A Flaxmere local, Peleti Oli-Alainu’uese was the first Pacific Islander to be elected to the Hastings District Council in 2019.  He came to prominence in a documentary about his unique outreach to support youth in his area, fuelled by the loss of his brother to suicide. He set up a barbershop that offered more than trims and fades, establishing a haven where clients from all walks of life knew they would be seen and heard, without judgement.  He continues to empower men to tackle issues as violence as well as address their own mental wellbeing.