When I first reached out to Nigel back in 2008 to ask him to become our ambassador, I honestly expected a polite "no." Instead, Nigel surprised me by immediately agreeing to help. Over coffee in his favourite Mt Eden café, he warned me he was blunt, outspoken, and direct—exactly the reasons I knew he was perfect for us.

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Nigel consistently showed up for Kenzie's Gift, giving talks, speaking publicly, raising funds, and having quiet, crucial conversations behind the scenes. He was uniquely gifted at cutting through the noise—funny when laughter was needed, direct when honesty was essential, and always compassionate. He spoke the tough truths openly because he believed it made a difference.

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We’ll honour Nigel’s legacy by continuing exactly the work he championed: providing evidence-based, age-appropriate support through registered professionals to tamariki, mātātahi, and their whānau impacted by mate pukupuku, serious illness, or the death of someone they love. That was Nigel’s standard, and we'll uphold it.

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My heartfelt condolences go out to Natalie, their whānau, and everyone else who knew and loved Nigel. His death leaves a huge gap—not only within our Kenzie’s Gift family but right across Aotearoa. I'll deeply miss Nigel’s honesty, his generosity, and his remarkable ability to make even the toughest situations feel manageable.

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You can hear me speak more about Nigel’s extraordinary life and the impact he made in this RNZ kōrero.