Vaila & Shane

Travel information

We are currently

Description

Hi there!

We're Vaila & Shane, a couple in our 30s from the Shetland Islands of Scotland, and we're currently on Working Holiday Visas in New Zealand until July 2028. Shane comes from a labouring background, and Vaila previously worked in adult disability care.

We're outdoor enthusiasts, with a particular love for motorbikes, scuba diving and fishing. Vaila also particularly loves cooking and gardening, while Shane has a love for all animals (but especially dogs!).

What motivates us is doing useful, hands-on work and being part of a well-run household or property. We enjoy contributing in practical ways, learning new skills, and seeing tangible results at the end of the day. We’re happiest in rural settings, working outdoors, sharing meals, and winding down in the evenings knowing we’ve pulled our weight.

We have our own car for getting around, and are used to working independently. We previously worked on a 2000-acre farm in the North Island renovating small farm properties (6 in total), ranging from painting to concreting and some flooring/ joinery. We're also used to grass cutting, weeding, and some planting.

We've done quite a few odd jobs over our travels, and are looking forward to lending a hand wherever we can!

Interests

Sustainability

Self development

Pets

Farming

Culture

Plant care

Languages

History

Gardening

DIY & crafts

Cooking & food

Astronomy

Animals

Water sports

Sailing / Boating

Outdoor activities

Nature

Mountain

Hiking

Fitness

Camping

Beach

Adventure sports

Languages

Languages spoken
French: Intermediate

More details about my language interests
Vaila has a bachelor’s degree in linguistics, and experience teaching English as a foreign language. She also speaks workable French and Japanese.

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

We're interested in:  

Gardening

DIY and building projects

General Maintenance

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Animal Care

Helping around the house

House & pet sitting

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Able to teach about:  

Languages

More details about your skills

We’re a practical, reliable couple with experience in rural, farm, and property-based work. Between us, we bring a strong mix of hands-on maintenance, construction labouring, household management, and care support.

Shane’s skills include:
• Construction labouring and general building work
• Property maintenance, repairs, and renovations
• Painting, basic carpentry, fencing, and use of hand and power tools
• Working independently on sites and following plans
• Physical work, outdoor tasks, and problem-solving on the job

Vaila’s skills include:
• Household management, cleaning, and organisation
• Care and support work in home settings
• Animal care (cats, dogs, general farm animals support)
• Cooking, food preparation, and maintaining tidy shared spaces
• Scheduling, communication, and keeping routines running smoothly

Shared skills and experience:
• Farm work and rural living
• Working unsupervised and taking responsibility
• Early starts and varied daily tasks
• Caring for homes, animals, and property while owners are away
• Confident motorbike riders, comfortable handling bikes in rural and off-road environments
• Respecting privacy, routines, and house rules

We’re dependable, tidy, easy to live with, and happy to help where needed.

Age

32 & 37

What else ...

We’re both avid animal lovers, from livestock to pets and everything in between. Can’t beat some good old motorcycling/ dirt biking either, and we adore the water. Diving especially, although it’s been a little while! Anything outdoors is a given.

Vaila also loves cooking, both healthy and fattening on occasion! Meanwhile Shane likes to kick back with a good movie now and then, and the occasional PC game.

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements