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Heather
Kia ora! With over 10 years of home and pet care experience, I come to you all …
Oamaru
Oamaru is the largest town in North Otago and boasts Victorian architecture that attracts visitors throughout the year. The annual Oamaru Victorian Fete is a great excuse to take a step back in time by dressing up in Victorian clothing as you explore the craft and antique shops, cafes and bookshops. Save some energy though for a visit to the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony, where you can see penguins in their natural environment. If being outdoors in nature is your thing then Bushy Beach Scenic Reserve is another place to visit, though please note that no dogs are allowed there (yellow-eyed penguin breed there).
Kia ora! With over 10 years of home and pet care experience, I come to you all …
Kia ora! With over 10 years of home and pet care experience, I come to you all the way from Portland, OR, USA! I began my Aotearoa adventure in January 2019 as a Graduate student at University of Canterbury. As a former home and pet owner myself, I understand how important it is to be able to trust the care of your home and fur-babies to someone. I don't take that for granted. My hope is to build rapport with both you and your animals so that your time away from home is as restful and enjoyable as possible -- for everyone! I am confident that I will be able to provide the kind of care and service that you will be more than satisfied with. I have previously worked with numerous clients through other house sitting websites both in the US and Aotearoa. Pets have included dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, guinea pigs, rats, fish, rabbits, calves, and even pigs! I am an experienced equestrian and currently volunteer with Riding with the Disabled here in Christchurch. Have a garden? I am an experienced gardener happy to help make sure your plants and produce continue to thrive. Have special needs? If you are able to provide the training, I'm happy to provide care within my skill sets. I have experience with both medication administration and insulin injections. Missing your furry friend? I will be sending you plenty of adorable photos and action shots! Let's meet up and see if it's a match!
I am a trust lawyer by trade having lived in Japan, the Cook Islands and the Bri…
I am a trust lawyer by trade having lived in Japan, the Cook Islands and the British Virgin Islands for most of the last 20 years but have returned to NZ (hopefully) permanently. For the last year I have run a trust company in Auckland but have left it to become “my own boss” and am setting up a trust consultancy business. This can be done almost exclusively online and I wish to reconnect with NZ whilst doing so and revisit the country. Wherein I was told about housesitting and thought it would be an ideal way to do so especially as I have such flexibility at the moment. Growing up in Morrinsville there were always animals around. Plus we guinea pigs, goats and Siamese cats (very sensitive eaters). My last girlfriend in the BVI had a lovely dog Georgie who I looked after many times and would regularly walk. She was a rescue dog and sadly had been abused so we had to be quite careful with her. I am reliable and very punctual (I blame my time in Japan). If I say something I will do it. I will look after your home and pets as if they were my own. I am truly looking forward to this adventure and thank you for being a part of it with me.
I’ve been living overseas for the last ten years and have come back to retire …
I’ve been living overseas for the last ten years and have come back to retire here for the present. I am considering where I’d like to live and house sitting and taking care of other peoples animal friends, is appealing, and will to help me decide where to live. I’ve taken care of friends animals from time to time over the years. I enjoy the company of my own three rescue dog who currently are still overseas with sitters until the next chapter becomes clear. I will take care of your home and animal friends as if they are my own... I understand how important it is to feel confident in who ever I trust my home and animal friends with when I can’t be there. I appreciate having close communication with my sitters and would ensure you have the right amount of communication to meet your needs. Right now I have two angels looking after my three babies. I like the idea of paying it forward :-) While I don't go out to work I will be doing some work on the commuter at your place so will need access to the internet. There is no deadline for my work, however I will work on it for a few hours a week while sitting for you.
We are David and Adrienne Smith and our ages are 68 and 61. We are a friendly, q…
We are David and Adrienne Smith and our ages are 68 and 61. We are a friendly, quiet couple, non-smokers, who have rented out our home in Auckland to discover the rest of this beautiful country, whilst caring for your home and pets. About us: David spent much of his early years on a farm in Matamata, before moving with his family to Auckland. He has worked for Air New Zealand, and its predecessor NAC, for many years as an airline pilot, both short and long haul and is now retired. David is involved in IT support for a charity group, which can be carried out anywhere there is internet connection. We do not need much bandwidth, its mostly offline work. Adrienne, also retired, has worked as a nurse and caregiver. She is a keen gardener and loves walking, crafts and reading. We are keen to move into the next phase of life, exploring other parts of this beautiful country, and beyond. Our gorgeous bi-colour ragdoll cat is no longer with us, leaving us free to care for your home and pets. We love pets and have significant experience caring for cats, dogs of various sizes and ages, and chooks. Awarded as a top 10 housesitter for 2019. As we have no work or family constraints, we can offer dedicated service to caring for your home and pet as we would our own.
