groupHouse sitters

Maree & Mike

Homegrown Kiwi Couple

Picture of House Sitter, House Minder and Pet Sitter at Kiwi House Sitters, New Zealand. User Homegrown Kiwi Couple

About us

groupCouple

Retired

Retired

Home Grown Kiwi Couple

favoriteWhy we love house sitting

House sitting has enabled us to met some really lovely people and their pets, providing us with great experiences and life long memories.

For us, its all about providing you the confidence to head away with peace of mind knowing that your animals and property are in good hands.

A professional couple, now in our mid 60's we have moved into retirement and are enjoying a slower pace of life while travelling around New Zealand and the South Pacific.

We have a rural background and are a friendly, reliable, resourceful and capable couple.

Over the years we have owned a number of properties and these have included several lifestyle blocks.

Until recently we have always had cats and dogs as pets, plus sheep, cattle, pigs and chickens on our lifestyle blocks.

Pet care

Experienced with dogs, cats, horses, sheep, cattle, pigs, alpacas, goats and chickens.

petsWilling to care for these pets

DogsDogs
CatsCats
FishFish
BirdsBirds
Rabbits/Guinea PigsRabbits/Guinea Pigs
Chickens/Ducks/GeeseChickens/Ducks/Geese
Farm AnimalsFarm Animals
HorsesHorses

agricultureFarm experience

Experience with farm and lifestyle blocks.
Stock management / movement, tractor work, truck and trailers, general farm duties.

Trust

Platinum member36 months+
reviews5 star reviews

Availability

eventNext 12 months

Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul

eventCurrent bookings

2026: 2 Sep - 12 Oct | 27 Nov - 28 Dec | 31 Dec - 3 Jan 2027 | 2027: 9-24 Jan | 25 Jan - 3 Feb | 8-28 Feb | 12-27 Mar | 12 Apr - 5 May | 13 May - 17 Jun | 19 Jun - 24 Jul

event_busyAlso Unavailable

2026: 17 Jul - 30 Aug | 20 Oct - 20 Nov

Preferences

scheduleHouse sit duration

0 - 1 week, 1 - 2 weeks, 2 - 4 weeks, 1 - 2 months, 2 months +

where_to_votePreferred locations

South Island: ALL  


Reviews (41)

1 of 5 reviews from this owner
Maree and Mike are reliable trustworthy house sitters who we are more than happy to leave our home in their hands. We never worry when they are in residence and should anything need attention they make contact and keep us in the loop.. never hesitate to use this couple to house sit
Mike and Maree were our first experience with using house sitters and we couldn't have found a more amazing couple to take care our our dogs and home. They made the effort to come and meet us prior to the sit which was hugely appreciated. We were able to travel for 5 weeks overseas knowing our dogs were in the best hands and they cared for them like they were there own. They sent us regular updates and videos showing the dogs living their best life 😍. We arrived back to a home that was ... MoreMike and Maree were our first experience with using house sitters and we couldn't have found a more amazing couple to take care our our dogs and home. They made the effort to come and meet us prior to the sit which was hugely appreciated. We were able to travel for 5 weeks overseas knowing our dogs were in the best hands and they cared for them like they were there own. They sent us regular updates and videos showing the dogs living their best life 😍. We arrived back to a home that was spotless and a beautiful meal waiting for us. I can't recommend Maree and Mike enough, and I would definitely book any future travel around their availability because they're just the best! Two dogs happy to have us home but missing Mike and Maree!

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2 of 5 reviews from this owner
Maree and Mike are awesome,, we are never concerned when we leave these two fantastic people in charge of our house and welfare of our fur baby. Unfortunately our cat was unwell during their recent stay, they looked after her taking her to the vet and seeing to her needs after coming home post surgical procedure. They kept us informed every step of the way. Even buying her special food to help her eat ❤️❤️. More than happy to have these two house sit anytime
Mike and Maree were honestly the most amazing house and pet sitters we have had. From the very start, when we first met them, we felt comfortable and relaxed and when it came to leaving everything with them we knew everything was going to be just right. They’re warm, trustworthy people who clearly care, and it showed in how well our dogs (Arlo and Kiki) our chooks, our house and garden were looked after when we got home. Mike and Maree communicated everyday which was reassuring, and ... MoreMike and Maree were honestly the most amazing house and pet sitters we have had. From the very start, when we first met them, we felt comfortable and relaxed and when it came to leaving everything with them we knew everything was going to be just right. They’re warm, trustworthy people who clearly care, and it showed in how well our dogs (Arlo and Kiki) our chooks, our house and garden were looked after when we got home. Mike and Maree communicated everyday which was reassuring, and appreciated. We wouldn’t hesitate to have them sit for us again and highly recommend them to anyone who needs caring, kind and professional house/ pet sitters. Arlo &Kiki are missing them so much already! Especially those 2 x daily walks! We will definitely be hoping to have Mike and Maree back again sometime!

