Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
22 Jun 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 13 days
Feedback
33
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
***Hi there
I don't need helpers at the moment
thanks!***
A beautiful, beautiful organic garden, fresh veges, world renowned salads, 2 friendly dogs, and a lovely place as a base to explore ChCh as part of the exchange. Read through my listing and email me if you're interested.
Thanks.
PLEASE NOTE: I only host couples. (Sorry single travelers; keep on looking...and please don't contact me thinking I'll make an exception for you. I won't)
***
I'm a 61 year old woman and I have a peaceful little farmyard paradise in the middle of the city of Christchurch, with large organic vegetable gardens, fruit trees (peaches, pear, feijoa, plum) and a large walnut tree.
Most people say being here is like being in the country.
I enjoy life: I like people, movies, music, theater, walking, reading, playing board and card games, spinning and knitting. I've also written a book on sustainability.
My two adult kids are in ChCh and are regular visitors, so you'll probably meet them while you're here. I have a 11 year old dog called Pete who I rehomed in March 2022 and Gus a sweet 6 month old puppy. My daughter's 2 dogs Albi and Remus, and my son's puppy Lola are also regular visitors.
Please get in touch if you're coming through Christchurch. I don't always have work available, but will reply to all queries. We'll usually be working in the garden, including weeding, doing housework, and some general maintenance.
I ask my Workawayers to work 5 hours a day for 5 days with 2 days off, and I prefer to host couples, not individuals.
I work until Thursday late afternoon in my home office, so if you're able to arrive on the Thursday after 4pm, that's best as it means we can work together over the following days. If you need transport to our house, I will pick you up from the Central Bus Exchange, between Lichfield/Tuam sts, Central city.
I like to feed our helpers well. I'm mostly vegetarian (occasionally I eat fish), and I don't like to cook meat in the house, so you'll need to be OK with that too.
I encourage you to cook and to share your specialty dishes with us.
You'll share food preparation and general clean up, as part of living together, outside of your Workaway tasks. You have your own lovely room with a comfy bed, and a separate bathroom (not ensuite).
Please no users. I have Workawayers here because I need the help with the work- be prepared to pitch in, work hard and to help out as part of being here.
Our family have hosted people since 2005 and I've been a helper overseas, so know what makes a good helper experience. See the feedback!
Non smokers and no drug use please. Good conversational English is required.
I'm 10 minutes drive/scooter or 30 minutes walk from the inner city of Christchurch, 10-15 minutes drive from the beach and 10 minutes from The Tannery- a great place for live music with good beer and pizza.
PLEASE MESSAGE ME via this site re a possible stay rather than phone-call or texting. I will answer all messages, even if I can't have you. I don't take on people who call or text, as they usually haven't read this far!
********************
PLEASE MAKE CONTACT ONCE YOUR PLANS TO BE IN CHRISTCHURCH ARE CERTAIN, AND BE WILLING TO COMMIT TO HAVING TIME HERE.
We offer hosting because we have work to complete and we need the help. When people let us down at the last minute it is hugely inconvenient for us.
I will commit to having you here, buy extra food and will turn away others who request time with us so that you can be here. Please respect this by turning up, and on the day we arranged.
Thanks!
**********************************************
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have traveled a lot; both within NZ and around the world. We know places to go in ChCh and in NZ with which we can help you.
We have a big garden here and live close to the earth and sea, but within the city.
Help
Duties vary according to the time of the year and may include gardening, weeding, stacking wood, trimming and pruning shrubs and trees, picking and preserving fruit and vegetables, painting and maintenance/repairs for the house, renovation projects and housework.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have a lovely room very close to the house, snuggled within the garden. You have your own bathroom (not an ensuite).
What else ...
we're happy to help you with travel suggestions. Our family have all traveled extensively- both within NZ and overseas
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Feedback (15)
We also worked at my daughter's new house, clearing ivy from a fence (big thumbs up to Pierre for his persistence), and clearing… read more
Workwise, we worked for 5 hours per day, helping Nickei and family in their gardens or in their houses. We would definitely recommend!
