Baby brings new lease of life

New Masterton father Les Warrington, 63, said raising his baby daughter Johanna Ysabella, 35 years after his last child was born will be like "learning to ride a bike, you don't forget".

One-month-old Johanna is a sister to Les' three other children with his first wife, Charee; Jason, 38, Lee, 37, and Belinda, 35, and an aunty to his 12 grandchildren.

Les said he and his third wife Lorena, from the Philippines, had been trying to have a baby for a while.

"That's what she wanted so I had to do the deed I suppose," Mr Warrington said.

Les was introduced to Lorena after his second wife, Linda Warrington, who was also from the Philippines, died while on her way to work when her rural delivery vehicle was trapped in raging floodwaters in 2004.

"After my wife drowned, a friend of my wife said she had a friend in the Philippines who would like to come over to New Zealand.

"I've been divorced, widowed and married again.

"This is the beginning of a new life now," he said.

Les said having another baby makes him feel "20 years younger" and does not anticipate fatherhood being any more difficult because of his age.

"It may be 35 years apart but it's a lot easier now, no safety pinning up [nappies] like we did 30 years ago," he said.

Lorena, 38, is a registered nurse and did her three-year training at UCOL. Johanna is her first child and she is not too concerned about her husband's age.

"When she grows up she will be pushing Daddy," Lorena said.

Lorena said Johanna is "an angel" and is never unsettled.

"She's a blessed baby and she's God's gift that's why she's called Johanna, it means God's gift."

She said Johanna is good for Les who gets exercise by taking her for walks.

"It's good for his exercise, he can't stop because baby cries, he's doing the exercise well because of her."

Lorena said Les is "sometimes grumpy but has a good heart".