Rene is a super host and offers great company with his knowledge and wisdom around a wide number of subjects. We only booked the private room but he let us have the entire apartment for 4 nights as he just stayed with friends. His dog, Tito, is lovely and really passive! I massively recommend staying with him if you're ever in Auckland. It's the same price as hostels! And he has a 52inch plasma which you can watch movies on :)