A very happy John and Toni Bouchet are loving their new accommodation pod which means they can still live on-site at their flood-damaged home.
The couple, John, 80 and Toni, 79, have lived in Wairoa for 15 years, ironically choosing the town because of its great climate and affordable housing. Flooding in their Carroll Street villa was enough to ruin everything, rising to about 30cm inside the house and around a metre outside.
The couple, however, are planning to build back better. The Jehovah’s Witnesses will have their house raised by half a metre with insurance paying for materials and tradies of the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith providing the labour.
“All we have to do is feed them,” laughs a grateful John. The team of tradies will turn up and get the job done. The couple say they have already been well looked after, with 23 local people turning up the day after the flooding to help begin the massive cleanup.
The couple, John, 80 and Toni, 79, have lived in Wairoa for 15 years, ironically choosing the town because of its great climate and affordable housing. Flooding in their Carroll Street villa was enough to ruin everything, rising to about 30cm inside the house and around a metre outside.
The couple, however, are planning to build back better. The Jehovah’s Witnesses will have their house raised by half a metre with insurance paying for materials and tradies of the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith providing the labour.
“All we have to do is feed them,” laughs a grateful John. The team of tradies will turn up and get the job done. The couple say they have already been well looked after, with 23 local people turning up the day after the flooding to help begin the massive cleanup.
Carroll Street residents John and Toni Bouchet are loving their new pod, arranged by Melissa Kaimoana from Enabled.