Wanaka Home Rentals was founded by Angela Cross who has a strong connection with Southland & Central Otago areas. Being a fifth-generation Southlander from a farming background has meant she has carried through the Southern way of being hardworking, friendly, proud, and outgoing with the utmost integrity. She will go that extra mile and out of her way to help.
Angela has extensive work knowledge of running and, working in all aspects of the Property Management industry and she has many years of experience locally. Before this, she worked as an administrative staff member for a local real estate firm then moved into a Sales Consultant's position within the company. Running a property management firm was a natural progression for her after spending 9+ years doing so.
Angela spent her childhood growing up on the family farm down south from where her great, great grandad had bought land and her great-grandad purchased the family farm she grew up on. Coming from generations of pioneers, with her great-grandad being a “self-made man” that came through adversity, hardship and many life struggles to become a great man of stature, knowledge, and wealth. From humble beginnings arriving to New Zealand in 1883 from a farm in England that his father leased of the Churchill family, then losing his father at aged 14, to becoming a Farmer, Entrepreneur, Writer, Musician, Traveller and Poet. Building his first penny fathering bike in 1889 (which now stands in the Riverton museum) one of two he built, then in 1892 he rode his first factory built penny fathering bike from Otama to Dunedin. This all happened after having his first ride on one in 1888 and where his passion for riding began. He wrote many articles for the local papers throughout the years and also a couple of poetry/random rhyme booklets. Her Great Uncle Dave built and flew his homemade airplane “Lady-Bird” in 1933 over the family farm she grew up on, which now is in a museum in Southland.
Angela finished her job of 5years with the Southland Building Society and headed off on her one year OE, which ended up extending to 11 years in England and Europe. Working for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in London for the last five years of her time there, she also earned a qualification in Interior Design while continuing in full time employment. And on settling in a home in London completed extensive renovation work and re-designing the entire property. Then she had her lovely daughter before coming home to NZ. On arriving in Wanaka, again a full home renovation was undertaken. With this valuable background Angela has, it is no wonder she has an exceptionally sharp eye for detail and design when looking at the presentation of properties. Giving sound advice on how best to rent your home/investment to its best advantage is a strong point for her.
Within the 11 years away Angela also spent time in Austria working in a small Alberg ski resort for two seasons where her passion for skiing and the mountains came into play. The love of the mountains is what brought Angela back to Wanaka all those years ago, and now like her great grandfather has a passion for biking, although the bikes have changed dramatically since then. She also has the pride of knowing that she has taken many of his strengths through the generations.
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Angela would like to acknowledge the founding of this business to the memory of her family heritage and parentage, which she is so very proud of.
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"Ah memory, a mystery
A gift all have yet never seen,
How stale, indeed, old age would be
without the gift of memory"
G. P. Cross