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Leaving NZ for a family trip overseas is stressful enough, but if you have Maree and Mike taking care of your home and furbabies you won't be worried or stressed about what is happening at home. From the moment we met Maree and Mike we knew we could trust and rely on them to take care of our home and look after our special pets and we weren't wrong. The communication with pictures is excellent and when you come home to your home that has been well looked after and your pets have also been ... MoreLeaving NZ for a family trip overseas is stressful enough, but if you have Maree and Mike taking care of your home and furbabies you won't be worried or stressed about what is happening at home. From the moment we met Maree and Mike we knew we could trust and rely on them to take care of our home and look after our special pets and we weren't wrong. The communication with pictures is excellent and when you come home to your home that has been well looked after and your pets have also been free of stress living in their surroundings. It is a great feeling. 🏡 ❤️ 🐈 🐕

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We ( or rather our two dogs) welcomed Mike dnd Maree back with joy. There’s nothing like being away from home knowing that everything will be looked after ( even the washing 😉 which was above and beyond). They are absolutely the best.
Maree and Mike were very friendly and professional house and pet sitters. It was obvious we were leaving our pets in capable hands. They were prompt in their communication and left our home very tidy upon our return. We would highly recommend them for pet and housesitting gigs.
Top Notch care. Dexter really misses Mike and Maree. Thank you so so much. 🩵😻
Maree & Mike looked after our elderly Rhodesian Ridgeback who requires daily medication, we spoke before they accepted the sit and made me feel at ease to leave my dog with them. They came to the house early and met Brooke, asked questions about her, it left me very confident leaving her with them They sent me daily updates on how she was Due to change in our travel plan, which they were very accomodating for, but it meant they had to leave before we got back, but the house was spotless, ... MoreMaree & Mike looked after our elderly Rhodesian Ridgeback who requires daily medication, we spoke before they accepted the sit and made me feel at ease to leave my dog with them. They came to the house early and met Brooke, asked questions about her, it left me very confident leaving her with them They sent me daily updates on how she was Due to change in our travel plan, which they were very accomodating for, but it meant they had to leave before we got back, but the house was spotless, lawns were mowed and we had a very happy dog I would thoroughly recommend Maree and Mike, they were really lovely Thank you

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Our two dogs were so well cared for! Great communication in the lead up and during the sit. Thanks for a wonderful caring sit for our home and dogs while we were away.
We have had MANY house sitters but none have been quite as remarkable as Maree and Mike! They listened to each and every note we had for them regarding our pets, and house, and took the upmost care in looking after everything for us. We didn't have to worry about a thing whilst we were overseas. They even had milk in the fridge for us on our return. High recommended.
We highly recommend Maree and Mike. This was our first time using a House sitter other than Family. From the time we left we felt totally at ease that our House and 14 Year Old Westie-Holley would be taken well care of and we received regular updates and a photo. On return the house was spotless and you wouldn't know someone had even been staying here. Given the chance we would certainly try to get Maree and Mike to sit for us again.
3 of 5 reviews from this owner
This is the third time we have had the pleasure of having Maree and Mike house sit, Sassy just loves having them ‘cat sit’ Mike is her favourite person. She is very happy and contended when we come home. The house is well looked after and we never have a worry when we are away. Would highly recommend
How do I express how wonderful Maree and Mike were, they looked after our home and our fur babies for 3 weeks with wonderful care, lots of photos and updates on everything.They are absolutely lovely people and we would highly recommend them for anyone who wants kind and caring people in their home. They even left milk in the fridge for us on our arrival home. Thank you you so so much
1 of 2 reviews from this owner
This was the second time I've had Maree and Mike house sit for me, and they once again exceeded my expectations. Their consistency and reliability are truly impressive, and I would not hesitate to have them house sit for me again in the future. One thing that really stood out to me was how tidy and clean my home was when I returned. It was as if Maree and Mike had never been there, except for the well-cared-for state of my house and cats. This level of care and attention to detail is truly ... MoreThis was the second time I've had Maree and Mike house sit for me, and they once again exceeded my expectations. Their consistency and reliability are truly impressive, and I would not hesitate to have them house sit for me again in the future. One thing that really stood out to me was how tidy and clean my home was when I returned. It was as if Maree and Mike had never been there, except for the well-cared-for state of my house and cats. This level of care and attention to detail is truly exceptional and something I really appreciate in a house sitter.

