#48 Ezra Hirawani

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Unfiltered with Dave Letele 32 min 3 speakers 8 chapters transcribed 4 months ago
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What personal experience inspired Ezra to start Nau Mai Rā?

Dave Letele 0:00
I wish there was a way to tell that you're in the good old days before you've actually left them. It was a really cool point in your life that you wish someone just told you this is the path.
Ezra Hirawani 0:10
Just had an amazing conversation with Ezra, co-founder of No Might R. It's all about eliminating energy hardship. power poverty. It's crazy that you have these terms that they even exist.
Dave Letele 0:21
The amount of time Ben and I think about our team and their well-being because our team have to have a full cup so that they can fill the cup of the people that we serve.
Ezra Hirawani 0:29
And it's all about a promise that he made to his nan and here she is not wanting to turn on the heater out of fear that she couldn't afford the power bill. And she shared that sometimes she sits there cold and alone because she's scared she won't be able to afford the power bill. So like every episode, I try and find out about the person behind the company or the person behind the artist. That's what it's about. And we had a lot of similarities. We spoke about going to Samoan. We both developed the same rash. I was so stressed. I had the same rash.

How does Ezra define power poverty and its impact on families?

Ezra Hirawani 0:56
Yeah. It's called a nervous rash. It's called a not used to living in the islands rash. And it was, you know, there was a lot of similarities with our journey. But how we used not having much as our fuel to want more. This is an absolutely amazing episode for any entrepreneur or someone that's out there trying to carve your own path. Don't forget to like, comment, share and subscribe. Ezra, enjoy. Unfiltered is produced by the Team at Fanaticals and we are part of the ACAST Network. Ezra, how's it going, brother? I'm good, bro. I'm good. So what nationality are you? Samoan Maori or Samoan?
Dave Letele 1:34
Half Samoan, half Maori.

What challenges did Ezra face while starting his power company?

Dave Letele 1:35
Oh, same. Yeah.
Ezra Hirawani 1:37
Whereabouts are you from?
Dave Letele 1:38
No wonder I like you, bud. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm from Vaisingango, which is just behind the Vaisingango Bridge, the old Aggie Graze. Ah, yes. The village right behind. So we've gone back and I've taken my wife there. And it's funny because you can stand on the back deck of one of the rooms in the old Aggie Graze, the Sheraton, and see my family living in the village, in the villager's The village. Yeah. You know, so you got the two world views all in one point.
Ezra Hirawani 2:08
I got sent back to Samoa when I think I was maybe eight.
Yeah.

How does Ezra balance business success with social responsibility?

Ezra Hirawani 2:13
It was hard, man. I did not like it. I actually got maybe a year, I got sent back because I was covered in a rash. And when I went back to Australia, the doctor said it's actually a worry rash. I was so stressed about where I was. I just couldn't handle it. You know, being sport as a kid to go back there to Samoa and live, you know, I just wasn't used to it.
Dave Letele 2:43
I had the same rash. I went back because my parents, like you, were spoiling me. And so my nan said we should take him back to the islands. And so I went back there. I just didn't know how to. The lollies tasted different. The food was different.

What lessons did Ezra learn from his childhood experiences?

Dave Letele 2:59
Couldn't drink the water. Couldn't drink the water.
Ezra Hirawani 3:01
No. Oh, man.
Dave Letele 3:02
It's just. And the flies. And I walk in and there's all these mosquito nets. And I'm like, what? There's no windows. It's just pillars and stuff like that. And then all my clothes are gone. I went over there with my brand new Chuck Taylors and my tickies and all that kind of stuff. And then I leave with nothing. I just felt. So, yeah, I had the earache.

How does Nau Mai Rā aim to support Māori and Pacific communities?

Dave Letele 3:21
I had all these bottles all up my arms. I still have the scars. I just realized that it's not built the way they're built. How long did you last there? A month. Oh, see, I lasted more than that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I had a return date. I had a return date. Yeah, I only went over for a little bit with my grandparents, but a bit of trauma stored up was going home.
Ezra Hirawani 3:46
Did you learn anything from it, though?
Dave Letele 3:48
I learned gratitude. Yeah. Like I think like just my parents and even my grandparents, I didn't really understand the sacrifices they made for me and my siblings. And so seeing where they came from, which is a beautiful place in itself.

What unique business model does Nau Mai Rā implement to help families?

Dave Letele 4:03
Yes. But it just made me more grateful for what we had back in New Zealand. Where'd you grow up? I was born and spent a few years in Tokoro.

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