A local plumber looking to help not just his customers, but his community, has been described as the "heartbeat" of Tauranga.
Pipe Masters owner Paul Knight told the Bay of Plenty Times he had raised about $2200 for Tauranga Women's Refuge during the alert level four lockdown after giving customers a choice between a 50 per cent discount on their bill or paying the full bill, with 50 per cent going to the refuge.
Knight decided to drop his fees when lockdown began to help those who were feeling the financial strain of Covid-19, but when he learned domestic violence cases were expected to rise as a result, he knew he had to help.
"There have been a few causes that have amplified effects when we are in this lockdown but, at the same time, people tend to pull back on spending in these situations.