We are a retired couple who enjoy travelling and experiencing new areas. We ha…
We are a retired couple who enjoy travelling and experiencing new areas. We have done a little housesitting for friends who have a cat that we love to look after. Brian brings very practical skills as both a retired farmer and former Tasman District Councillor. I like to think I am practical and up-for-anything with retired schoolteacher experience. Both of us love animals and have owned many pets in the past. We both grew up with family pets as well as farm animals; each requiring different care. I have had dogs, cats and birds along with the backyard chooks in the past both as a child growing up and also as my own children were growing up. They have always been much loved family members. Brian grew up in a farming family with sheep, goats, cows and horses featuring strongly in his background. He was a founding member of the Blenheim Polo Club. He has also breed spaniels in the past. Both of us enjoy the outdoors especially hiking, kayaking and swimming. I love to take wildlife and landscape photos wherever our travels have taken us. We are responsible people who will care for and respect both your home and your pets as if they were our own. We have the flexibility that comes with being retired and the enthusiasm to ensure your pets are well loved and cared for.
We are a couple of travel inspired Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs th…
We are a couple of travel inspired Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs that have fallen in love with New Zealand. Between Taylor and I, we've travelled to New Zealand 5 times and consider it a little version of Canada. My last trip to New Zealand was for 5 months and spent my time travelling both Islands from top to bottom seeing as much as I could. Taylor has been multiple times but for shorter lengths. We are looking to return as a couple and experience the country together, while being able to work on our respective businesses online. During my time in New Zealand I was part of the WWOOF program and stayed in many places for long periods of time where I was entrusted with many duties and responsibilities that included taking care of dogs, cats, other various family pets and other animals such as horses, goats and other livestock. More importantly I was entrusted with taking care of family homes and lived with many families that did indeed feel like that when I left. Taylor and I have both had dogs in our families throughout our lives and have future aspirations of having our own Dog when our travel bug has diminished and we're ready to settle down and limit our travelling to North America. We've treated anywhere we have stayed on our travels, whether it be a hotel, hostel, air bnb, a family friends home or a wwoof / house sit experience with nothing but respect. Practicing the mentality of always leaving somewhere cleaner than you found it. We're an active couple with a very health conscious way of living; we eat clean, are very eco-friendly and treat others' as we would like to be treated. At home in Canada we currently rent our home and our very aware of water usage, hydro bills and minimizing electricity usage however we can. Making new connections and having great experiences with like-minded people is what fuels us to get out of bed every day. We really look forward to possibly watching your house and furry friends while you're away!
I'm a freelance writer/researcher with over eleven years of housesitting experie…
I'm a freelance writer/researcher with over eleven years of housesitting experience. I work from home so your pets will enjoy quality time, companionship, conversation (yes I talk freely and openly with my animal friends), and plenty of affection. I have a gentle, sensitive and playful nature so bond easily with shy or timid darlings, as well as being able to bring out the best in those more gregarious. As the homeowner, you will also have peace of mind knowing I'm happily ensconced at your property. Trustworthy, tidy, responsible and thoughtful with a good sense of humour, I'm happiest in a harmonious and ordered abode. While I can readily housesit in a city, I have a deep affinity with nature and the night sky, and find myself drawn to rural locations. (Some of my previous housesits have been rather remote.) A healthy lifestyle is important to me (sober, non-smoker), and as I love the Earth with all my heart, my footprint on the planet is light. I respect resources, support sustainability, and am energy efficient. I also reduce waste, reuse and upcycle whenever possible. I have successfully tended my own garden in the past, and am accustomed to water conservation from living on islands and lifestyle blocks where I relied upon rain water. I'm a keen walker, explorer, and photographer with a fondness of gardens, forests, and the countryside. Sourcing local seasonal produce provides much joy, as does meeting growers, visiting producers and farmers - particularly those who use organic systems. I also integrate my qualifications as a herbalist, naturopath, nutritionist, homeopath, aromatherapist and remedial masseuse into my life and those I take care of - including pets if they need help. Housesitting is an ideal occupation for a quiet, caring and creative person like me, who loves the company of animals, and thrives at home in a changing and inspiring environment. I welcome the opportunity to look after your beloved home, pets, garden and house plants, keeping them safe, well maintained and cared for.
