Mayor shows off new skill set

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton (right) does his bit to help with Habitat for Humanity's construction of a new home for Albert Kiripatea (left) and his partner Kelly-Jo Ngarimu Fraser (centre). Photo / Paul Taylor

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton admits he prefers tinkering with engines to swinging a hammer.

"Doing renovations around the house is not one of my strengths, as my wife would attest," he says.

But he was taken out of his comfort zone yesterday, wielding a nail gun and performing other building site duties along with a group of Napier City Council staff and councillors who volunteered to help build a Habitat for Humanity home in Maraenui.

"I was certainly very useful when it came to handing out lollies," the mayor said.

The council team on site yesterday - including chief executive Wayne Jack and councillors Maxine Boag and Michelle Pyke - were among more than 100 volunteers who have signed up to help with the build.

Once completed, the four-bedroom house on Fleming Crescent will be home to Albert Kiripatea, Kelly-Jo Ngarimu Fraser and their five children, aged between 4 and 16.

The family will become the fourth Napier family, and the 14th in Hawke's Bay, to move into a Habitat for Humanity-built home.

The house means a lot to the family who currently lives in an old rental home with no insulation, which has affected their health.

They are one of more than 600 families throughout the country who have been supported by Habitat for Humanity to work towards home ownership.

Families contribute 500 hours of their time towards Habitat projects.

Volunteer labour, donated or discounted building materials and reduced loans help keep the houses affordable.

Once each house is completed the family can move in under a rent-to-buy scheme, making regular repayments to Habitat on a no-profit basis, at a level they can afford. This method helps families build up a deposit which they can use when seeking independent finance to eventually buy their home from Habitat.

The Maraenui house is due to be completed next week.