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4 of 5 reviews from this owner
Fantastic house sitters- no hesitation in leaving my home and Sassy in the hands of Mike and Maree. House so clean and tidy Sassy looks very happy and well feed, and thank you Mike for repairing the back gate.
Maree and Mike were perfect! They had great communication and met up with us a couple of times before the house sat to make sure Lottie was comfortable and they could ask questions. When we came home the house was immaculate and they must have bonded well with Lottie as they said she was very affectionate. Would definitely recommend
Fantastic couple they did a brilliant job of looking after Dougie taking him for walks Our wee man is diabetic and requires insulin injection twice a day and it was no problem for them I cannot praise them enough Communication was top notch and the house was very clean and tidy when we came home 5 stars plus Wonderful couple
1 of 2 reviews from this owner
We have been lucky to again have Mike and Maree in our home with our two dogs while we were away for eight days. I have no concerns what so ever to leave our home, our large garden, our possessions and our very busy dogs with them. They are fantastic ! Five stars on every front ! Thank you so much.
Maree and Mike were fantastic! Prior to the sit we were fortunate to have them visit. This helped us and our dog’s confidence we’d picked the right couple. We were going to be away for a month and were new to house sitting. While we were away Mike kept us up to date with pics of the girls and news that all was good. They really put our minds at peace. Coming home was so lovely , they arranged to leave before we arrived so our reunion with the girls was special . Maree and Mike went well ... MoreMaree and Mike were fantastic! Prior to the sit we were fortunate to have them visit. This helped us and our dog’s confidence we’d picked the right couple. We were going to be away for a month and were new to house sitting. While we were away Mike kept us up to date with pics of the girls and news that all was good. They really put our minds at peace. Coming home was so lovely , they arranged to leave before we arrived so our reunion with the girls was special . Maree and Mike went well beyond our expectations. They’d gone so far as to make sure we weren’t stressing over food after a seven hour drive ( home made lasagna and milk in the fridge)! So very thoughtful! The house was lovely and clean and the garden was spot on! Maree & Mike are fabulous people, highly recommend them.

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Thank you Mike and Marie. Lovely to come home to happy animals and house left better than we left it. We would recommend Mike and Marie and have them back anytime. They obviously love animals very much. Thanks for taking the dogs to the beach. Paddy’s most favourite place. We may see you again on our travels. Regards Ange and Al
We were very fortunate to have Maree and Mike as our house sitters. The house and our pets were extremely well looked after, to the point our dog and two cats looked disappointed to see us home. Our house was tidy and clean when we got home and the bedding and towels etc were all washed and folded. We received some lovely photos of our pets. Maree and Mike were fantastic at communicating The whole time we were away we never worried or thought about things back home as we knew everything was ... MoreWe were very fortunate to have Maree and Mike as our house sitters. The house and our pets were extremely well looked after, to the point our dog and two cats looked disappointed to see us home. Our house was tidy and clean when we got home and the bedding and towels etc were all washed and folded. We received some lovely photos of our pets. Maree and Mike were fantastic at communicating The whole time we were away we never worried or thought about things back home as we knew everything was in good hands. We highly recommend them as house sitters and would hesitate to ask them again to housesit for us again in the future.