Hi there! My name is Frances and I live in central Dunedin. I am an Artist that…
Hi there! My name is Frances and I live in central Dunedin. I am an Artist that works from home. I find this works in well with offering my services as a house and pet sitter, not only does it allow me to regularly travel around both the South and North Island of New Zealand, but it enables me to spend quality time at home befriending and looking after your pets, giving them that one on one company, attention and continuity of care and routines that they are used too. I am a mature single woman, with no dependents and have an animal-loving personality. I come from a large Dutch, farming family from the Waikato, so from a young age I started house and pet sitting for family and friends. I am a very reliable, honest, clean and tidy person with good communication skills, with references that can verify this to put your mind at rest:) I have had many house sitting positions over the years, the most current being for Alan, in Otautau, Southland (see reference attached). This was a large property with one gorgeous dog and I cared for him for around three months. Over Christmas I house sat for Rosie and Ian in Christchurch for 6 weeks, they had one dog, two cats, a goldfish and a vege patch (see other reference attached). These were both very enjoyable experiences, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with their pets and sharing their spaces with them. I also have a picture of Casper the dog in my profile - as you can see, we are out taking him for a bit of a driving lesson :) As my references will tell you, I am a trustworthy and respectful person who communicates well. I am very reliable, clean and tidy and have been told by past home owners that what they appreciated most was not only did they come home to a clean and tidy house, but they could see that their animals were well cared for and loved. I am a bright creative friendly person who you will find a delight to have in your home. Thank you for taking the time to consider my online profile and feel free to call my referees, who will be more than happy to vouch for my character and skills as a house sitter and pet minder. I do hope to meet with you and your pets shortly. Warmest regards...Frances:)
Hi there, my name is Kritara. I am originally from Germany and I am living in Ne…
Hi there, my name is Kritara. I am originally from Germany and I am living in New Zealand for over 7 years now. I love the idea of making your life easy by looking after your pets, your home and garden, while you are away on holiday. And that you don't have to worry about whats happening at home. :) I grew up with cats, dogs and horses and have done house sitting here in New Zealand and back home in Germany for family and friends already. You can expect me to look after your pets, your home and your garden. I love to take your dog for a walk, water the plants, mow the lawns and keep your pets happy. I am a mindful and tidy person, and I am respectful about your space and property. I hope to meet you and your pets soon. With warm regards, Kritara
Hi my name is Steph, I'm 31 and from England, I've been in New Zealand now for a…
Hi my name is Steph, I'm 31 and from England, I've been in New Zealand now for a couple of months on an adventure guiding course in Queenstown, just qualified at the end of November in rock climbing and guiding. I've chosen house sitting as I've yet to decide where in this beautiful country I want to live. I'm also studying remotely for English teaching qualifications, so a lot of my evenings are taken up with coursework to keep me busy and I can do that from any location. My experience house-sitting is mainly with family, family friends, and colleagues, frequently with pets to look after including dogs, cats, and rabbits. Multiple pets are not an issue - walking two Basset hounds and a Springer at the same time is a fun challenge! But I love dogs and am very active, so I'm happy for daily walks. I've also looked after Labradors, Irish Wolfhounds, and Tibetan Spaniels among others, so I'm comfortable with big and small dogs. My own dog Millie is a big ol' chocolate lab, she moved in with my parents when I left England and I miss her so much! She's approximately 5 years old, she was a rescue dog so exact birthday unknown. I worry about being away from her so I call home a lot to see her. I chose The Housesitting Company above other similar companies because of the pet sitting element, I really enjoy being around pets, dogs in particular. I love getting up early for pre-work walks to spend some time before leaving the house for any amount of time. And it just sets the mindframe for the rest of the day :) In my free time I hike, love baking, reading, I paint portraits, and I'm teaching myself guitar. I'm an amateur triathlete, although I've not competed in New Zealand yet. I'm confident with security systems, I am a careful and cautious house-sitter. I'm pretty self-contained, and I'm very clean and tidy. I look forward to meeting you and your pets :)
Hi. Greetings from us to you. We are Barbara,age 63 and Vince age 65. We are a…
