St Paul’s students build fale for devastated Samoan family

Biosecurity issues cause unexpected delays

July 2010

A recent overseas aid effort by students and staff of Hamilton’s St Paul’s Collegiate was almost derailed by unexpected biosecurity issues.

Teacher Heta Smith, 12 carpentry students and builder Peter Sullivan collected donated timber and building supplies to be sent to Samoa where they planned to build a fale for a family which lost its home in the tsunami of September 2009.

Two weeks after the container was sent, and just prior to the team’s departure, Heta was told the consignment needed a phytosanitary certificate which should have been issued before the container was shipped from New Zealand.

On the advice of Hamilton-based Independent Verification Services (IVS), Heta checked with the timber wholesaler. The timber supplier was able to provide information on the treatment of the timber, but unable to provide the necessary certification. Heta was told that the shipment needed to be inspected for pests, bark, soil and insects at the point of loading by MAF Biosecurity NZ certified inspectors, such as the team at IVS.

“The woman from IVS even called on the Sunday to offer help, which I thought was outstanding,” said Heta.

As the container was already in Samoa, Heta took up IVS’s advice to have the container delivered to the building site at Lalomanu Beach. IVS suggested that the Samoan biosecurity authorities might be able to carry out any necessary fumigation there.

“What I didn’t want was to sit on the beach for five days waiting for the container to be opened up,” said Heta.

The St Paul’s Collegiate team arrived in Samoa at 1am and reached Lalomanu Beach at 4am. At daylight, Peter Sullivan mapped out the building site. The container arrived at 10am.

“The wheels turned slowly after that. After a cup of tea and something to eat, the Samoan official waived the fumigation order. The container was opened at 11.30am and the team had the piles of the house in place by the end of the day,” said Heta.

A massive fundraising effort made the project possible. Around $25,000 was raised from a Samoan dinner and charity auction, a 24-hour run by St Paul’s boarders, and a quiz night.

Local businesses, especially Thomsons Timber, Bunnings and Chester Plumbing, provided the building supplies.

While the team sent sufficient funds to cover their expenses as they did not wish to be a burden on the Samoan family for whom the fale was being built, the family looked after them well.

“We had fresh fish every day,” said Heta.

Many of the team members plan to return to Samoa to build another fale. However, this time the group can be assured of having no anxieties around biosecurity rules.

IVS was previously involved in a similar project where timber and supplies were sent to Samoa as part of the relief effort.

“We are keen to support initiatives such as these. If St Paul’s repeats the exercise next year, we will donate our inspection and verification services at no cost,” said Peter Webb, IVS Chief Executive.