Profile information
Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
3 Aug 2025
Reply rate
94.1 %
Usually responds within 105 days
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Details
Description
Hi. Before we get into the details, please only apply if you have your own transport! We are in an isolated rural area, which is not on a bus route, so have found that Workawayers only really get the most out of staying with us and exploring the area if they can travel independently during their free time :) And now onto the details...
We’re a family with three energetic young children living on a rural lifestyle property in Hawke’s Bay. Our goal is to slowly knock the property into shape and become as self-sufficient as possible, raising animals and growing food to feed our family and friends. This is an ongoing project, and there’s always something to do.
Our home is busy and lively. We welcome Workawayers who are happy to integrate into family life, enjoy being around kids (ours are inquisitive and love to chat!), and are comfortable with animals. We value people with a good work ethic, who show initiative, and who take pride in what they do.
What You’ll Be Helping With:
Gardening & Landscaping – setting up gardens, planting, watering (hawkes bay is known for its long hot summers), weeding, maintaining gardens, and general property upkeep
Animal Care – feeding and checking water for our pet sheep, caring for chickens (feeding, collecting eggs, ensuring water), and spending time with our three large friendly dogs (who love runs and adventures)
Firewood & Outdoor Projects – splitting and stacking firewood, building new firewood storage, maintaining outdoor areas
Household Tasks – occasional cooking, tidying and/or domestic chores
House Sitting – during school holidays, we may ask you to stay on-site to care for animals while we get away with the kids
What We Offer
A warm and welcoming home in a beautiful rural setting surrounded by open space and nature
Flexible working hours – you can plan your work around other activities as long as the work is completed
Accommodation in a private room with a comfy bed, access to a full kitchen, bathroom, and laundry. You can also stay in your own self-contained vehicle if preferred
Some food is provided – We will have a conversation on this.
A chance to share culture, recipes, and stories – we love trying dishes from other parts of the world
Who Will Fit In Here
You’re reliable, hardworking, and not afraid of physical tasks
You enjoy variety in your day and being outdoors
You’re good with kids and animals and happy to pitch in wherever needed
You appreciate rural life and the peace that comes with it
If you’re ready to escape the hustle of the city, enjoy the beauty of Hawke’s Bay, and contribute to our project while being part of our family life, we’d love to hear from you.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House sitting
Interests
Fitness
Yoga / Wellness
Mountain
Sustainability
Self development
Pets
Farming
Events & social
Culture
Charity work
History
Music
Plant care
Photography
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Cycling
Team sports
Animals
Outdoor activities
Nature
Hiking
Camping
Beach
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We both whakapapa Maori so in exchange we could help you understand more about our Maori culture, customs, traditions, beliefs, Waiata/songs and Reo Maori language.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Hands-On Help Wanted, Gardening & some Animal Care on Our Hawke’s Bay Lifestyle Property
We’re a family living on a rural property in Hawke’s Bay, slowly knocking it into shape. There’s always a project on the go, and we really value people with a good work ethic who enjoy getting stuck in and seeing results.
What you’ll be helping with:
Outdoor work – splitting/stacking firewood, setting up gardens, watering, weeding, planting, and general garden maintenance
Animal care – feeding and checking water for our pet sheep, caring for our chickens (feeding, collecting eggs, ensuring they have water), and spending time with our three large friendly dogs (who love runs and adventures)
Household tasks – occasional cooking, domestic help
House sitting – during school holidays, we may ask you to stay on-site to feed animals and keep an eye on things so we can get away with the kids
Who we are looking for:
If you are reliable, hardworking, and happy to pitch in wherever needed
Comfortable with physical tasks, animals, and a bit of variety in your day
If you enjoy a mix of renovation, gardening, and animal care – all in a beautiful rural setting – we’d love to welcome you to our place.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Maori: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
We have a welcoming home and hospitable hosts. You will have a private room with a comfy bed along with access to a full kitchen, laundry, and bathroom. You could also stay in your own self-contained vehicles or are welcome to camp (tent and bedding can be provided if needed).
Flexible working hours – plan your work around other activities, as long as the agreed hours are completed. Therefore;
Time to explore Hawke’s Bay’s beaches, wineries, and hiking trails.
We are an omnivorous family, so vegan/vegetarian travellers won't really work for us - but we are open to the occasional plant based meal. We also bake a lot of our own bread so gluten intolerance is also a bit tricky for us to cater for.
What else ...
If you are looking to get out of the city and enjoy what rural NZ has to offer it doesn't get much better than this. We love to adventure and are more than happy to show you around at weekends. Given our location we advise that Workawayers have their own transport. Experience has taught us that we aren't a great fit for people without their own vehicle.
There are lots of interesting trips around the area which can be experienced using us as a central hub. We are happy to help you plan your stay and find local experiences that suit your interests.
Hawkes bay is a great Wine region, with beaches, many cycling trails and beautiful walks to stretch the legs.
Driving to Hawke's Bay is a breeze from anywhere - and the scenery is not too shabby either!
From the North/West: We're about 2 hours from Taupo on the Thermal Explorer Highway (SH5).
From the East: Take the Pacific Coast Highway from Gisborne (SH2) into Northern Hawke's Bay and Wairoa.
From the South: From Wellington, head up the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail (SH2) through the Wairarapa - you'll be in Central Hawke's Bay in just over 3hrs
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a office space, printer etc that is available to use if necessary
Space for parking camper vans
There is plenty of space for Campervans on our property
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Lady, Lightning, Lily & Honey (1 year)
Bottle-raised and overly friendly, they think they’re part of the family. These cheeky characters are living their best life, sneaking out of their paddock whenever they can and eating everything in sight.
Tiki (5 years)
Our big ginger ninja. He's elusive during the day, he prefers his own space and comes to life after dark. He’ll accept a cuddle, but only on his own terms.
Benji (11 years)
Benji is our gentle, friendly giant. At 11.5 years old, he’s more like an oversized cat. He loves being around the action but is usually found snoozing in the corner. He enjoys a lazy cuddle but is just as happy to relax in his own space, living out his days as a calm and loving companion.
Marlo (2 years)
Marlo is a bouncy, energetic, and eager-to-please Large Munsterlander. She’s also in training as a deer dog, loves fetch, running at full speed, and soaking up belly rubs. Despite her endless energy, she’s very gentle with children and always happy to snuggle after a good play
Lad (2 years)
He's an overly affectionate goofball – a Large Munsterlander who’s also a deer dog in training. Him and his sister, Marlo love running, adventures, and being part of whatever is happening around the property.
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (4)
We enjoyed the work given to us, which allowed us to pick up some new skills under… read more
From the moment they arrived, Michael and Anna demonstrated an exceptional work ethic. They tackled… read more
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Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
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Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
We enjoyed the work given to us, which allowed us to pick up some new skills under… read more
From the moment they arrived, Michael and Anna demonstrated an exceptional work ethic. They tackled… read more
Our workaway experience with Dave, Malina, and their children Mila, Arwyn, and Lenny in Hawkes Bay was truly exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed into their warm family atmosphere.
The highlight for us, especially our son Edie, was the incredible… read more
