When Make-A-Wish New Zealand posted a job on Builderscrack, it was clear this wasn’t just any project. They were looking for tradies to help lay the foundation — literally and figuratively — for a backyard cabin that would give 15-year-old Benjamin a space to call his own.
Benjamin, who has cystic fibrosis and is on the autism spectrum, thrives in a calm environment. “Our household is busy and noisy with four kids,” explains his mum, Shelley.
“Ben doesn’t like a lot of noise, and he enjoys spending time on his own, so we thought it’d be nice for him to have a space where he can go to relax.”
Granting a Wish takes time, and a team, and this story is about the people who helped make it happen.
But first, let’s rewind to how it all began.