Kaihu community members banded together after an electrical fault triggered a blaze that razed their home and business on July 4 last year.
Located 30 minutes from Dargaville in Kaipara, Kaihu has the only fuel source for at least 30km on either side, and residents were forced to find alternative arrangements such as carpooling or filling up fuel containers.
But the inconvenience was nothing compared with the emotional and financial toll on the family, who were forced to adjust to a new way of life.
Thanks to the kindness of residents, they had a roof over their heads and donations of furniture, clothing and food to get them through.
The family have been renting next to the building while the works continue because they wanted to see the process unfold.
“[It’s] a big excitement for us, we can visibly see our dream coming true,” an emotional Kaur said.
The pair said they are attached to Kaihu and have not wanted to leave despite the trauma of last year’s events.
Their children attend local daycare and schools, and the family have become an integral part of the community.
“The community is supporting us still at the moment. We [often] see their faces when they’re passing through and they’re waving their hands and sometimes they stop,” Kaur said.
“[It’s] filled my heart, they are encouraging us to go ahead and don’t stop.”
They are determined to soon have their own source of income, but it has been a waiting game getting works completed and insurance on board.
“I really want the builders to go ahead quickly [because] we really want to start as soon as possible,” Kaur said.
Her three children said they want to see their mother back at work and “happy”.
She reflected upon the fact that one day you can have “everything” and within a night it “disappears”.