Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
25 Aug 2025
Reply rate
94.7 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
23
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Badges (3)
Details
Description
* We will be taking enquiries again for stays of 2-3 weeks from September 2025, when our youngest child will be 3 months old*
Kia ora, we are friendly vegetarian family of 4 who are very lucky to live in Ōtautahi Christchurch, on the ancestral lands of Ngāi Tūāhuriri of Ngāi Tahu. We welcome people to enjoy our home and company, and to help us run our household, tend to our kids and develop a productive urban garden. Our home is busy and our lives are filled with but we love staring them.
We live on cycle routes (we can provide bikes and helmets) to both beaches (Sumner and New Brighton), near a lovely public pool, climbing gym, large park, community gardens X 3, the red zone/river and good local cafes. We are close to both the hills and town, and on good bus routes. We have free on-street parking for your vehicle outside our house. Our neighbourhood is not at all flash - but it is very well situated in relation to things, especially if you don’t have a car.
We ask for help for 20hrs per week. It is somewhat negotiable as to when you work these hours, fitting in with your plans and ours, but it is normally in the morning, with sometime some work in the evening possible too, 5 days per week. You choose your days off. We also expect each helper to cook one night per week and help with the clean up from meals in addition to their 20 hours helping. Stays are generally 2-3 weeks in duration.
Gardening experience is useful as gardening is generally a significant part of the role and there is also basic carpentry, sewing, and housework that could be done, but not essential. We have a preschooler (Clem), and a baby (Dot) so being with them (after they get to know you a little) while we are nearby is also an option (though this is also not expected!). We would not expect to leave you alone on the property with the kids unless we got to know you very well and you felt comfortable. It is expected that you like children though!
Please note, we have a room with bunk beds. The bunks are single size but the gap between is not great so you may hit your head if you sit up tall. Or, we have one room with a pull out double sofa bed for a (not too heavy) couple or single person. It depends when you come as to what room we can offer you.
About us:
We are both Tangata Tiriti (Pākeha New Zealanders) born and raised in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Joshua works at the local university and likes to read and cycle, and enjoys music. I look after our children and am on parental leave from my job working for a local arts organisation that teaches sustainable craft workshops (Rekindle Charitable Trust). I enjoy gardening, walking, and the arts. I’m a project person! Clem likes music, Lego, construction, vehicles, space, being read to, and playing outside in the dirt. Dot is just 3 months old.
What we hope for:
We are interested in meeting travellers who like the outdoors and enjoy conversation. A balance of hanging out with us in our space and enjoying your own space at times too is ideal. We can offer options for shorter hours of helping if that is preferred.
Transport:
There are bus routes in the area, and we also have bikes that you could use. Depending on what we have going on we may be able to show you around Christchurch. We offer airport pickup and drop off where possible for us.
Please no drugs, smoking, or vaping on our property as we have a young child.
Food: We are vegetarian and also welcome vegans. We provide food for every meal, though usually you would need to assemble your own breakfast and lunch from the fridge/pantry.
We are LGBTQI+ welcoming.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Politics / Social justice
Culture
Charity work
Plant care
Performing arts
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Astronomy
Art & design
Camping
Cycling
Nature
Hiking
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We welcome travellers into our home, to eat our meals with us and enjoy our company. You will be invited to family events as they arise and we are happy to help you improve your English and tell you about how we live. We will give you tips of where to explore. We can share with you about life in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
It is somewhat negotiable when you work your hours, fitting in with your plans and ours, but generally it is in the morning. We are grateful to you for sharing the cooking/cleaning up from meals in addition to your helping hours, and cleaning your bedroom and bathroom before you leave.
Gardening experience is not essential but you must be happy to learn, as we are developing a productive urban garden. There is also basic carpentry, sewing, and housework that could be done, but not essential. We have a toddler, so babysitting (after he gets to know you a little) while we are working in the garden is also an option (though this is also not expected!). It is expected that you enjoy being around children!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We live in Linwood, Ōtautahi Christchurch, on the ancestral lands of Ngāi Tūāhuriri of Ngāi Tahu. Our house is a wooden villa built in 1900. We have one room with bunk beds, for friends to share. Or, one room with a pull out double sofa bed for a (light) couple or single person. The main bathroom (great shower and bath!) is yours to use along with any other day visitors, as we have a separate bathroom for night time. We provide all the vegetarian food you will need (you can request certain items too).
What else ...
We offer airport pickup and drop off where possible for us. The area we live in is not a rich area, but we find it wonderful as we are close to the centre of town, and not too far from the hills, and the sea. There are bus stops nearby, and you may borrow bicycle when available too. We are within easy walking distance of great swimming pool, big park, some nice cafes/bakery, and a rock climbing centre. We have had a number of people stay through helpX too and have more reviews on that site.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have high speed internet available.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Tallulah, Sass, and Clarabella
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (9)
I really enjoyed working in the garden and getting my hands on a few DIY joinery projects like building a compost bin and two small stools. It was great to… read more
They even let me use one of their extra bike which was extremely useful to go freely anywhere when you don't own a… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
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:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I really enjoyed working in the garden and getting my hands on a few DIY joinery projects like building a compost bin and two small stools. It was great to… read more
They even let me use one of their extra bike which was extremely useful to go freely anywhere when you don't own a… read more
They did a bunch of housework and cooking for us, and a lot of gardening (including at our local community farm) and always performed tasks to a high standard.
They were lovely with our 2-year-old!
They came to us during a really busy… read more
The work was enjoyable, especially the work in the garden. We learned a lot about gardening, and Hannah is a great teacher. We really appreciated how she clearly defined tasks and… read more
Thank you again for… read more
