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Late last year, Te Manga Herewini was asked to speak to a group of young people doing a six week Limited Service Volunteer programme: a residential skills course run by the army.
It was the first time he had shared his life story publicly - and he wanted to do it to help the rangitahi in the room to change their thinking and their lives.
Te Manga stole his first car at age 14, was expelled from school age 15 for selling weed, left home at 17, and did his first stint in jail in his early 20s.
In total he spent 10 years in prison, during which time he was diagnosed with cancer.
Te Manga Herewini says jail saved his life.
He's been cancer free for 16 years now, and has turned his life around.
He's married, has his own construction business, and last year travelled through Europe for four months with his wife - something he never thought he'd be able to do.
His message to the rangitahi he spoke to last year: you can change the outcome of your life and break the cycle.
