News

Impressive Pitch wins Entrepreneur Award at Rotorua X Start-up night

Posted in Press Room, News
Published: 9/10/2015

Rotorua Entrepeneur Julia Charity wins Start Up Pitch Awards

Disabled Diving NZ's Hielke Oppers inspired the 100 plus crowd and the judges to win both Best Social Enterprise Pitch and the People's Choice Award at Rotorua X's Start-up Pitch night.

Julia Charity's 'Look After Me' accommodation business, won Best Commercial Pitch at the event, held this week.

Both took a share of the $8000 prize pool of business support services, mentoring and training.

"Small business heroes show courage and ingenuity"

Posted in Press Room, News
Published: 30/09/2015

Accommodation online, Look After Me, Small business heroes show courage and ingenuity

Two Rotorua businesses have been named as national finalists in The David Awards for 2015.

Ros Morshead, of Morshead Law is a finalist in the ‘Most Outstanding Lifestyle Business’ for her work in epitomising the ability to use technology to integrate business and lifestyle.

Dr Julia Charity who founded Look After Me – an online market place for accommodation all over New Zealand, is a finalist for ‘The Solo Meo Award’ which recognises a business owner who runs their business single-handedly.

Look After Me is also a finalist for the ‘Most Outstanding Triumph over Adversity’ in recognition for success in spite of challenges beyond the usual.

'Look After Me - New Zealand's Hospitality at it's best?

Posted in News, Press Room
Published: 24/08/2015

Julia Charity Rotorua Inteview Rotorua City News, Talks about AirBnB New ZealandRotorua City News spoke recently to Julia Charity, Founder of Look After Me, New Zealand's accommodation network.

Julia explains why Look After Me specialy describes how the local council has got behind her and discusses inplications for the tourism industry of New Zealand.

What follows is the transcript of the interview. 

To go straight to the interview click here.

Becoming a host with Look After Me

Posted in Baby Boomers NZ, Press Room, News
Published: 19/08/2015

By Monica Louis

What to do, once you’ve withdrawn from the daily duty of putting bread on the table? Have you ever wondered about turning your home into your business?

A wonderful Robert Palmer song sums it up in the opening line; “the fight to make ends meet keep a man on his feet” (click to hear the song)

Despite our moaning about the traffic when we were obliged to travel to the office every day - maybe now we miss it! Without the deadlines and obligations which in turn give the drive to get started in the morning; what to do with all that available time?  Sure for some there are family demands, clubs or volunteer commitments that help fill the day but those activities take up time and money and give back – let’s say - a non-material return on investment . For some of us the chance to make a bit of pocket money while doing something we love doesn’t sound so bad. 

Q&A: Look After Me founder Julia Charity

Posted in News, Press Room
Published: 10/06/2015

Q&A Session With New Zealand entrepreneur Dr. Julia Charity.  She talks with Caitlin Sykes about the online marketplace.

Published in Business section of the New Zealand Herald.

Car sharing business 'part of transport solution'

Posted in Press Room, News
Published: 9/06/2015

As a student of transport engineering Oscar Ellison was aware there were lots of cars sitting idle in driveways, but the point was further hit home when he bought his own first car.

Few Spaces Remain As Fieldays near

Posted in Press Room, News
Published: 4/06/2015

Accommodation is filling up as farmers and football fans prepare to pour into Hamilton next week.

An overlap of Fieldays and the Fifa U-20s World Cup has seen much of the accommodation snapped up, but there are still some rooms remaining in the city's motel sector. 

Waikato Homeowners opening up hearts and homes for Fieldays

Posted in Press Room, News
Published: 3/06/2015

Waikato homeowners are being urged to embrace NZ’s farming community as they pour into the city and help bridge the shortfall in beds needed for Fieldays, the Southern hemisphere's largest agricultural showpiece festival coming to Mystery Creek and FIFA U20 World cup this month.

10 questions with Tourism Entrepreneur – Julia Charity

Posted in Press Room, News
Published: 29/05/2015

New Zealand Rotorua Entrepreneur Julia Charity on line accommodation Network Look After Me peer- to peer platformThis month, NZ Entrepreneur Magazine talks to Dr Julia Charity – Founder of a Peer-to-Peer accommodation platform where guests can book accommodation with like minded hosts.  Now the largest and fastest growing Homestay Network in New Zealand, we ask Julia how she got started, what it’s really like to be an Entrepreneur in New Zealand and her hopes and dreams for the future.

Gallivant with the Grandies

Posted in Baby Boomers NZ, News
Published: 3/04/2015

Grandparents, Look After Me, Home hosted accommodation, Ever taken one of your special 'grandies' on holiday with you?  Grans and Gramps will either groan or glee at the prospect....but even a single night away can create such special memories and strengthen the connection between generations.

It's now the school holidays and that's the perfect excuse to take one or two of your grandkids away and really have a wonderful time together.

Women shown entrepreneurial path

Posted in News, Press Room
Published: 19/03/2015

Women in business, Homestay Network, Scientist-turned-businesswoman, Julia Charity , Rotorua entrepreneurScientist-turned-businesswoman says you have to know how long your runway is.

Rotorua scientist-turned-entrepreneur Julia Charity led a panel discussion of seven prominent Kiwi businesswomen to launch a female entrepreneur week.

 

Go Gourmet

Posted in News
Published: 5/01/2015

Cheese and wine platter, Look After Me, Home hosted accommodation Do you fancy a weekend away sampling fabulous food, with its' passionate creators?

 

New Zealand's Homestay Network hosts Europe's top film makers in Rotorua

Posted in News
Published: 17/12/2014

New Zealand's Homestay Network hosts best film makers in the world. Visiting accommodation in Lake Tarawera Trail, Wai-tapu and Maori Culture

 

New Zealand’s Homestay Network recently hosted Europe's top film makers  Natalie and Mael. The couple was selected from 4000 entrants who competed to secure their place on a Round The World Tour of Homestays.

In New Zealand, Mael and Natalie travelled to Rotorua to experience the Lake Tarawera trail and ecotour, geothermal activity and Maori cultures - all with matching Homestay experiences. 

New Zealand Homestays feature in China's most popular TV Show - Daddy, Where are we Going?

Posted in News
Published: 19/11/2014

New Zealand Homestay Network hosts Chinese Celebrities in Rotorua for the filming of Daddy, where are we Going? - China's most popular TV Show.Our New Zealand Homestays were featured in China's most popular TV show 'Dad! Where are we Going? 

跟随星爸萌娃探索奇幻之都—罗托鲁瓦 一起来体验神奇和精彩的罗托鲁瓦

The show, which is watched by hundreds of millions world-wide, was filmed in Rotorua and New Zealand’s central North Island for a week in 2014.

New Zealand is the only international destination to feature in the show which follows celebrity fathers Huang Lei, Lu Yi, Yang Wei, Cao Ge and Wu Zhen Yu as they stay with Rotorua Homestay families and explore the region.

In the two 100-minute long Rotorua episodes, the celebrities experience New Zealand culture and accomplish a series of missions with or against each other.

The celebrites stayed with New Zealand host families who involved them in activities and tourist attractions. 

Cultural Experience

Posted in News
Published: 24/10/2014

Rich in culture New Zealand welcomes travelers with a warm inviting greeting '"Kia ora!"cultural experience maori new zealand look after me accommodation travel