AN ex-gangster has resorted to begging for money after his huge ‘notorious’ face tattoo has stopped him from getting a job.
Puk Kireka, who has been in prison twice, has set up a crowdfunding page to pay for his college fees to become a personal trainer.
The dad-of-three joined the Mongrel Mob – one of New Zealand’s most feared biker gangs in 2008 and has been mocked by rapper 50 Cent for his face tat.
The tattooed kiwi claims he has turned his life around, battled his meth addiction and now plays rugby for Tamatea in Napier but says he’s still struggling to get a job.
The crowdfunding page, Give a Little, set up by his wife urged people to donate funds to help him get a Diploma and Bachelors degree in Sports and Exercise Science.
So far the 31-year-old has £213 ($413NZD) so far thanks to his wife Waiora Tareha.
50 Cent posted a picture of Puk said: “What the f… is really going on man. I wonder why he can’t get a job?”
His post gained more than 300,000 likes from his 23.3million followers.
I know it will be hard to get a job with my tatts. I will always be a mobster but it’s important to show we can have better lifestyles.
Puk Kireka
He was with the street gang for more than a decade, according to New Zealand Herald.
Speaking to Hawkes Bay Today in New Zealand, Puk said: “I’ve proved to be an inspiration for other mobsters throughout the country.
“Since they have read about my lifestyle change on Facebook many have been in touch asking about my fitness programs so they can follow them.”
He added: “I know it will be hard to get a job with my tatts. I will always be a mobster but it’s important to show we can have better lifestyles.
“I want to bring some of the others on board this better lifestyle.”
Kireka spoke with Hawke’s Bay Today sports reporter Shane Hurndell, after the latter heard a spectator on the sideline commenting: “What’s that mobster doing on the field… he’s giving our code a bad look”.
He told Hurndell that he had shed 31kg thanks to his rugby coach encouraging him to embark upon a 13-month-long fitness programme.
This was despite him playing very little sport while at school.
Kireka made his first court appearance at the age of 16, but “hasn’t been back since 2016”.
The ex-lag told Hurndell he’d been “drug-free for the last four years” after kicking a meth addiction while last caged – one of two stints in prison.
Aiming to become “healthy, look and feel good,” Kireka said he realised it would be tough getting employment as the lower part of his face is emblazoned with the word “Notorious” in the gang’s red and black colours.
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