So much more than we could have hoped for! The spot is magnificent, and so are our hosts. The house itself is comfortable (best bed in NZ), and Tui's mom took us in as her own. We arrived unprepared (no food, not realizing the nearest store is far away) and her parents fed us oysters and pie.
They introduced us to places we as stupid tourists would never have found on our own: a spectacular shell-sand beach (where my son drowned his iPhone, which is now drying in a baggie of Tui's mom's rice), a touching and lovely Māori cemetery, the harbor where we looked for (but alas didn't see) dolphins and orcas.
We met her extended family, which made the stay a delightful social occasion as well as a nature-exploration one. I hesitate to mention all of this for fear of creating an unrealistic expectation. For sure, though, future visitors can expect comfort and extraordinary hospitality.