The blind Napier piano man and the heartwarming new friendship that's changed everything

When an elderly Napier man went blind, the piano that he once used to fill his house with music started collecting dust.

So 89-year-old John Hosegood's daughter sent out a public plea for a pianist.

Help bring the music back, let Hosegood continue to hear the beauty of the instrument he loves, even though his playing days are over because he can no longer read music.

The response from the community, heartwarmingly, brought a near-instant result.

Julie Anne Gibson said her Marewa-based father had lost everything in his life that was precious to him when he lost his sight. She wanted to find a way for him to continue to enjoy his passion – piano.

"He can't drive any more. He can't play bowls or play piano," she said. "He's told me that he's looked at the piano and cried."

Gibson took to social media in hope of finding a pianist to play for her father, after realising nobody in their family could play the piano.

David McKenzie (left) plays piano once a week for John Hosegood, who recently went blind. Photo / Paul Taylor

Then David McKenzie, 85, with the help of his grandson, made contact with Gibson and offered his services behind the keys.

McKenzie now makes the short trip from a local "old people's home" to Hosegood's Marewa home once a week to play the piano, sing and share tales of their youth.

Hosegood, originally from Britain, started piano lessons when he was just 11, but said joining the Army aged 18 meant he had to give it up.

"I passed seven exams in seven years, all with honours, but joining the Army put an end to that," he said.

But once he rediscovered it, he was hooked for life and toured British pubs as part of a four-piece dance band.

"I didn't have a piano for the first 30 years after moving to Napier, but got one eventually.

"But now I can't do much for myself and stay sat inside most of the time."

McKenzie, who originally learned to play on a pipe organ at the age of eight, said he is using the weekly performance as a chance to see the city after moving to Napier two years ago.

"I have a lot of Reader's Digest books with a rundown of greatest hits, when it was first released, the composers and so on, so I stick to playing them when alone," he said.

"But now John likes me to play some classics from his past."

David McKenzie (left) with John Hosegood in Napier. Photo / Paul Taylor

Gibson said her father and McKenzie soon hit it off at the pair's first appointment last week.

Hosegood has offered his newfound friend access to the extensive collection of sheet music in his garage.

"It was just two old guys enjoying music – David plays and my dad hums and sings along," she said.

Gibson said the kind offering allows her father the opportunity to still enjoy his passion.

"David gives him something to look forward to and a reason to get up in the morning."