Bike gift cheers grieving teen | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

The past four months have been exceptionally hard for Rotorua teenager Tino Iulio-Filipo since his father died of renal failure.

However, a late Christmas present of a restored bike has perked him up as he prepares for another year of high school.

The 16-year-old was chosen by Rotorua's New Zealand Credit Union staff to receive one of 16 bikes lovingly restored by Ngongotaha man Barry Burnett to be given to needy children by the Ngongotaha Lions Club.

"I'm so happy," he told The Daily Post. "I can now ride to school."

He said he hoped to use the bike to get fit for a future in the New Zealand Defence Force when he leaves John Paul College.

The Credit Union also supplied a chain and padlock for the bike.

Tino's mum, Mata Pelasio-Filipo said her eldest son had been a tower of strength when her husband Filipo Filipo was sick and having dialysis treatment at home.

"He was the only one of the 10 kids who would help him with the machine," she said. "He'd sit and talk to his dad for hours and he'd do everything for him. It's been very hard for him since his dad died.

"He took on a lot of responsibility."

Ngongotaha Lions Club vice-president John Smale said Mr Burnett restores the bikes as a hobby and passes them on to needy families.

"His wife told him he had to get them out the garage so she could park the car in it," Mr Smale said.

"It's just brilliant. They have been given to people who can make good use of them."

New Zealand Credit Union Rotorua spokeswoman Phillipa Wills said it was fantastic to see the community supporting less fortunate families.

"This is better than money," she said. "It shows what people can do, it's people helping people."