By 1news.co.nz and is republished with permission
Most people don’t set out to lose money, but Semisi Tauataina and associate Peter Tanginoa were willing to wear the cost of their latest job.
“We wanted to do it because of the Tongan community,” Tanginoa, an Auckland-based businessman, told Fair Go.
The pair estimate they spent close to $5000 in labour and vehicle hire costs to complete work that was left unfinished by another contractor, Ian Uhatahi.
Uhatahi had left Auckland suddenly to return to Tonga, having taken deposits for, and not finishing, construction contracts on home improvement jobs.
He wasn’t replying to client queries and still hasn’t responded to Fair Go.
“I hope he will learn from it,” Tauataina said, adding he doesn’t know Uhatahi but is a close friend to a relative of his.
“I am honoured and blessed to be given the chance to help a friend. I am a Christian man and my beliefs are by far more important than anything else.”
Tauataina arranged and paid for workers and transported a digger he borrowed from Tanginoa.
After months since the job stalled, it took just four-and-a-half days of hard, but skilled, labour to finish the job with a major saving for the couple left in limbo.
“It’s just restoring my faith in people,” Estelle Clendon said, admiring her new driveway and the Good Samaritans who made that possible.
Clendon and her husband Cary had lost that faith after paying Uhatahi $21,000 towards $26,000-worth of landscaping and driveway works when Uhatahi stopped.
The couple estimate they were left around $14,000 out of pocket at that stage.
Fair Go aired their plight and Tauataina stepped in with an offer to use whatever they had left to finish the job.
“Thank you for letting me be part of the job and trusting in me,” Tauataina said.
