Settlement Support

Moving to a new city, or a new country, is about much more than just finding a place to sleep. Here's how we help you feel right at home.

Before You Arrive

Before you even board the plane, we're here to help you prepare for your arrival in Wellington.

If you have questions, it's very likely we've already answered them for someone else, and if not, we'll know where to find the answer. We can arrange an airport pickup and happily stock up on groceries for you, ensuring everything you need is waiting when you get here. Whatever time you land, even on a late international flight from across the Tasman, we'll be here with a warm welcome. By the time we meet in person, it often feels like welcoming old friends rather than new guests.

Settling In

Once you arrive, we're here to help you navigate the practical side of setting up your life:

Getting around: We'll gladly give you an orientation tour and show you how to use public transport.
Housing and transport: If you're weighing up different suburbs or school zones, we're happy to share what we know. We can even walk through a rental property with you to spot any common pitfalls in older New Zealand homes, or point you in the right direction if you're looking to buy a car.
Essentials: You can use our local address to open a bank account straight away, and we're happy to hold your mail until you find a permanent place.
Storage: If you need somewhere to store extra luggage or purchases while finding your feet, we've got space for that too.
Guidance: We can talk you through health services, insurance, schooling options, and what to expect with the seasons and cost of living. Whatever questions come up, we'll do our best to answer them honestly.

The Little Things

None of this is a formal service. It's simply what happens when you stay with people who genuinely want you to feel at home.

Whenever needed, we've looked after children so parents could dash off to the bank, lent out our spare car for day trips to the Kāpiti Coast or the Wairarapa, and rushed out to bring in washing when sudden rain showers caught guests at work. And if guests don't have family or friends nearby to spend Christmas Day with, they're always welcome to celebrate around our table.