A local barber who made the papers earlier this year for cutting the hair of the homeless in Hastings was named a finalist for Hawke's Bay Today's Person of the Year award.
Half a year on and Peleti Oli is still cutting hair on the streets and wants to encourage others to use their talents to give back to the community.
"I don't do it to promote myself. I just do it to help others. I just hope it brings some light to others who want to do good things for the community," he said.
While using his "gift of barbering" on the streets Mr Oli said he's been able to "tear away the layers" of homeless people in order to better understand their circumstances.
"A lot of people judge homeless people and say they're lazy or they're drug addicts and label them. But if you spend enough time and get to know them you learn differently," he said.
Mr Oli said he wants to inspire people in the community to invest in others in any way that they can.
"To me the most valuable thing is time. You can give anyone one hundred dollars or food but when you invest your time you can never get that back," he said.
Following the death of his brother and close friend Mr Oli said he's found "solace" in cutting hair and believes his gift of barbering is not his to keep but to be passed on to others.
Napier resident Emma Roseman nominated Mr Oli for 2016 Hawke's Bay Today Person of the Year.
"He's always thinking of others and doing stuff for people. He's really humble and would bend over backwards for anyone," she said.
"There are people way less fortunate than we are and they're the ones who are smiling," Mr Oli said.