What am I going to do with my life? This is a question that not so many people have to ask themselves. But what would you do if the circumstances take you to that position?

SunLive brings you the story of a person who lost everything in a country not so far from here and whose life decisions brought him to start over.

Despite all the circumstances, after a couple of months of living homeless, and thanks to the support of organisations like Takitimu House, and StudyLink, He is now studying, living on his own and giving a bit back, helping other men facing the same situation he used to be in.

For security and privacy purposes, we will call him Mike, and this is his story.

Mike was a guy, who after living in Tauranga, decided to explore new opportunities overseas and with his family made their move to Australia 25 years ago.

Friends, his own business and quality time with his mum and sister were part of Mike’s life in that country. Unfortunately, wrong decisions took Mike to explore the world of illegal substances with no idea of what is going to happen.

Mike arrived in New Zealand on September 22 last year after being deported for drug position charges.

Remembering all the things he lost is probably the most difficult thing, he says, even when he has the chance to start over here in Tauranga.

“Everything I worked for during 25 years, all that I used to call home, my family, all my life, I lost absolutely everything the day I was deported to New Zealand, just with a backpack and the clothes I was wearing, and all those memories are probably my biggest nightmare.”

Is not easy to rebuild your life from scratch when you are a man in your 50s, but Mike is a good example that never is too late, and after living in hell you can reach paradise again.

“I came here with nothing but a couple of clothes a small backpack and some money I received from Immigration Australia.

“In the beginning, it was so confusing, I stayed one night in Auckland and then I caught a flight into Tauranga, and then I spent four days in a hotel. After that, a girl from probation came and helped me to get my IRD, my driver’s licence, and finally, she found me a place at Takitimu House.”

His time at Takitimu House was not long and after six months of sharing the space with other men and the team led by Annemarie Angus, he found his track and started building a life again.

“He is a really good guy and after all his experience we feel really lucky to having him back but this time helping the guys who still here,” says Takitimu House operations manager Annemarie Angus.

After losing everything, and leaving behind a dark part of his life, Mike starts walking through a new pathway and he has some accomplishments to share with his mates at Takitimu House, one of those is a two-year Diploma he is advancing at Toi Ohomai, and starting living by his own again.

“Thanks to My Forever Home programme through accessible properties I have a place to call home again, and at this moment I am halfway through my Mental Health Management Diploma at Toi Ohomai,” says Mike.

When SunLive interviewed Mike, he was preparing to start work and sharing his process with the guys at Takitimu House.

On a weekend basis, Mike is developing a way to help other people like himself find their track to a life in society.

Despite Mike's not being allowed to go back to Australia, he keeps constant communication with his mum and sister and waits for the day to see and hug them again.