Surprise fame for Porirua roadworker
It’s probably not the best way to direct traffic, but it’s certainly the fun way.
That is how Porirua roadworker Feleti Kalepo describes his unique brand of enthusiasm, which has made him an internet sensation after video of him directing traffic with a stop-go sign on Saturday went viral.
Kalepo was oblivious to his newfound fame until Monday morning when his cousin had picked him up to take them both to work.
‘‘He was like, ‘oh, have you seen your video?’ and I asked, ‘which video was this?’,’’ Kalepo said.
‘‘I was a bit lost, then he said, ‘It’s on Facebook. It’s gone pretty viral’. I checked it out and thought, ‘ oh s...’ My family’s been sharing it, posting it, tagging me. It won’t stop.’’
Whanganui carver Zane Hair, 38, and his bulldog Zeke had been driving with a friend to visit Trash Palace in Porirua on Saturday when they were stopped at roadworks at the intersection of Raiha and Prosser streets.
There they found Kalepo, armed with a stop-go sign, urging cars to come forward with a slap on his thigh. Hair, who was in the passenger seat, got out his phone and recorded the show.
On Wednesday, his video was nearing 400,000 views and the notifications on Kalepo’s phone won’t stop.
‘‘There were two of us at that intersection, and then the other person went to go toilet so I had no choice but to look after both ends,’’ Kalepo said.
‘‘There was a lot of cars behind that car – the one that was recording – I was trying to make traffic move a little bit faster. I wouldn’t say it’s the best [way to do it], but it’s the fun way.’’ Everyone who drove through the intersection at the time was laughing, Kalepo said. ‘‘At least I’m putting smiles on people’s faces.’’
Hair said Kalepo’s antics ‘‘made our day’’.
‘‘We were just cracking up. I love Porirua,’’ he said. ‘‘Especially when [Kalepo] started hitting his leg; the old ‘come here’.’’