Nick’s story: detention to overseas career
Nick, a pseudonym used in the 2025 social impact research commissioned by St John of God Hauora Trust, is NZ European, in his mid-twenties. He is the only person interviewed for the research who is no longer in Aotearoa, having lived and worked overseas for the past two years.
He connected with Waipuna in 2018, on a court order while serving home detention. His convictions were for two counts of supply of Class A drugs, supply of Class C drugs, and four counts of possession of firearms, all drug-related.
Court-ordered, but open
Nick describes being standoffish in the first couple of weeks. What changed was encountering a staff member whose personal story he could relate to. That connection shifted something.
“On my course, quite a lot of us were in similar circumstances, being in trouble and stuff like that, and then a lot of us just clicked really well. It wasn’t about being forced to go there. We were going there to hang out with each other and then with the tutors and learn new things and go do cool activities.”
What adventure did that talking therapy could not
Nick tried talking therapy during this period. It was not the right fit for him.
The adventure therapy programme offered something different, a way of testing and developing mental strength through physical challenge that could then be transferred to other areas of life.
“How much you could push yourself to the limits, and then how much you could use adventure therapy to test your mental strength and strengthen it, because then you could use that same mental strength in other aspects and areas of your life.”
He competed twice in the Coast to Coast with Waipuna, entered various cycle races, and undertook drug and alcohol counselling with the Waipuna team alongside the adventure therapy programme.
Early release
Nick’s probation officer petitioned the court based on his progress. The judge quashed the last month of his home detention and all release conditions early.
What he attributes his change to
When asked to apportion what made the difference, Nick was thoughtful: 40 to 50 per cent adventure therapy, 30 per cent the people and conversations and counselling support, and the remaining portion his own willpower.
“I probably wouldn’t have changed my life, to be honest. I probably would be dead or in jail, probably still be on the same path.”
Where he is now
Nick is now employed in a well-paid, highly rewarding career overseas. He saved and paid $10,000 to $12,000 for dental work, something he simply could not have done before.
His family relationships, which he describes as “pretty bad” before the programme, are now strong. Waipuna staff still check in with him. When he returns to Aotearoa, they always catch up.
“A lot because, and I still feel they do. They still check in with me now and how I’m going. And anytime I come back to New Zealand, they always want to, we always catch up.”
Nick’s story is one of eight in-depth interviews conducted with male former reintegration participants as part of the 2025 Social Impact Assessment of adventure therapy at St John of God Waipuna. All names in the research are pseudonyms.
Summary Report
A summary of the independent impact research into Waipuna's adventure therapy programme, covering outcomes and findings from the 2023 to 2026 reporting period.
Social Impact Report 2025
Our full impact report measuring outcomes, reach and the difference our Adventure Therapy services made for people and whānau across Aotearoa.
Impact Report →
Social ROI Analysis 2025
Independent analysis of the social return on investment generated by the Waipuna reintegration programme – $15.44 for every dollar invested.