Whānau first - David Hunia

When David Hunia started with QRS he quickly got used to being asked how his father-in-law was.

David is the son-in-law of retired and highly-respected QRS truck driver, Jake O’Neil. He's only too happy to keep his colleagues up to date with news. “Yeah, it’s fair to say Jake was a bit of a legend.

Jake was with QRS and its predecessor and helped build many of the roads around Wairoa. While employed with QRS, Jake was also the main operator transporting heavy machinery around the North Island.

David is married to Jake’s daughter Wairoa Primary School teacher Kirstie O’Neil-Hunia. The pair moved to Wairoa in 2020 to be closer to whānau and to help Jake on the farm.

David is Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. He’s worked in a range of industries including wood engineering, aluminium manufacturing, retail, tourism, and hospitality. While in the tourism industry, he worked at a backpackers, and at a tenpin bowling alley in Taupō as a mechanical technician.

David has Jake to thank for spotting a QRS job vacancy listing. Jake saw the job advert in The Wairoa Star and suggested he apply.

Now part of the cyclic crew, David enjoys being able to help the community by fixing potholes and installing signs on State Highway 2 and 38. “Potholes are something this community is always dealing with so we get stuck in and work hard.”

While at QRS David has earned his Class 2 driver’s license and wheels, tracks and rollers endorsements. He is also a qualified site traffic management specialist (practising) and temporary traffic management mentor. 

13 May 2024

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