Kia ora readers, Zach Ready here, believer, hip-hop artist, and servant of Challenge 2000. I was first introduced to Challenge through an awesome whānau wedding in early 2019. Fate would have it I started working for C2K 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, WOW, WCC, the NZ Govt, and many other awesome clients. Since my early twenties, I have also been active as a hip-hop musician. Emceeing, co-producing, mentoring, DJing, ghostwriting, 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, and biz, I would say fellowshipping, traveling, exercising, nutrition, and tech, are great passions of mine. So far I have traveled to around 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. I am also a member of Rhema Media, and have been part of a blockchain start-up working towards the development of a mobile gaming app, since early 2022. To date, I have completed three marathons, including the Queenstown International. I have also been a student of the Tactical Survival Krav Maga Academy since early 2021.

In 2022 I started volunteering at the Compassion Soup Kitchen and I 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.

Jokingly I sometimes quip that I couldn’t wait for the world, and was actually born inside a ‘Kāinga Ora’ home. I am a dual citizen of Aotearoa, and Europe by way of Ireland. I am also part Scandinavian, although I consider myself an Earthling and love all humans whatever their roots. Coming from a solo parent background I see myself in a lot of the rangatahi, families, and communities we work with, and this compliments the way I relate to others and my passion to support them. If you are yet to see the documentary ‘Aroha Noa’ about the history of Challenge2000, I highly recommend checking it out through Māori Television’s on-demand service. We are out here saving and changing lives for the better. Ma te Atua Koutou e Manaaki e Tiaki i nga wa Katoa!