean and Wiki at his hangar at the Hastings Aerodrome. It's a very laid back environment and Wiki is a good big vacuum if you drop any food. I was only there a couple of days but there was a lot of cool work to do. It was fun to meet the other workawayers and Sean's friends.
26 Jan 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (umcormil)
Leanne only stayed a few days, but it was great and it would have been even better if she had stayed longer. She had nice stories and was always happy and enthusiastic. She quickly learnt new tasks, could responsibly work in complex tasks with no supervision, and was a always great workaway. Really nice company and a great help. Quick, hardworking… read more
(Excellent
)
30 Jan 2014
Left by Workawayer (Fabio & Juliane) for host
The time with Sean and his lovely dog Wiki in the hangar was awesome! We've never done a workaway like this before...so we were really curious about ;-) The work was very interesting and multifarious. Sean gave us often the opportunity to find our own way to do things, he gave us good advises how to use tools we didn't know and we always had the… read more
22 Jan 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Fabio & Juliane)
Fabio and Jule, are perfect workaways. They communicate clearly, are careful and conscientious and very dependable. They communicate well and speak their mind in a clear way. Their maturity and dependability mean they can be set complex tasks and will fulfill them with minimal supervision.
Fabio and Jule are both really good social company, are… read more
Fabio and Jule are both really good social company, are… read more
(Excellent
)
30 Jan 2014
Left by Workawayer (Pamina & Eskil) for host
We had a great time at Seans, with a lot of useful experiences. The tasks were very varying work, which kept it interesting. Sean is a very welcoming and nice person and you feel at home right away. Good food and nice company. We can really recommend this place.
22 Jan 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Pamina & Eskil)
Pamina and Eskil were great. They stayed over a week, and I wish it were longer. They fit in really well, are young and energetic, but very mature and responsible. They were given some challenging tasks, and any mistakes made became lessons and were'nt repeated. Hard-working, honest, pleasant and dependable. Great workaways both.
(Excellent
)
18 Jan 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (marissa87)
Marissa is really great to have stay and help. She is extremely clever and picks up new skills very quickly. She was given responsibilities well beyond most other workaways. She picked up the challenge and delivered way more than expected. She helped with vehicle refurbishment, cooking, cleaning and horticulture, but Im sure could work really… read more
(Excellent
)
5 Jan 2014
Left by Workawayer (Nina Vanessa & Elisabeth) for host
Staying at Sean's place was an amazing experience. The work was more than reasonable, our tummies were always filled with delicious food and everyone made us feel very welcome. We learned how to drive a car (more or less), had a ride in a Tiger Moth 82A and learned lots and lots of other intersting things just by listening. If you can laugh about… read more
20 Dec 2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Nina Vanessa & Elisabeth)
Nina and Elizabeth are great workaways. They are really reliable, relaxed, pleasant and get on really well with everybody. They gave their best to all the challenges presented to them. They helped with plant and animal conservation work, GIS work for a nature conservation project, horticulture, building of aircraft parts and cooking and cleaning.… read more
(Excellent
)
23 Dec 2013
Left by Workawayer (Martin) for host
Sean and his dog Wiki are great workaway hosts. I highly recommend working for Sean and staying at his hanger at Hastings Aerodrome.
I have spent three weeks with Sean working on irrigation, computing with GIS and Linux, repair of aircraft and vehicles and some horticulture. Luckily I have experienced everything I have expected on the Hastings… read more
I have spent three weeks with Sean working on irrigation, computing with GIS and Linux, repair of aircraft and vehicles and some horticulture. Luckily I have experienced everything I have expected on the Hastings… read more
20 Dec 2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Martin)
Martin is a perfect workaway. What a great experience having him stay. He is up bright and early keen for work. Nothing seems to phase him, he is very reliable, pleasant and gets on with everybody. He takes on projects and runs with them all day. Many times as it began to get dark I had to insist on him finishing the day up.
He worked on… read more
He worked on… read more
(Excellent
)
18 Nov 2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Jonas)
It was great having Jonas stay and help for three weeks. He is very dependably, very honest and very willing to help. He was always willing to try his best and take on challenges, of which there were many. He helped with preparation and cleaning of aircraft parts for painting, engine work, workshop organisation and weed control for a nature… read more
(Excellent
)
17 Nov 2013
Left by Workawayer (Maren93) for host
It was such a nice time and he is a very good cook. The work was interesting and I loved the area. If you listen carefully you will learn a lot and he has always a funny story for you. Thanks for practising my language. Watch out for Wiki and your socks xD. She is the best dish washer ever. Would love to come back
16 Nov 2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Maren93)
Marin was great. The two weeks flew by. She is very clever and hardworking, learning new and sometimes challenging skills quickly and with no fuss. She is quiet and tidy. A great listener with maturity beyond her years. I hope she comes back to visit again soon.
(Excellent
)
25 Sep 2013
Left by Workawayer (Lena) for host
We had a amazing time at the aerodrome. Sean is more than hospitable, we felt like being in a hotel. The days always started with a hot cup of tea in bed and cooked breakfast afterwards! He is a great cook! We also learned a lot about history, aeroplanes, cars....
Wiki is a wonderful well behaved and good listening dog.
We had a gorgeous weekend… read more
Wiki is a wonderful well behaved and good listening dog.
We had a gorgeous weekend… read more
22 Sep 2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Lena)
Lena and Rika are the perfect workaway's. Good conversations, friendly and interesting. Highly recommended. Always happy, always up for work, and very pleasant to have around for the week that just flew by. Really hope that they stay longer next time.
(Excellent
)
1 Sep 2013
Left by Workawayer (Esther) for host
It is magnificent and a great experience to stay at an Aerodrome, where all people are positive obsessed by planes...There are million things to do and when you want to learn, Sean is your teacher! It was great to garnish the caravan with curtains and cushions covers. I learned about the importance of sanding and how heavy a helicopter is, by… read more
1 Sep 2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Esther)
Quick, clever, happy and honest. Early to rise and to start working, works all day, and didnt stop till it was too dark to see. Good stories, talents and skills. The only problem was trying to get her to stop. "Slow down Esther, take a break, dont work so hard". Esther will probably be the best workaway you've had. I have had a few other… read more
(Excellent
)
