"Escaping the Mugabe regime was basically to allow him to have opportunities here," Larry said.
"We had eight foot high walls with razor wire. That is how we were living."
Fourteen years on, Larry and Eric are working with Shirley Murphy, one of the co-ordinators of the Hamilton Christmas Tree to upgrade the lights.
Larry and his company Indeserve have been setting up and taking down the lights for the past 10 years.
He said a large amount of volunteer work goes into setting up the lights - which will take three days - but they will be ready to go on the big day.
"It is not just me, there are loads of volunteers who are there to help get the lights unpacked and straighten them up.
"It is a huge job but they are very good."
This year the Christmas Tree lights will sync with an un-released piece of Christmas music that was donated to the Hamilton Christmas Charitable Trust, which looks after the tree and organises the Hamilton Christmas Parade.
Eric has taken charge of programming the lights to work in rhythm with the music.
"My father has been working on them for a few years and last year they wanted to mix it up with the lights and when they put them up they thought it would look a lot better with music so they asked me if I wanted to do it," Eric said.
Eric says the job takes time but is it not a tough one. HIs strong grasp of information technology will help, an area Eric excels in.
He graduated from Hamilton Boys' High School this week where he secured top in information technology in year 13.
He was also selected as a member of the New Zealand Young Physicists team this year where he secured a silver medal in Singapore.
He is currently studying for his final NCEA examinations but has still found time to help his Dad setting up the lights.
"I think just the idea of having your work up on the tree will be interesting to see and hopefully it works well."
The father/son team has enjoyed working together this year, although one was more enthusiastic then the other.
"It's different, working in the evenings with him."
Larry asked if that was in a good way or a bad way.
"Ahh, I guess it has been good," Eric said.
"It has been very good, although there has been some conflict here and there when trying to decide what happens and where," Larry said.
Eric will be heading off to flight school in the new year but is still excited to work with his dad in the future on the Christmas tree lights.
Lighting Luminary
Nominations are still open to find a deserving child or a family to switch on the lights on December 2. Hamilton Christmas Charitable Trust is seeking a Lighting Luminary to do the honours. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the trust's website - hamiltonchristmas.co.nz.
Completed forms must arrive no later than Monday November 20th. The event, which launches the city's Christmas season, starts at 5pm with lots of activities for children, food trucks from Gourmet in the Gardens, face painting, balloons and performances.
Christmas Parade
This year's Christmas Parade starts at 3pm on December 10 along Anglesea Street. Pre-parade entertainment starts at 2.15pm