5 July 2004
Building progressing well on a new home for an Auckland family living in sub-standard conditions
The Auckland Registered Master Builders Association has begun work on a new home for the Ofafonua family and will work
around the clock with a wide range of suppliers from throughout New Zealand, to have it completed in a couple of months.
Continuous infrastructure problems, including a major hole in their living room floor and serious plumbing deficiencies,
have been causing havoc for the Onehunga based Ofafonua family which have led to health problems.
The Auckland Registered Master Builders heard of their plight and offered to build the family of five a brand new home
free of charge. The design of the new house was recently unveiled and Tevita Ofafonua signed a Master Build 7 Year
Guarantee and building contract. Construction is progressing quickly with the framing and roof already completed.
Project leader Auckland Registered Master Builder Rod Percival says the generosity of New Zealanders has been amazing.
“Donations of people’s time and building materials have been flooding in from all over the country. Building is
progressing nicely and it’s great to be working on something like this because people are really coming together to help
out a family who have had a really tough time of it.”
Assistance from a wide range of suppliers has been received, including donations from PlaceMakers, Winstone Wallboards,
Tasman Insulation, Clearlite, Tenon, James Hardie, Wattyl Taubmans, Mercury Bay Design, Laser Electrical, Metalcraft,
Hirepool, Firth, Clearlite, Aquatica, Nylex, Ingersoll-Rand, Mitek, Heirloom, Robinhood, Velux, the BCITO and members of
Registered Master Builders Federation.
The Ofafonua’s new home is being built in the Now Couriers warehouse in 36 Victoria Street Onehunga before the house is
transferred back to the Ofafonua’s current Onehunga address.
ENDS