Folau Vunipola’s family was one of 10 families left homeless after their homes were destroyed by fire in Mangere last week. Video / Alex Burton
Standing in front of the fire-ravaged wreckage that was once their home, Folau Vunipola still finds a reason to smile while holding his young son Taofi.
The 4-year-old wants to be a firefighter one day and sports a shirt with the words: “Fire Chief”.
Taofi is like many young boys - boisterous, loud and quick to wriggle free from his father’s arms whenever he gets the chance.
But he is a little more extraordinary in that he lives with cerebral palsy - right hemiplegia - and a developmental delay. He walks with a limp on his right side.
His family, including four brothers and parents Folau and Susitina Vunipola, was among those caught up in a devastating fire at a church complex in Māngere Bridge, South Auckland, that left 10 families homeless.
A week on, the Vunipolas remain at the Siasi Tokaikolo ‘ia Kalaisi - ‘Api ko Nasaleti church, where families were evacuated.
Speaking through an interpreter, mum Susitina Vunipola described panicked scenes when the fire broke out - shortly after 3am on Thursday last week.
“There was all this smoke. My husband grabbed Taofi and I picked up the youngest one and another girl from around the complex helped to wake the others.”
Susitina and Folau Vunipola with two of their five children outside what is left of their home that was destroyed by fire last week. Photo / Alex Burton
She said all their belongings - everything from clothes to school books, family documents and special items needed to help Taofi’s disability - were lost in the fire.
She and her husband Folau, a carpenter, came from Tonga on working visas and have lived here for about five years. They have no family in New Zealand.
They had previously been living at a rental property in Ōtara, paying about $500 a week, before Taofi suffered a stroke at just 4 months old - forcing his father to work limited hours to help his wife take care of their young family.
‘I just want to find a home for my wife and boys’
It was their church community that offered a place to stay in 2019 and where they have lived since.
“If anyone is able to help us with a place to stay, that is our priority at the moment,” Susitina says.
She acknowledged the help of the church. But they have been asked to find a place to move to by next week.
At their living space, there are mattresses on the floor and bed sheets hung up to separate them, like small rooms. On the wall are Bible verses and images of Christ.
Folau Vunipola with 4-year-old son Taofi outside the fire-ravaged wreckage that was once their home in Māngere, South Auckland. Photo / Alex Burton
They are trying hard to find a home for the family and have made contact with the Auckland Council and Kāinga Ora.
Members of the public and the wider South Auckland, local Tongan and Pacific communities have turned out in droves to provide food, clothing and monetary donations to those affected.
The Middlemore Foundation and the Kidz First Children’s Hospital have also been a pillar of support to the Vunipola family, who have had a strong connection with local health workers because of Taofi’s condition.
Service manager Roni Hamilton said its child development service provides support for children with disabilities in the Counties Manukau region - everything from physiotherapy to occupational therapy, speech-language therapy and social work support.
“A significant portion of our families within our service are Pacific and Māori - altogether, almost 60 per cent of our service are Māori and Pacific.”
The foundation is teaming up with former boxing champ and community advocate Dave Letele, of the Brown Buttabean Motivation organisation, which also stepped up immediately after the fire to provide families with food, bedding and clothing.
Folau Vunipola acknowledged they have had a rough few years as a family, but he is proud of setting up his family here - a place he can raise all his boys “for a better future”, he says.
