An extraordinary man who was a hero to many - that's just one of the ways Ricky Houghton is being described as many mourn his death.
He was the chief executive of He Korowai Trust based in Kaitaia and spent decades lifting people out of poverty, homelessness, addiction and imprisonment.
He died on Monday surrounded by whānau, at the age of 62, after battling illness.
Sam Olley reports.
