Like far too many children Richie Hardcore grew up with dysfunction, with a childhood coloured by family violence, parental addiction, and mental health issues. He has used these difficult formative years as fuel for making a positive impact in the world.

He is a presenter and educator who addresses topics that many find difficult to discuss. As a speaker and educator Richie aims to enhance his audience’s critical understanding of a culture embedded with unhealthy ideas and beliefs on sex, consent, and gender equity. Richie’s passion for positive social change has seen him speak at countless schools, conferences and organisations, about masculinity, pornography, sexual and family violence prevention, and managing self-esteem issues.

Richie holds a master’s degree in sociology and uses research to underpin his work. He is a qualified personal trainer, Muay Thai coach, and passionate spokesperson on health and wellness topics, and has travelled throughout New Zealand and Australia to speak.

Richie works as an educator and speaker, as well as being part of the Ministry of Social Development’s ‘Change is Possible’ team, and is a White Ribbon New Zealand ambassador. He has worked in community alcohol and drug harm reduction and was also a radio broadcaster for 15 years. He is regularly called upon to give media commentary on these issues as a guest speaker on New Zealand mainstream television and radio.

For the past 10 years, I have been passionately involved in coaching and competing in martial arts.

I started competing as an amateur in my early twenties while studying for a Bachelor of Art at the University of Auckland. As much as I enjoyed my studies, I was lucky enough to have coaches who helped me to find a way to turn professional, eventually being able to live and compete overseas before moving home to train at City Kickboxing.

For me, martial arts has the power to transform lives. I believe that everybody should have access to martial arts as a pathway to growth, self-discovery and confidence as well as to keeping fit and healthy.

- Shriken MMA lightweight champion

As a Kyokushin black belt whose family has run the Raglan dojo for over 25 years, Kara has been involved in martial arts for most of her life. Through teaching and competing as a fighter Kara has experienced first-hand the transformative power of martial arts as a vehicle for personal growth, resilience, and connection.

Kara holds a bachelor of social science degree in te reo Māori and Human Resources and for the past two decades has forged a career as a TV and Radio host across multiple broadcast platforms, including Radio New Zealand, Sky TV, TVNZ, Mediaworks, Whakaata Māori.