Hi. Greetings from us to you. We are Barbara,age 63 and Vince age 65. We are a well traveled couple with lots of life experience and have one daughter. Until last year we co-owned a motel with a relative and we love to see new sights and places. We like to dine out as well as being at home. We especially like historic areas and sights. We have looked after relatives houses previously. We value highly the need to have a relaxing,friendly and clean living environment for our guests that came to the motel that we owned. We have always had pets. Currently we have 1 cat,Shelly a ten year old who is part of the family that we love and look after. We had a well stocked fish pond at the motel.Our cat loved to greet our guests at the motel. We are very attached to our cat she is part of our daily life with lots of attention lavished on her.. Vince is a part-time psychiatric nurse who knows that animals need lots of care and attention as well as the people he looks after. Barbara previously worked as a dental therapist and is passionate about dental care. She had a stroke 4 years ago which gives one a different outlook on life and she is now fully recovered. We go to church where we are very involved, Barbara sings in the church choir. We would be able to take excellent care of your pets and be able to update you of how they are being looked after. We hope you will consider us when looking for house-sitters for your pets. Thanks, Barbara and Vince Moreton.
Hey, I (Brigitte) am 24 years old. I was born in Taranaki and grew up both in F…
Hey, I (Brigitte) am 24 years old. I was born in Taranaki and grew up both in Fox Glacier and the Manawatu region. I have been surrounded by animals since birth, caring for and making friends with cats, dogs, horses, turtles and even once upon a time a donkey! I am a bubbly, kind, organised and adventurous person and have been living in a self converted campervan for the past six months travelling and exploring my New Zealand backyard with my partner, Jamie. Jamie was born in Upper Hutt, moving to Feilding as a child. He has also grown up surrounded by animals and cats absolutely adore him! In fact, our special pet cat, Frankie (who currently lives with my parents), loves to play fetch and hang out on Jamie’s shoulder like a parrot. Like myself, Jamie is super organised, tidy, and most importantly, a pet magnet! We are interested in house sitting for you as it will allow us to continue exploring New Zealand whilst I finish my Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) degree and the final placement for this degree in Christchurch. We are currently doing seasonal work whilst studying, with Jamie looking into contracting out as a electrician during house sits. I will likely not be working while doing house sits, meaning I can give your furry friends lots of love and attention! We both grew up with cats, dogs and farm animals so have plenty of experience in this area, with a bonus being we love animals and long walks, perfect if you have a dog! I have kept a few house plants alive in my time and never forget to water my van plants so you can trust me to keep your plants/ gardens in good health while you are away. We are excellent at following instructions (being an avid list writer and ticker-offer) and am very adaptable to individuals house sitting requests. Please feel free to contact our referees below who will be able to give you further assurance that we will be the house sitters for you! If you choose us as your house sitters we assure you we will take great care of your home and animals, respecting and caring for your special place as we would our own.
Hello, My name is Melanie, I am in my early thirties and I have lived in Dunedi…
Hello, My name is Melanie, I am in my early thirties and I have lived in Dunedin for six years. I work as an ecologist for a consultancy firm in Dunedin. My work involves providing advice and technical services to a range of clients such as private individuals, companies and local authorities. I specialise in freshwater ecology and undertake water quality measurements, invertebrate sampling and fish surveys. I am interested in house sitting as I enjoy looking after animals and I am wanting to save money to buy a house. I have undertaken a number of pet sitting jobs in Dunedin while I was a student and have looked after cats, dogs and rabbits. A homeowner can trust that I will treat their house and animals with care and respect. I appreciate any concerns a homeowner may have with using a house sitter and I would do my utmost to provide good communication and reassurance. Thanks for your trust
Married for 46 years and homeowners in UK. (5 bedrooms, triple garage in the cou…
Married for 46 years and homeowners in UK. (5 bedrooms, triple garage in the country).Have a large garden at home and husband used to cutting large area of grass on sit on mower. We would look after your home and be respectful to your property, belongings and pets. We are trustworthy, honest and like to keep our home neat and tidy. Joan is houseproud and likes to keep the jobs indoors up to date, whilst Jim likes to keep the outside jobs up to date. Our daughter lives in Queenstown area and is married with a 4 year daughter. We have been coming to NZ from late November - end March for the last 5 years. We are both retired now, since July 2014, and it is great that we can spend our Scottish winter here in the warmth of New Zealand.
