Homeless Auckland man Robert Millar is being offered a job and accommodation after Uili Papalii's kindness to him was reported in the Herald on Sunday. Photo / Sarah Harris
A homeless man who lost his wife, his home and his job has been offered work and a bed.
Out-of-work painter Rob Millar, 59, featured in today's Herald on Sunday after 11-year-old Uili Papalii helped him out, donating his pocket money and his school lunches when he saw him in
distress outside shops in Manurewa, South Auckland.
West Aucklander Karen, who asked that her last name not be published, has offered Millar work painting an old hotel in Kawerau, and accommodation, after reading the story.
She posted about her offer on the Herald's Facebook page after reading the story, which had touched her.
"We thought that's a really heartfelt story. I felt for the poor guy. It's a shame the world wasn't full of hearts like that little boy's," she said of Uili.
Karen is involved in managing the renovation of an old hotel/backpackers in Kawerau in the Bay of Plenty and she said the owner was keen for painting and handyman work to be offered to Millar. "I will take him down there."
Millar was delighted to be offered a job that would use his skills. "That sounds like me, absolutely," he said.
But he would have to consider whether it would take him too far away from Auckland, where his networks and family are.
He and Karen will meet on Monday and plan to travel to Kawerau this week to see if the job is right for Millar.
On Sunday several people stopped to talk with Millar after seeing his story in the paper.
