Hastings stadium gone but builder goes on

John Caccioppoli signed his apprenticeship papers on a spot he is building on for the second time in 50 years.
The teenager was labouring for Mackersey Construction when he was offered an apprenticeship to help build Nelson Park's new stadium in Hastings. Mr Caccioppoli is now organising the building schedule of Mitre 10 Mega, on the same spot where he signed his carpentry apprenticeship papers in 1961.
He said he has never been tempted to change employers.
"The company has given me a good challenge all through the years - why walk away from a challenge?"
He is now head programmer, deciding building schedules for projects.
He said it was not all paperwork. "It's a good mix, I still get plenty of site contact."
Many major Hawke's Bay building projects have had his input, including Hawke's Bay Hospital, Hawke's Bay Prison, the Westpac building in Hastings and the Whakatu Freezing Complex.
His sailor grandfather arrived from Italy in the early 1900s "because he was hungry", but he had good reason to return home.
"He was betrothed to a girl in Sorrento whose younger sisters kept writing to him asking him to return and marry their sister, so they too could then get permission to marry."
He married in Italy and the couple moved to an orchard in Longlands.
Mr Caccioppoli said Mackersey had treated him very well and "another 50 years" was not out of the question.
"You never know, do you."