Nick Tuialii's home is always open to those needing somewhere to stay. Photo / Steven McNicholl
To nominate an Unsung Hero for their community service and for terms and conditions go to: www.unsungheroes.org.nz
Nick Tuialii has five daughters, 22 foster kids and has adopted six other children - but he reckons there are plenty of people more worthy of recognition than him.
While the Auckland man might be modest about his role in the community, his friend Thomas Wynne says the lives he
has influenced are too numerous to count.
"His home is always open and if you were to go around there you would always find another person bunked up in a bedroom already taken by one of his five daughters, and food on the table.
"The numbers of people past and present that affectionately call him 'Dad' are too many to count or mention. He has been a rock for so many and he definitely deserves the title of unsung hero."
Mr Wynne has nominated Mr Tuialii for the Herald Unsung Heroes series, which recognises people who selflessly work to make a difference in their communities.
The stories of many of them will feature in the paper and five will be chosen to join a P&O winter cruise.
Mr Wynne said his friend had selflessly served the Mt Roskill community and Mt Roskill Grammar for 20 years.
"In that time in his role as counsellor and Pacific Student Support, Nick has changed the lives of many young men and women who live a quality of life now they could never have dreamed of."
One example was a young man who was travelling "a rocky road" before being given the opportunity through Mr Tuialii to play rugby in Japan.
"He went with Nick's reference and support, and is now playing for one of the corporations in Japan. A life he could never have dreamed of if he had stayed in the hood."
Another boy is now in Australia playing in the Brumbies development squad, thanks to Mr Tuialii.
"Nick saw his potential, got the boy in front of the right people and helped pay for him and his father to see the school and make the decision to stay. That boy's life and that of his family have changed forever."
Asked why he has been so quick to help so many young people, Mr Tuialii said it all came back to his mother's good example.
"She took in quite a few kids in Mt Roskill when we were quite young."
His wife, Wendy, had also played a major role.
"I wouldn't be able to do it if it wasn't for my wife - you need a good partner."
The Unsung Community Heroes series is run annually in the The Herald and on nzherald.co.nz in partnership with P&O Cruises. We invited nominations from readers to recognise people who selflessly work to make a difference in their local communities.
Some will be selected to feature in the paper and on nzherald.co.nz. Five will be chosen to join a P&O winter cruise.
