Come on guys, mmaarten was trying to be a great host and support to some travellers, was very patient, and tried over some time to get his money back after feeling upset at being ripped at bit.

It's all really just come to a head now, even if it's been two years and he's come here for some support. He is just a bit angry.

I have hosted travellers for way longer than a week many times and had numerous travellers who have returned and stayed for a total of way over a month (longest was 5 months in total). I have stored and sold bikes for people, lent my car so broken bikes can be trailered 700km back to my workshop and picked up travellers too numerous to count, from the airport. I have hosted 5 mini-meetings with food and drinks and am about to host my sixth this months, and only the last one and the next, did I ask any contributions to the food and I provided. I do all this because I like to help, to make sure people get a great experience of NZ and to "Pay Forward" for our trip.

We have had at least 6 travellers a year stay over the last 9 years, and I have enjoyed something about every one of them. Some I have enjoyed more then others. I have never been really ripped off, although my wife says occasionally I have been taken advantage of. But over all, the good HUGELY outweighs the bad and we will keep on doing it. I'm sure mmaarten is the same (check out how many sections of the HUBB he moderates), but he is just venting a bit. Keep up the good work mmaarten, it's people like you that make the world a better place.

Kind regards

Nigel in NZ

P.s. I bought a copy of your book and enjoyed reading to too. If people on the HUBB buy a copy too then every copy you guys buy will help off-set what these scum-bags did to him.

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The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with . -- 2200 BC Egyptian inscription