Happy hoarder finds new home for his `collection'

The former Northland Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association headquarters at 6 Colenso St, Kamo, is a rundown reminder of how Adonis bodies sag with time.
Behind this building with peeling paint, rubbish and grass have been cleared to make room for the "collection" of notorious Whangarei hoarder Keith Montreal, who is shifting there after the sale of the shed he leased in Waipanga Rd at Springs Flat.
The 150sq m shed is bulging to the roof with second-hand machinery, whiteware, furniture and much more. It has been surrounded by old cars, many with windscreens shattered by vandals.
The "collection" is massive and expanding all the time in Colenso St. Like elderly bodybuilders, it is not beautiful but there is a fascinating power in its growth as Mr Montreal lines up the decrepit vehicles, on and around which he will pile the rest of his - dare we say it - junk.
Once he has emptied the shed, which will take several days, he plans to cover the collection with plastic. Maybe like an urban silage stack, and maybe not so tidy.
A woman whose Ridgeway Dr home overlooks the Colenso St industrial sites, which include Mr Montreal's new abode, has already had the Northland Regional Council slap a two-year fire ban on him for burning vegetation just over her back fence.
She was nervous yesterday, fearing an invasion of vermin and an eyesore lowering the value of her property.
"I've heard that he (Mr Montreal) is a nice enough guy, but it's frightening he's got so much crap," she said.
Craigh Fife, from Roofing Industries at 2 Colenso St, was concerned because his company premises had recently been done up, KP Automotive Wreckers across the road had tidied its yard and Kamo Outboards further down the street was lined up for a new roof.
"Even though this is an industrial area, we thought Colenso St was getting a bit smarter," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Montreal, 72, was yesterday shifting the old wheel-less caravan in which he lived at Waipanga Rd. The new owner of the barn, Sunshine Homes boss Stuart Ross, his brother Alan and their father Murray were helping with muscle and tractor power.
Mr Montreal said he had a three-month lease on the Colenso St site and could then have to move again, but had nowhere to go. He had been moved on in the past from Onerahi and Onetangi homes he had filled with his collection.
"Nobody wants me," he said, explaining that he had been married a couple of times to women who had mistakenly thought they could change his ways.
"I enjoy collecting," Mr Montreal said cheerfully. "I realise I'm upsetting everyone else, but I just couldn't bear not doing it."