My family of four spent 11 nights at Derek's cottage in Raumati South. We rented his place because of its proximity to my parents' home in Waikanae. I was familiar with the location, which is just a few minutes away from the lovely Raumati Village, which was immensely convenient.
The cottage itself was, as described, very cosy and intimate. There were three well-appointed bedrooms, a small, rather crammed, living/dinning room and a modest kitchen. There was also a lovely deck and back yard area, which we weren't able to fully enjoy given the time of year and the weather.
Derek was very helpful, and called a couple of times during our stay to check that everything was OK and see if he could be of any assistance. He was also very gracious is offering us the use of any of items in the fridge/freezer and cupboards. This was a generous gesture, and well appreciated.
Our only challenge with Derek's cottage was the kitchen. My wife is an avid chef and she loves cooking meals for family and friends. However, it quickly became apparent that the kitchen was not well equipped for an enthusiastic and demanding cook. Many of the pots and pans were a very long way past their "sell-by" dates, and we struggled to even fry bacon and eggs without exclamations of frustration from the chef. If the kitchenware could be updated and refreshed, this place would be absolute treat for a family of gourmands to spend an enjoyable week, close to the sea and enjoying home cooked meals!
Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend this place for a family. It's proximity to the beach and local village is a huge asset, and, in good weather, it would be a wonderful place to enjoy an outside lifestyle!