Pizza outlet owner helping kids on street

Maria Priestly
When Napier's Jason Buckley was a teenager, he was told that he was stupid, ugly, a loser and that he would never make it in life.
He left school when he was 15, but by the time he was 20 he had bought his own hairdressing company and by the time he was 30 he was managing professional rugby players, including members of the Wellington Hurricanes.
Now, at 34, Mr Buckley spends his time helping people who, as he did, do not have the belief in themselves to achieve what they want in life - or the confidence to get a job.
Mr Buckley failed School Certificate twice and was bullied at school. It wasn't easy to be in such a negative environment, but he had mentors and family that respected him and gave him confidence, he said.
"For a guy who had no future and thought he was a born loser, it's unbelievable what I'm doing now," Mr Buckley said.
The name of his workplace may be called Hell, but Mr Buckley is one of the most angelic little devils on earth.
As manager of Greenmeadows and Napier's Hell Pizza, he has taken kids off the streets and given them jobs, sponsored and helped soccer and rugby tournaments, dance parties, the Battle of the Bands, skate events and other school activities.
Mr Buckley opened the businesses in May last year, but soon received negative comments.
"People get offended by the name," Mr Buckley said.
Mr Buckley, originally from Pahiatua, was using his businesses to put "more into the community", particularly in regards to youth in Napier.
He believes Napier is a good place for children, but there could be more opportunities and activities for late teens to early 20s.
"I think young people get bored and boredom worries me. They need passion, hobbies and options."
Mr Buckley had employed more than 10 people in the past year who were previously on the unemployment benefit - some, who had been on it for more than three years.
"A lot of people I've employed couldn't read or write. But all of them have been successful and many of them have become managers."
"I want to get these kids off the streets and make them feel good about themselves. It's putting confidence into them and giving them respect."
Mr Buckley moved to Napier from Wellington for a lifestyle change with his three children Oscar, four, Hugo, three and Zica, six months, and his wife and co-worker Mandy.
"My wife and I get pleasure out of seeing people enjoy their work and seeing people learn to believe in themselves.
"If they know that we believe in them, they will believe in themselves."