It was Bea's first workaway… read more
It was my very first workaway experience and I'm so happy I ended up here:)
I shared my time there with another lovely couple (I had my own room) and together we did some renovations and garden maintanance!
Nickei has been very clear on what jobs had to be done and was helpful and extremely… read more
She worked hard, doing a lot of weeding, helping us shift home for a family member, and generally getting the gardens ready and bedded down for winter.
Sydney would help out with meal prep and cleanup when asked.
She had an easy conversational style and was very kind to my… read more
Photos
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:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.9)
We also worked at my daughter's new house, clearing ivy from a fence (big thumbs up to Pierre for his persistence), and clearing… read more
Workwise, we worked for 5 hours per day, helping Nickei and family in their gardens or in their houses. We would definitely recommend!
It was Bea's first workaway… read more
It was my very first workaway experience and I'm so happy I ended up here:)
I shared my time there with another lovely couple (I had my own room) and together we did some renovations and garden maintanance!
Nickei has been very clear on what jobs had to be done and was helpful and extremely… read more
She worked hard, doing a lot of weeding, helping us shift home for a family member, and generally getting the gardens ready and bedded down for winter.
Sydney would help out with meal prep and cleanup when asked.
She had an easy conversational style and was very kind to my… read more
During that time we loaded tree prunings onto the trailer and went to the dump (a tourist highlight!), cleaned up the garden in preparation for winter (including weeding and pruning), and unloaded and stacked 60 bales of pea straw.
They weeded the vege garden, cleaned windows, did… read more
They were MACHINES!!! They worked hard and fast, and are both highly skilled. So that was fantastic...
We powered through clearing a mass of tree branches into 2 skips, and then prepped and painted external windowsills for the following 3 days.
But apart from their Austrian ability to work hard and… read more
We worked together doing a big garden cleanup and they were competent, good natured and cracked in to it.
Peter is a skilled and experienced gardener and handyman, so he fixed some things around the house as well, which i appreciated.
This was Meg's first time as a helper and… read more
I was delighted to have Lila here; she is such an enjoyable person to host.
Lila is a good worker, and I could ask her to get on with something and she did it to high standard without supervision.
Lila was hugely respectful, able to communicate… read more
Even though they were still jetlagged, they jumped right in and started working on the day they arrived. During the week here they did copious amounts of weeding, as well as garden cleanup, cleaned windows, housework and Euan… read more
They worked with me mostly, and filled in potholes in a shingle driveway, weeded, pruned and dumped garden rubbish, mended and re-graveled a pathway, did… read more
He did a great job on it and worked with that reliable German precision and diligence, to build a beautiful platform that he assures me, will be good for decades!!
Robin was easy and enjoyable to have around, fun and respectful. His communication was excellent, and he's… read more
While she was here Lauren weeded (and weeded, and weeded), spread pea straw on the garden, stacked wood, cleaned windows, did housework,… read more
We spent our initial two and a half weeks helping with a variety of gardening and household jobs. In return, we were rewarded with the most beautiful home, wonderful fresh food (often from the garden) and all round great fun. Nickei is a complete joy to be around and as a result, we… read more
We have spent there around 11 days with another volunteering couple, working 5 hours a day with 2 days off in one week. Lunch and dinner are shared and you are expected to help with prep or cleanup.… read more
During the time they were here they weeded, did garden/old shed cleanups and dump runs, dug out (bloody awful) roots, stacked firewood, housework and shelled walnuts.
They helped with meals and… read more
They are fun, interesting people, easy to be with, considerate,… read more
They worked in well with the other work-away couple we had here.
Nadia's cooking is great; get her to make you her empa-nadia's!!
Thanks guys xx
Sometimes the little… read more
Katy and Taylor stayed with us for a week. They stacked a mammoth pile of firewood, weeded, cleaned windows, did housework, cracked walnuts, and loaded up the trailer.
They helped out around the house with meals and cleanup, and were willing and amiable.… read more
She was negotiating for herself and her travel buddy to come and stay and work. She didn't reply to the email I sent in response to hers re details of staying and working. She didn't turn up in the end, but didn't say she wasn't going to-just left negotiations in the air at the final… read more
