The House That Love Built Cocksy's Cancer Courage

He’s not ready to put his hammer down yet

- Cloe Willetts

When New Zealand’s favourite TV builder John “Cocksy” Cocks designed his dream home in the Coromandel last year, it had to be close to water.

Eight months later, views of the tranquil Tairua River estuary flow past the kite shaped home, which was funded with life insurance money because the laid-back handyman has terminal kidney cancer.

He’s calling the house his legacy, a sanctuary for wife Dana, 46, and his three adult daughters to go to whenever they like in years to come.

Cocksy’s just built a sleep-out and next is a shed with an adjoining workshop, where the handyman will make his own coffin.

“I’ve got an old Holden station wagon that’s going to be the hearse – everything has to be organised,” laughs the 52-year-old, who is in high spirits and surprisingly fit, despite being told he had two years to live in August 2016.

When we chat with him, Cocksy’s taking a break from renovating an old caravan sitting on blocks outside. He’s stripped the corrugated interior and painted it aqua, before building beds, drawers and a table to fill the backyard accommodation.