Kaimahi Features

Ease Up website team pics 36
Published: October 28, 2024
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Hi I’m Neil and I am a peer support worker at Ease Up central. I am also a dad to a 13-year-old who lives with me and a 6-year-old who lives with her mum up north. I’ve come to this mahi through my own journey with mental health and addiction. I’ve managed to conquer most of that now, though I still have my struggles which keeps me wanting to grow and learn and connect. I believe in working to people’s strengths and supporting rangatahi and that all people are deserving of the same support regardless of their history. I’ve lived rough and in squats. I even lived in a tree for a few weeks. I also lived in the United States for 12 years and have a strong belief that the only war worth fighting is the class war.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

I’m going to go with some other type of primate. Bonobos seem cool. I’ll go Bonobo.

If I could live in any time period, what would it be?

I’d like to see what things are like 200 years in the future. Do I get my hoverboard? Does a robot make me breakfast? Is the world on fire?

What is one random fact that not many people know about me?

I often watch stand up comedy before I go to bed, because I believe people have better dreams if they fall asleep with a smile on their face.