Newsletters

January 2025: Newsletter

Phew! We made it through the festive season. 

But what if you are feeling a bit burnt out an broken from it all?

We're taught to serve others before self but if you feel like you are always looking after everyone else - for the rest of 2025, we're encouraging you to make brave new choices because it really is time to look after ME.

The Great Write Away

Writer's Workshop and Retreat

Rotorua

Monday 26th September -  Sunday 2 October 2022

Replays now available

Be the writer you've always wanted to be.

Tell the world something it needs to hear.

Single session, single and multi-day tickets for The Great Write Away  - our new Writer's Retreat and workshops in Rotorua are now available.

We have created a seven step programme covering the end-to-end process of creating a story, then editing, formating, publishing and marketing a story. 

With scheduled time for writing, learning and relaxing - it's a unique 'write-seeing' holiday retreat experience, created by writers, for writers.

In 2013, New Zealand was voted number one in the world, for how we treat our visitors. 

In 2019, if the world was to vote again, I suspect we would also be voted No 1 for how we look after each other. Hasn't it been heart-warming to see how New Zealanders have united?

In 2011 when we launched Look After Me, ahead of the Rugby World Cup, I was told that no one would ever want to stay in anyone else's home, in exchange for money. 

I'm glad I didn't listen to that advice because we've proven it wrong. Our hosts have now looked after over 16,300 guests - mostly spare rooms that guests have booked for short-term accommodation. 

A few weeks ago we launched the World's First Digital Hotel, called 'Stay Dunedin'.

It's basically a website, where guests can browse, book and pay for accommodation, just like they would on Agoda, Bookings.com and AirBnB. It's mobile friendly and takes all major credit cards.

At this stage, this is just a trial run for Dunedin. But if this new way of finding and sharing accommodation works, we'll migrate the rest of our Look After Me properties into this new Digital Hotel format. 

Travelling? 

Getting a bit sick of the same ol', same ol'? 

Would you like to try something a bit 'different'? 

Have you heard of 'Homestay for Grown-ups'? 
 

Winter-itis? 

Me too....

Don't you wish you could escape for a few days?

Wouldn't it be nice to have something to look forward to?
 

Helping you find affordable accommodation at your favourite event this summer

Don't you just love a great event?! We support most major events around NZ. Coming soon are Raggamuffin, Art Deco, WOMAD, Bike Fest and Balloons over Waikato.

Why not stay with friendly Look After Me hosts? They're mostly kiwis just like you. We match you with people who 'get you' and love what you're into to. Hey...they may even be going to the same event!

At 'Look After Me' we help you find accommodation that best suits who, how and why you're travelling. 

We know that Businesswomen have different needs to Grandmas travelling with the grandies. If you are travelling by yourself, you'll probably appreciate their local knowledge over a glass of wine with your Homestay hosts.  

No matter who you are, or why you need to get away, we match you with Hosts who love doing what you love doing. It's ok to be mad-keen-crazy about fishing, golf, cycling, walking, photography, Harleys - we've got you covered!  We'll do our best to find people you're bound to get along with. 

It's not too late to book a holiday and take your hobby, sport or passion with you.

Stay with friendly kiwis just like you who 'get you' and love what you're into to. We offer affordable self-contained units, and in-home hosting with like-minded people.

Hi,
I'm Julia from Look After Me - NZ's Homestay Network. I'm originally from Christchurch and all my family still lives there - so I'm acutely aware of how things are for regular Cantabrians.

We're trying to do our 'bit' by providing a quality website where home owners can list their property and rent out their spare room or sleep out, short-term to guests coming to Christchurch.

If you're a home owner with a spare room, guest wing, sleep-out or self-contained unit - we'd love to have you in our Look After Me Hosting community. It works like Trade Me where guests can browse for in-home hosted accommodation and then contact you directly to book and pay.

A very warm welcome to you all but especially to our new hosts all over New Zealand. Lot of news this time with the launch of our new webite, our refreshed brand and lots of Press Coverage all over New Zealand.

With BBQs and bubbles too, and tui’s chortled chase, flowers’ full bloom and beaming moon, pohutukawa haze….

The promise of sun-drenched days, the richness of quality friendships and a glass of quality NZ wine does much to lighten the mood. 

In this issue:

• Founder’s Note
• Charity begins at home – hosts donating profits to good causes
• Do I need to cook? – ideas for home hosting
• What do other’s say? – Testimonials from guests, hosts and others
• Good for a laugh
• Signing up is easy

We are thrilled to bring the Look After Me ‘concept’ of Hospitality, Harmony and Memories to New Zealand’s homes and traveller’s everywhere.