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5 Mar 2025
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Description
Hello travellers, we're a young family who grew up in Kaitāia, travelled around the world and then moved home to settle down when COVID hit. Kelly lived in Perth and Bridget lived in London and Dublin. We love Kaitāia, the access to beautiful beaches (including 90 Mile Beach), the countryside, and the slower and quieter pace to the city. We live on a 3 acre lifestyle block. The countryside views are peaceful, yet we're less than 10 minutes from town. We have a 1920's villa that we're slowly renovating, alongside raising our two boys (3 years and 4 months old) and starting up a new sandblasting business. Kelly's dad Tony lives in the self-contained unit in the shed, he's a labourer and loves making furniture and gifts out of wood. We're easy going, love to chat and meet people from different cultures. We have two cows, Tony has a cat (Meow Meow) and a dog (Ruby) who are both kind natured and love a pat. Our lives are full-on with young kids, a business and renovations. We'd love some helping hands to join us around the property in exchange for a bed, food and local conversations.
As we are new to Workaway and have two young kids, we'd like to start with offering two weeks (14 day) stays to see how it goes and if things are working out great for both of us we're happy to extend.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have both traveled to different places around the world and the most memorable stops were where we got to stay with local people from that country. We'd love to reciprocate this and enable our children to meet people from around the world, to learn some of your language, your local recipes and way of life. Maybe one day we could come and visit you in return :)
Kelly is a panel beater, welder, painter, sandblaster and mechanically minded. Tony is a wood worker. Bridget is a project/programme manager for an Iwi - Crown (government) Trust. We are business owners. We have a workshop with plenty tools and gear. If any of this interests you, we're happy to share our knowledge and gear with you.
Kelly is also a lover of surfcasting and golf and would love any excuse to get out and share these skills with you.
We take our eldest son to weekly swimming lessons if you're keen on heading to the local swimming pools. Bridget's family has a Sunday morning tea where you could join for a cuppa and a chat or we could take you out to our family home at the beach (Tokerau).
If we're doing any activities that you're interested in joining us for e.g. fishing up the beach, driving out to Tokerau to visit family, or going for a game of golf etc. you'd be welcome to join us.
For your time off there are beaches, walking and cycle tracks, cinema, a couple museums, little townships to visit. Local Saturday market. Golf, fishing, biking, horse riding, pottery making etc.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We both work part-time and take turns to look after the kids and complete our projects.
We are looking for people who are hands-on and willing to do tasks alongside us and local tradies when needed, sharing in skills around property maintenance, house chores, basic renovations and - only if you feel comfortable - some childcare and cooking.
Bridget also has idea's for building an app and a line of bedding, if you have the skills to explore this with us.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Maori: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We are interested in sharing our own languages and learning beginner levels in yours
Accommodation
We have a spare bedroom with a very comfortable super king bed - suitable for a single person or couple / two friends. The house has one shower and toilet.
We'd have food available for you to make your own breakfast and lunch and then could sit at the dining table with us for the evening meal or could decide to cook out on the BBQ to have some time for yourselves.
Note: The bedrooms and outside of the house are mostly finished, we are working on renovating the main living areas.
What else ...
With two littlies, we are looking for people who enjoy being around children.
We have a 7 seater and head into town (10 minute drive) most days so could drop you in if needed. Public transport isn't great but there is a taxi and a bus (Far North Link) that can transport you to Ahipara, Mangonui and Pukenui. For your own freedom to explore the sights, a car would be best.
We eat meat and don't have any food allergies, we'd be interested to know if you have allergies or specific food requirements.
If you're traveling with pets, they'll need to be good with other pets.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
The help you can give will be during the day time. We have a strong and unlimited internet connection.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a large parking area and can plug into (single phase) power from the shed. You're welcome to use any of the facilities in the house.
Can possibly accept pets
Please let us know a head of time what type of pet(s) you have with you.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
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