The 66-year-old has been back on Whangārei’s streets since then, thanks to a scooter he was gifted two months after the accident.
But as he crossed outside Whangārei Hospital about seven weeks ago, he was hit again by a car.
This time he was unhurt but his scooter was damaged beyond use.
Te Wairongoa Paniona, affectionately known as ‘Mr T’, was gifted a new mobility scooter last Friday after he was hit by a vehicle a second time. Photo / Brodie Stone
NorthAble integrated case co-ordinator Natalie Woods said since the second accident, Paniona had been “really feeling it”.
Usually when she would see him, he would have the biggest smile.
“At the moment, I see a bit of life sucked out of him,” Woods said.
Paniona headed along to NorthAble in Whangārei to perform last Friday.
Unbeknown to him, a surprise was waiting.
NorthAble assistant manager Elaina Gray drove out of the shop in a shiny new scooter fitted with a gold bow.
Paniona finished his song and then the good news was delivered. Gray told him: “This is for you”.
The scooter, worth about $10,000, is able to reach speeds of up to about 50km/h. It was given to NorthAble by Pride Mobility, who agreed to partner with them.
Emotional, Paniona called the new scooter a “blessing”. It would allow him to get back to doing what he loved so much – busking.
“I’ll never give it up,” Paniona said.
Gray told the Northern Advocate that at least five different people had come into NorthAble since the accident to ask if they had seen Paniona and check if he was okay.
Beloved busker, ‘Mr T’, was gifted a new scooter and two years’ insurance after he was hit by a car crossing the road near Whangārei Hospital about seven weeks ago. Photo / Brodie Stone
“That’s really telling that he is a big part of this community,” Gray said.
Retail manager Satish Neelam said when they got the scooter, the first person that came to mind was Paniona.
“The reason I remembered him was because there were so many people coming in and asking ‘What’s happening with this person?’.”
Woods said Paniona‘s scooter connected him to his lifestyle.
“He’s always out and about helping people, doing things, busking, and he hasn’t really been able to do it how he wanted to. So it’s pretty cool.”
Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.