Handyman hero helps gecko stay safe

Forget Spider-Man or Batman - Whangarei's resident superhero should be called Geckoman.
Last year the Kiwi House in Maunu appealed for help to build a secure home for its only remaining gecko, after callous thieves broke into the cages and stole four of the reptiles.
Raumanga's Darryl Coleman heard their call, grabbed his supertools - a hammer and nails - and came to the rescue.
Kiwi House officer Elizabeth Adams said she was very grateful to Darryl: "We were really upset when the geckos were stolen as we were sure one of the pairs would breed ... So we were thrilled when Darryl came to help out. It's restored our faith in human kindness."
However, Darryl modestly explained that the 70 hours of manpower he donated was no big deal.
"I saw the appeal in the paper and thought I'd help. I wasn't impressed that the geckos had been stolen because I'm a big fan of wildlife.
"I gave up my own time to help but it wasn't just down to me. My boss (at Danska Cabinet Making) let me use the machines, and other people pitched in with tanks, glass and money," he said.
Unfortunately the stolen geckos were never found, and Custom officials feared they would have been smuggled out of New Zealand and sold for thousands of dollars on the international black market.
However, the last remaining gecko - Fat Albert - will no longer be lonely as Gecko House will be officially re-opened this Saturday with a Pacific gecko as a new resident.
A kids' competition will name the new gecko with a $30 goody bag up for grabs. Every adult ticket bought for the opening day gets two kids in free.
Call the Kiwi House on (09) 438 9630.