Originally a farm girl from the deep south, I have a lot of experience with many…
Originally a farm girl from the deep south, I have a lot of experience with many different animals. Growing up I cared for pet cats, dogs, rabbits, rats, fish, chickens, ducks, lambs, calves, sheep, cows, pigs, deer, and horses. Farm life has given me a practical and confident approach to animal care. I have a good sense for an animal’s happiness and comfort, or when something is not quite right, and I communicate well with owners. It's a pleasure to do what is required for a pet, from administering medication, to birthing animals, to getting hands-on with poop. I’ve been living between France and New Zealand for the last five years, and have house-sat for some lovely pets and owners in their often eccentric homes. When based in Auckland I work as a part-time gardener for a central Auckland landscaping designer. I also have home-based clothing and textile projects which take me to Paris regularly. Staying in so many different and beautiful homes over this time has developed my enjoyment for homemaking and caring for properties. Most recent pet-sits: Jan 2020: Kirsty Cameron, Costume designer, Auckland Home help for Kirsty’s mother and her two cats, gardening and general care of Kirsty’s home for five weeks. End 2019: Louise Menzies & John Bywater, Artist & Elam lecturer, Auckland Cat P.K. was very used to lots of love, pats, brushing and had a tendency to guzzle all his food and ask for more. As he was still in the process of losing weight after spending time with his grandmother, he needed me to adhere to strict feeding times so that he didn’t feel desperately hungry. He liked to sleep on my bed most of the night. Mid 2019: Sarah Pearse, NZ Actress, Auckland Dog Bruno needed special care as he was ill and underwent a scheduled operation on his leg while Sarah was in Australia. I administered his pain management and ongoing eye and bottom medication. He needed rest, restricted exercise, and help with toileting. I was in contact with his vet regularly and we made one visit in my car. He has now made a full recovery.
Hi, my name is Jennifer. I am 55 years old, a non-smoker and have been 'house s…
Hi, my name is Jennifer. I am 55 years old, a non-smoker and have been 'house sitting' for the last four years (can provide references). Currently I'm in Wellington, looking after a friend's paralysed whippet and assisting in her recovery. I'm now looking to finish writing a book and as different environments help with the writing process, I'm looking to stay in the Queenstown/Arrowtown area. Both inner city and/or rural locations would suit. I previously lived in Italy (16 years), working in the luxury fashion industry, eventually returning home as I missed our proximity to the great outdoors. Not much of that in central Milan. I am quiet, responsible, clean and tidy (friends call me pedantic) and have learnt that everyone is unique in the way they run their home - and I am very respectful of that. Whether staying in multi-million dollar houses or tiny bachs, I am always considerate and leave close to zero footprint as it's what I would expect from anyone staying in my house. Practical and hands on, there's not much that fazes me, and although not an avid gardener, watering, mowing and a bit of weeding is doable. I have a great affinity for all animals, particularly dogs and cows. I collect for the SPCA and when my two dogs passed several years ago I did volunteer dog walking for them. I am very caring - people joke that I prefer animals to humans - so if you have any pets I guarantee they'll receive unlimited attention and affection. As an avid walker, all pets requiring exercise will receive their daily dose, be it long or short, and if they're on any medication I am confident administering whatever it is they need. Lastly, as I'll be working from home I can Skype or FaceTime anytime you want. As a sitter, I'll provide you with the security of knowing your home and pet/s will be safe, secure and 100% respected. Please feel free to contact me anytime if you have any further queries or I can fly down to meet you in person. Jennifer