Hello and maybe welcome to beautiful Tauranga in awesome New Zealand.

If you join us, we would welcome you as part of our family, and would treat you as such from day 1 ! Think between 'big sister' and 'Mum' in helping run the house in the 4-5 days a week that the kids are here. You need to have a happy energy and an lively energy supply !

Previous au pairs have become friends, and said that they have grown and learned lots in NZ. The hours average out at about 30-35 a week, less in spring and summertime when we'll be able to be more flexible.

Mum and Dad have been living apart for 5 years. You are only expected to have duties when the kids are here at my home, the rest of the time is yours to do as you wish . . . We live in a 5 bedroom house, with a separate 2 room building next to it as your space. We may move house in the future, but it has its own little forest and a 20 acres of land to mess around in - the small pet pig wanders around and keeps to himself . . .

There is a river that you can walk down to and swim or kayak any time you like.

The beach is 10 minutes away, and although we look out down a valley to a river, fields and countryside, we are in suburbia and are only 10 minutes drive from the city centre.

Tauranga is a sunny seaside town of 100,000 with a popular 40 mile long beach. It is close to everything that NZ has to offer; beaches, skiing, hot pools, geysers, walk and bike tracks, waterfalls, volcanoes and bush etc. Maybe Google Tauranga or Mount Maunganui pictures for an idea of how beautiful it is here.

I actively parent the children, and we are always going off on out of town adventures . . We enjoy kayaking on the river or off visiting hot pools or nearby waterfalls, beach, bike rides and hanging out at home, the kids and I love doing anything out in the sunshine. We live 10 minutes drive from the city center.

Ben is 13, into reading, computers, card / board / games etc but just as happy playing outside. He is thoughtful and gentle by nature, he is a great example to the others. He plays badminton, and is learning to play the keyboard and Mandarin Chinese.

Ella is 10. She loves having a 'cool big sister' around to talk the girly talk to (that is you, by the way). She also enjoys swimming, netball and badminton, Miley C and Taylor S, and her singing drives the others crazy ! She plays drums, and does choir, gym and acro-dancing classes.

Nina is 7 and smart. She is very able, and wants to get into whatever the older 2 want to do. She does ballet, gymnastics, acro-dancing and is learning to play violin and keyboard.

Sam is 5, he is very cute and also has Down Syndrome but don't let this put you off. Sam is very easy to look after. He sleeps when he should and always has a smile on his face. He goes to school with the others. Our au pairs just fall in love with his gentle and contented nature.

There is a separate building with 2 rooms and en-suite, 20 metres from the house. We respect your freedom whilst staying here; the kids know not to disturb you when you are in your room, for example.

You would be from one of the countries above, so that you could come on a 'working holiday visa', this makes things much simpler . . . .

The kids stay here every Tuesday after school until Friday, and alternate weekends, so you have a stretch of roughly 2 or 4 days off every week and time to yourself in the daytimes when the kids are at school, although you will need to spend a few hours organising the cleaning and laundry.

Whilst the kids are here, it can be a busy house from 7.30am - 7pm and you need to be organised enough to more or less run the household on your own.

After school is finished, I like to help out in the homework / fun time with the kids.

You need to be happy to drive around town safely. You have your own use of a car, I am happy to pay for your local petrol for private trips, but if you go out of town then I expect you to buy it.

I provide you with a cell (free calls to me but you pay the rest :-) and wireless internet, but we don't have a TV but often watch movies online. The local gym/spa/sauna "The Gym, Tauranga" is open 24/7 and I pay for your membership there. 3 mornings a week start at 7.30am - organising the kids for school, packing their lunch and taking them to school for 8.15.

When the kids are at school, your daytimes are free. You prepare the evening meal 4 evenings a week. No worries about food and the kids, they eat just about anything, and we like to keep food simple and healthy. We get through tons of fruit - avocados and kiwifruit grow here in the Bay of Plenty, and taste great !

During the school holidays I usually get time off work, and help out with the kids, we tend to alternate 'adventures' with 'quiet day' which works quite well.

When the children are not here, you are free to do whatever you like. Relax at home, go out with friends, sports, study, read, hobbies, travel, experience and see the best that New Zealand has to offer.

I am housetrained, and choose to work 3-4 days a week in healthcare so that I am usually at home whilst the children are here. I love leisure time with the kids, sunshine and other simple things. Yoga is my relaxation . . . . .

You would do the cleaning, ironing work clothes and laundry, most au pair / housekeepers do this as they go along, whilst the kids are at school. The kids each have their own jobs to help around the house - hoovering, washing up, tidying, keeping their rooms clean etc, but do need nagging . . . !

This is not a standard au pair position with you as an 'optional extra', as you would be an integral and necessary part of the family.

We are looking for someone to be as part of the family with us. We offer you a loving home, a springboard to make friends and explore New Zealand, and a fantastic time with beautiful kids who will care for you.

Your free time is your own, and you can do whatever pleases you. As the children will look up to you, you shouldn't expose them to smoking in any way.

Our current au pair was due to stay until July but is applying for residency here, so needs to go to live with her boyfriend for immigration purposes around early May 2013.

Good luck in your search for the perfect family :)