NZ 'frinds' come good for tsunami victims

Three months after Dave and Paulette Perry raised money to help some Indian fishermen whose boats and homes were demolished in the Boxing Day tsunami, a new boat is in the water, the nets are out and the village is back in business.

And thanks to the Perrys, it now has a motor.

What the Perry family didn't quite expect was the huge signage stretched along both sides of the open craft. It reads: "Sponsor by Mr Dave Parry, Misses Paulette Parry. Frinds New Zaland".

The story dates back to November last year when Dave Perry was swept out to sea while taking a dip at Mamallapuram in Southern India.

Despite an official warning not to go out, a young fisherman paddled out on a log and held Mr Perry out of the water until his uncle's boat arrived.

Mr Perry was saved, there were thanks and embraces all round, and a promise of help if it was ever needed. End of story.

Six weeks later, the tsunami demolished the same village and a barely decipherable fax arrived at the Perrys' Henderson home. It's basic message: "Help."

By mid-April the family had mobilised their friends, family and colleagues and raised the necessary $5000.

Once the money arrived, the youth who saved Mr Perry and his uncle were able to become half-owners of the fishing boat.

Mr Perry says: "Apparently they've got everything - the motor, the nets, and they've been out fishing. As far as we're concerned the job's done. It's a happy ending."