Helping out kids comes in the form of horses for Rawene local Robert Pink, who has been nominated f or this year's inaugural Pride of New Zealand Awards.
The 63-year-old was born and bred in Rawene and returned to the Hokianga 10 years ago, which is when he started creating a stable of horses.
"All my life I've been a horsey person, and when I came back my brother gave me a couple of horses, and the local kids would come hang out," he said.
He got to know local kids aged from tots through to teens through his job as the Rawene School bus driver, which he still does.
He's spent the past decade taking Rawene youth on big treks around the Hokianga, such asto the sand-dunes in Miti Miti, as well as teaching them riding skills. Five years ago Mr Pink also started the Rawene Brumby Races.
"These kids have been to some places that people would only dream of going.
"They've ridden horses over everything - mountains, sanddunes, beaches. And they've become really good horseriders," he said.
And it's not just riding they've learnt about from Mr Pink.
"These kids have learnt a lot of skills from me such as driving tractors and fencing.
"All skills that will put them in good stead for later life. I've spent hundreds of hours every year with them.
"It's quite rewarding, helping these kids do things they wouldn't normally get to do."
Mr Pink has been nominated in the community spirit section of the The Pride of New Zealand Awards.