Mr Xu thanks Waipu baker Him Kim for saving his life in last week's blaze. Mr Kim, who owns Waipu bakery nearby, was alerted to the smoke coming from the building by a customer, and quickly jumped into action.
Knowing Mr Xu was asleep in the living quarters attached to the takeaway shop, Mr Kim knocked on all the doors and windows of the residence, trying to rouse the occupants, while his wife Chou Siv dialled 111.
Mr Xu, who bought the takeaway business in April, remembers waking up to Mr Kim's frantic knocking on windows and doors. "I saw lots of smoke, black smoke."
Waipu deputy fire chief Alan Vaile said two engines came from Waipu and Ruakaka stations to battle the blaze. Fire-fighters had to smash through glass sliding doors to enter.
"It was a really good save by all the firefighters, who prevented it spreading to the living quarters," he said.