18 October 2020: Puk Kireka grew up in poverty, leaving school at 14 to join youth gangs. By 17 had begun his own youth gang, which gained the attention of the Mongrel Mob. He gained his infamous Mob patch, which offered him validation, financial gain initially, but led to a meth addiction and prison time. After his second term in jail he found healthy strategies, like exercise for managing life’s stressors, and found the inner resource to kick his meth addiction. On his road to recovery, Kireka attempted to enter the work force, but with a gang background and facial tattoo challenging this dream, he reached out for help through a social media post, and Robbie Gale responded, offering to pay him living wage be his personal trainer for a year. Kireka and Gale share how positive change is possible against the odds when unconventional approached and kindness are employed. They share with Hamish Coleman-Ross and mental health therapist Anna Elders.
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With thanks to NZ on Air.
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