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2 of 2 reviews from this owner
Maree & Mike are a very personable couple and we had no hesitation leaving our cats/house in their capable hands. Not only did they do a fantastic job, they sent regular updates which meant we could enjoy our holiday and not worry about a thing. The bonus was coming home and seeing they had washed and hung out the bedding, towels etc., and finding two very relaxed happy cats. We hope we get to use their services again in the future. Thank you.
I don’t know how I can show my gratitude for this wonderful couple. They’re salt of the earth and spend their lives helping and giving. Nothing was a problem from start to finish. We were able to go away and not worry about a thing. The house was immaculate when we got home, they’d bought us essentials like milk, butter and bread, folded washing and the animals were so happy and so well looked after. Thank you thank you thank you! Highly recommend.
We highly recommend Maree and Mike. They are experienced house sitters who took excellent care of our house and cat. We came home to a very relaxed, happy cat, a clean warm home and tidy garden. Communication was excellent before and during the sit and they provided daily 'cat' updates which allowed us to enjoy our holiday without worrying. Hopefully we will be lucky enough to have Maree and Mike house sit for us in the future!
Maree and Mike are such lovely people. They came beforehand and met the dog and cat and made sure they knew exactly what we needed. Highly recommend!!
Due to a severe accident with my husband in critical condition in the hospital, the house sitting was cancelled. But I do want to mention how absolutely gracious even with offers to help us they were, whilst they missed out on something they really had been looking forward to. Great people !!
We cannot speak highly enough of Mike and Maree, anyone would be lucky to have them. Absolutely faultless in every aspect, thank you both so much! Very respectful of your on way of doing things, great communication and the house was left immaculate.
Wow, where to start with Mike & Maree?! Right from initially connecting with Mike & Maree we knew how wonderful they were. They did an amazing job looking after our home and pets, going the extra mile taking our dogs for daily beach walks etc. We had regular updates while we were away, and returned to our home being spotless. We cannot recommend Mike & Maree more highly, they were simply wonderful! Thankyou again Mike & Maree!
My main priority is my animals and Mike and Maree provided exceptional care for them all. I really appreciated the communication and updates from them. They clearly have a love for animals, so I felt really reassured that my animals were in such good hands. They left the house very clean and tidy so it was really nice to come home to after being away. We’d have no hesitation in recommending Mike and Maree to anyone who is looking for a caring and thoughtful couple to look after their ... MoreMy main priority is my animals and Mike and Maree provided exceptional care for them all. I really appreciated the communication and updates from them. They clearly have a love for animals, so I felt really reassured that my animals were in such good hands. They left the house very clean and tidy so it was really nice to come home to after being away. We’d have no hesitation in recommending Mike and Maree to anyone who is looking for a caring and thoughtful couple to look after their home and animals.

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5 of 5 reviews from this owner
We felt very comfortable with Maree and Mike looking after Sassy and our home. Contact was made by Mike and Maree in timely manner and we found them very friendly and had 2 meetings with them prior to sit and communicated with us during the sit. House was clean tidy when we arrived home also found loaf of bread and fresh milk in the fridge. Would use them again
2 of 2 reviews from this owner
I can't speak highly enough of Mike and Maree. I have never used Kiwi House Sitters before and was a little concerned at the prospect of doing so but my husband and I were so grateful that we found this couple. Our 6 year old dog, 16 week old (busy) puppy and 16 year old cat are not always straight forward but Mike and MAree were perfect for the job and attended to every need. Our wee border collie puppy was even taken to his regular puppy school. The house was immaculate on our return ... MoreI can't speak highly enough of Mike and Maree. I have never used Kiwi House Sitters before and was a little concerned at the prospect of doing so but my husband and I were so grateful that we found this couple. Our 6 year old dog, 16 week old (busy) puppy and 16 year old cat are not always straight forward but Mike and MAree were perfect for the job and attended to every need. Our wee border collie puppy was even taken to his regular puppy school. The house was immaculate on our return and the plants, which are suffering in the drought, were attended to We have no hesitation in recommending Mike and Maree and hope that some day they may come back to visit.

