A former gangster and drug addict admits he’s struggling to find a job after cleaning up his act due to the large “notorious” tattoo which takes up more than half of his fake. New Zealand native Puk Kireka, 31, was addicted to meth and spent time behind bars before kicking the habit and attempting to start fresh. However, that hasn’t been so easy given his ink.
- Kireka says he hasn’t done drugs in years. Talking to Hawkes Bay Today, Kireka said that his time in prison changed him. He spent a total of five years there, with a three-year sentence for violence-related charges and another two-year sentence for standovers. “I was into meth before my last stint in jail. But I kicked the habit while in prison and I’ve been drug-free for the last four years.”
- Part of his lifestyle change involved losing 31 kg (68 lbs). Over the period of 13 months, Kireka teamed up with Tamatea rugby team head coach Levi Armstrong at Patu Gym to shed the weight and get his fitness levels up. Now he even plays for the team and enjoys a much healthier lifestyle overall. “Basically I just wanted to get healthy … look good and feel good,” Kireka said.
- Kireka is living proof that people can change. “I first went to court when I was 16 and I haven’t been back since 2016. Meeting Levi [Armstrong] in 2017 helped turn my life around. I’ve proved to be an inspiration for other mobsters throughout the country,” he said. “Since they have read about my lifestyle change on Facebook many have been in touch asking about my fitness programs so they can follow them.” Good for him!
- He would like to work in the sporting industry in the future. Soon, Kireka will start a level four Sport and Recreation course which will hopefully get him one step closer to his dream job. However, he knows the face tattoo will be a major barrier for him. “I know it will be hard to get a job with my tarts. I will always be a mobster but it’s important to show we can have better lifestyles. I want to bring some of the others on board this better lifestyle,” he said. “A lot of them are still drinking and smoking. While they aren’t getting into much trouble they are still ruining their lives with their lifestyle.” Hopefully seeing his change will inspire others!
