Challenge 2000 - Johnsonville

Kia ora readers, Zach Ready here, believer, hip-hop artist, and servant of Challenge2000. I was first introduced to Challenge through an awesome whanau wedding in early 2019. Fate would have it I started working for Challenge in late 2020.

Prior to Challenge, I made the most of a decade-plus long career in the events industry, the last seven years in a managerial role. This included work alongside the NZSO, RNZB, Arise Church, WOW, WCC, the NZ Govt etc. I have also been active as a hip-hop musician since my early twenties, emceeing, co-producing, mentoring, DJing and so on. I have collaborated with Stic of Dead Prez, Kool G Rap, and more locally the likes of Chris CK of Raw Collective fame, and the legendary DJ Sir-Vere. Over the years I've had the opportunity to perform in Europe and Asia, as well as in my hometown of Wellington. In addition to music & biz, I would say fellowshipping, travelling, working out & nutrition are great passions of mine. With a quality over quantity approach to travel, I have been to close to 30 countries. Highlights include reaching the top of Kilimanjaro. Walking along the great wall of China, visiting the pyramids in Egypt, and attending music festivals in Spain, USA, Australia and Sweden. To date, I have completed three marathons, including the Queenstown International, and have also done volunteer work in parts of Africa, as well as helping out with annual appeals for the likes of St. Johns and the Wellington Samaritans back home in Aotearoa.

I sometimes joke that I couldn't wait for the world and was actually born inside a 'Housing New Zealand' flat. I am of mixed British and Scandanavian descent, predominantly Irish, and consider myself an Earthling, rather than segregated by race or cultural background. Coming from a solo parent background I see myself in a lot of the rangatahi, families and community we work with, and this is what drives the way I relate to others and my passion to help them. If you're yet to see the documentary 'Aroha Noa' about the history of Challenge2000, I highly recommend checking it out through Maori Television's on-demand service. Ma te Atua koutou e manaaki e tiaki i nga wa katoa!