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Mike and Maree looked after our house and cats for 4.5 months while we were in Thailand. I every sense of the word their housesitting was exceptional. They totally adopted both nervous cats and reported to us with photos on a regular basis. A couple of maintenance issues (plumbing) arose while we were away and they contacted our plumber and problem resolved within hours. On return, everything was shipshape. Their care was faultless. Would we ask them to house-sit for us again? ... In a ... MoreMike and Maree looked after our house and cats for 4.5 months while we were in Thailand. I every sense of the word their housesitting was exceptional. They totally adopted both nervous cats and reported to us with photos on a regular basis. A couple of maintenance issues (plumbing) arose while we were away and they contacted our plumber and problem resolved within hours. On return, everything was shipshape. Their care was faultless. Would we ask them to house-sit for us again? ... In a heartbeat.

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Maree and Mike were great housesitters and we came home to a happy little dog. AND a very clean and tidy house. What fabulous sitters they were. We wouldnt hesitate to get them again, Thanks so very much
May 23 from 12th -26 th Mike and Marie were fabulous , before house sit they came and meet us and Maddie . Mike and Marie made every effort to make us feel comfortable with it being our first time using Kiwihousesitters. We came home to a beautiful clean and tidy home and a very happy Maddie :-) We appreciate the little extra thoughts .. milk, butter etc in fridge and the clean fireplace already to just light on our return :-) Would highly recommend Mike and Marie and will certainly ... MoreMay 23 from 12th -26 th Mike and Marie were fabulous , before house sit they came and meet us and Maddie . Mike and Marie made every effort to make us feel comfortable with it being our first time using Kiwihousesitters. We came home to a beautiful clean and tidy home and a very happy Maddie :-) We appreciate the little extra thoughts .. milk, butter etc in fridge and the clean fireplace already to just light on our return :-) Would highly recommend Mike and Marie and will certainly have them look after our wee girl again :-)

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Thanks for the great review. Maddie waiting outside, she was probably wanting to go to bed, LOL.
We have been very privileged to have Mike and Maree look after our lifestyle block while we were away. Our three precious dogs and 2 cats had every need met, and we returned home to very contented, happy animals. Cattle and farm chores were taken care of with expertise and competence. Nothing was a problem for this delightful, friendly couple. We returned to an immaculate property and cannot recommend Mike and Maree highly enough.
We can warmly recommend Mike and Maree, we couldn't have wished for better house sitters. Our property and animals (including dog, cat, horses, sheep and chickens) were very well looked after. Great communication throughout, an easygoing, thoughtful and practical couple that really went above and beyond, and we greatly appreciated having them here. Thank you so much!
Maree and Mike were a delight to have housesitting for us. Communication prior was great, the house, garden and Dougie (the cat) were well cared for. I would highly recommend them to housesit and wouldnt hesitate to have them back housesitting again if they are available.
Thank you Mike and Maree for looking after our house and gardens, our two horses and Ollie the cat while we were away. We came home to a very tidy house and happy pets. Mike and Maree were very willing to go the extra mile to make sure our home and pets were well looked after. They made great use of the electric wheelbarrow for the endless task of picking up what the two horses leave behind. Great communication and no problems. We would be delighted to have them stay in our home again.
Maree and Mike were fantastic sitters! Warm, enthusiastic, easygoing but with great communication. I felt very comfortable leaving them in charge, and the place was beyond spotless when we got back — I didn't want to move back in! Would absolutely love to have them housesit again.
Mike & Maree were lovely people to deal with and easy to communicate with, who followed all our instructions regarding the care of our property by mowing the lawns and keeping everything tidy as well as keeping our young calves well fed. They loved having fresh veggies from our tunnel house which they kept well watered. Buddy our dog was recovering from surgery and was looked after with kindness and they loved him to bits and spoilt him and even taking him to the vet for preventative care. We ... MoreMike & Maree were lovely people to deal with and easy to communicate with, who followed all our instructions regarding the care of our property by mowing the lawns and keeping everything tidy as well as keeping our young calves well fed. They loved having fresh veggies from our tunnel house which they kept well watered. Buddy our dog was recovering from surgery and was looked after with kindness and they loved him to bits and spoilt him and even taking him to the vet for preventative care. We would recommend Mike & Maree to anyone as great house sitters who would take pride in your property as if it was there own. If we go away again we hope we can use them again as we know everything would be in safe hands.

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Garden Maintenance

Green garden!

Make sure the garden and pot plants are thriving when you get back - get a house sitter.