0800 748 837
Heather
Kia ora! With over 10 years of home and pet care experience, I come to you all …
Queenstown
You get quite a taste of paradise in Queenstown, whatever the season. In winter, you get to ski and snow board in Queenstown, while in summer, spring and autumn (and winter!) you can stroll alongside Lake Wakatipu. It’s in Queenstown that you wake to the sight of not only this majestic lake but also the snowcapped mountain range of The Remarkables. The city always has energy, perhaps as many people visit Queenstown for its adrenalin activities such as skydiving, bungy jumping and jet boating. Don’t worry though if you prefer something a little quieter as Queenstown has scenic cruises, dozens of Central Otago wineries to visit, and plenty of boutique stores for shopping. Who wouldn’t want to live in such a place? The glitch is that it’s expensive to live in Queenstown, which is why house sitting could be a great option as you get to live rent-free!
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!
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:)
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.
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
I am returning from travels overseas in February 2020 and coming back to my own …
I am returning from travels overseas in February 2020 and coming back to my own business and have decided to embrace van life to allow me even more freedom and flexibility to be me mobile and close to the sea when I want to be. But I know every and again it will be great to have some of the home comforts that a house allows and so I thought house sitting would be the perfect compromise given it also allows me to look after animals, another passion of mine. I truly love animals so knowing this might be able to look after animals as well as a home is really appealing to me and I am super active and outdoors often so if you have a dog that needs walking, you know it will get walked as often as needed as I love any excuse to get outside. I just completed my personal training qualification and will be using this in my new job as well. I am a responsible adult that respects other people and know how to look after a home as I take a lot of pride in my own. I don’t party and I don’t actually drink alcohol at all so you can also be assured that your house would always be kept clean, tidy and you can come back to how you left it. I grew up with animals so always had a dog and have had cats before. My last landlord has a dog called Clooney who is a husky cross border collie and I spent a lot of time looking after him as well and taking him for walks. I really miss having animals myself and plan to get one in the near future when I am more settled but in the interim being able to house sit for you and your loved pets is really exciting for me. I grew up with giant schnauzers and my grandma had 2 tabby cats which I loved looking after. Happy to provide more references if you would like them
Hi there! My name is Diane and I am a house sitter. I mostly enjoy house sittin…
Hi there! My name is Diane and I am a house sitter. I mostly enjoy house sitting with animals as I find I now have the time. I try to visit homes before the time set, as I find it gives me a chance to see them with their owners and loved ones. This way I see their personalities and I know who loves a cuddle sitting on my knee and who likes to be sitting at my feet beside dad's chair being told how wonderful they are. All have different little quirks but all are very important when we wave goodbye. Meal times, meal choices, treats all need to be carried through at the same time and place for them to settle with me and know they will be well cared for and loved until mum returns. My time is spent giving these favourite pets a loving and stable environment in their own homes. Because they give love and stability back to me and then we are all in a win win situation. I am particularly a German Shepherd lover; my German Shepherd lived until she was 17! I still miss her today. I have just finished 3 weeks with two little pomeranian dogs, which I loved and took great care of, the owners and the dogs were all extremely happy. If you find it difficult to leave any of your pets just request a visit and I am quite happy to see how we can work together to make this a happy occasion for everyone. I do hope to hear from you. Warmest, Diane.
Hi, I am a small business owner who has been living in Auckland for twenty years…
Hi, I am a small business owner who has been living in Auckland for twenty years. I am returning to Christchurch (I used to own a property in Lyttelton) and while I settle back I'm looking at house sitting. I have lots of experience house sitting through 2017 while I house sat 8 properties (with various pets) while my leaky building was being repaired. These were all friends who went overseas for extended periods. I can provide extra references from those housesits, they just won't show on this site as none came through here). I work from home (where ever that may be!). My company supports small and medium businesses to recruit through providing tools, processes and expertise. I love cats and have had several cats over the years. Experience with dogs has been when staying with friends, 3 different house sits with dogs (Tintin, George and Emma) and my mother's dog. I'm happy to look after a property and cats or small/medium dogs. I'm active and really happy to be walking them, I love getting out for a walk (or run) so it will be nice to have an animal to take me :-) Outside of work I have an interest in fine wines, I ski in winter and scuba dive all year round. Anyway I'm looking forward to be a safe pair of hands for your property and pets and getting to know them.
Hi! I (Evelyn) am 27, from Ireland and I'm an experienced primary school teach…
Hi! I (Evelyn) am 27, from Ireland and I'm an experienced primary school teacher. Tom is 31, from the midlands in England and grew up on a family farm before moving to London and has worked as a financial analyst for some of the major banks in London and New York. In 2019 we took a leap, quit our busy jobs and left London to come to New Zealand, ready to explore and experience all that kiwi life has to offer. We are currently both working remotely, Tom doing remote consulting and I'm tutoring online. We are outgoing, friendly and flexible. In both of our respective jobs, you can imagine we have had to go through some of the most stringent security checks there are - so your house is in safe and reliable hands. We love to travel and experience new cultures. We both lead active lifestyles, spending our free time going running, hiking and playing rugby. We are both neat and tidy (I especially love a good therapeutic scrub around the house on the weekend, à la Monica from 'Friends') so you can bet your house would be spotless on your return! One of the main reasons we would love to look after your pets when you are away is because we miss our babies at home so much! I have 2 dogs at home in Ireland, a golden retriever called Lily and a black lab called Molly, recently my cat ginger passed away, until then she really ruled the roost at home! My sister also runs a horse riding centre for children with autism, so I know my way around a stable and tack room too. Tom grew up on a family farm and has been around animals all his life. You should see his Instagram feed - you'd be hard pressed to find a picture of anything other than a dog! Unfortunately living in the center of London meant we couldn't get a pet of our own, but sites like 'borrow my doggy' meant we could look after someone else's pets for weekends, or simply take them for a walk occasionally, so we got our animal fix through that! Your pet would be in safe hands, with a caring and dependable couple to look after them. If you have any questions feel free to ask us or contact our referees by email or phone, who would be happy to vouch for our character. We hope that you will consider us to look after your precious pets and home.