Newlyweds, Alex Chimilio and Christina Molloy enjoying
a honeymoon with a difference

Take an empty section, add a volunteer engineer, animator, contractor and designer, mix with a couple of retired gentlemen, then throw in North American accents and some kiwi slang and what do you get?

Habitat for Humanity at work.

Dargaville’s second Habitat for Humanity home, is being constructed in Finlayson Park Avenue. What’s unique is that among the many volunteers, are a couple on their honeymoon. Newlywed Americans, Alex Chimilio and Christina Molloy decided against a leisurely vacation, opting for a chance to get to know another country and give back to it.

Christina is a nurse practitioner, working with children after surgery and in the emergency room. Although this is not her first project with Habitat for Humanity, her previous placements saw her tearing down houses, rather than putting them up. Alex is a fashion designer.

“This was my very first time doing this, but I understood what Christina wanted, in terms of a much more memorable experience — not a normal vacation, but more productive.”

So, what about building experience?

“I don’t think I’ve ever been on a roof or picked up a hammer before” says Alex.

When Lifestyler visited the site, all 13 overseas volunteers were taking a short break at the nearby Takiwira Kohunga Reo.

“The kids are amazing,” said Alex. “What they’re doing is pretty important, preserving the indigenous language. They did a little song for us and we did a song for them.”

The couple met six years ago and wed in September. They will leave Dargaville with memories of a welcoming community, and join their fellow volunteers on a quick trip around the far North, before heading home. They will also leave behind the other newlyweds at the centre of this project, Eric and Melanie Russell.

Eric is often on-site, investing some ‘sweat equity’ — 500 hours of labour — in what will become his new home. After three and a half years of long drives and a long-distance relationship, Eric has moved north from Hastings and tied the knot with local woman and youth worker, Melanie (nee Cochrane).

Habitat for Humanity Affiliates are global, community-level organisations, who help families into suitable new homes based on their current housing need. After a bond payment and initial trial rental period, the family has the opportunity to purchase the house through affordable repayments.

Dave Reyburn is the Chairman of Habitat for Humanity Northland and a full-time volunteer. At 74, he is constantly working to help others and has been doing so, since 1994.