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People of Auckland
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25.01.2022 Remember Auckland's hippest window washer? "If you don't love what you do, you shouldn't do it," says Sky, an Auckland window washing icon, who now, thanks to decades of dedication and good-old elbow grease, pulls a hefty six-figure income. The squidgy wielding extraordinaire, who dresses just like his personality, colourful and flamboyant, has been a fixture on the sidewalks and streets of the city since the early 1990's. Unlike today’s very amateur looking car window washer...s, back then Sky swaggered like a pro, with all his gear strapped around his waist, wearing bike pants and gnarly looking glasses with his cap on backwards. He would make sitting at an intersection in rush-hour traffic an entertaining spectacle, tossing his squidgies around like a ninja with nunchucks and juggling his water bottles. Sky says he got into it to support his young family at a time when his only other potential career path was working at Kmart for a paltry $11 an-hour less tax. As one of the city’s original car window washers, he's come a long way since his first morning, testing the waters at a busy Mount Roskill intersection. He’d been inspired to give it a go after meeting a ‘Romanian guy’ who was working car windows to save up enough money to fly home. Sky was hooked after making $60 in just three hours work. When the council and police cracked down on the hustle in 1992 his wife suggested, to his scepticism, that he should try shops. The father of four has since been cleaning up the commercial scene, washing windows for the likes of Two Degrees. I didn’t think there’d be any money in shops, but I picked up 12 clients on my first day on Ponsonby and K-Road. "I was in the right place at the right time." And it all worked thanks to his already cool urban rep around Auckland. Sky says he’s from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, but adds, The real reason I’m standing here today is because I did six years in the United States Marine Corp. In 1987 he took shore leave from the air craft carrier he was stationed on in Hawaii. That’s where he met his Kiwi wife, and shortly after they moved to Auckland. Many years later, still loving his job, and now clearing a staggering salary, he says life couldn't be much better. www.peopleofauckland.com See more
15.01.2022 Auckland city "Legend of 2018" - Respect... beatboxing champion King Home Boy puts others first..! https://www.newshub.co.nz//kiwis-doing-great-things-unsung
15.01.2022 Larry Woods AKA Mister Sunshine's compelling "riches to rags" story... A genuine larger than life character of Auckland city. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p061znzd
13.01.2022 He doesn't miss a trick... Dapper doorman of the Hotel Grand Windsor, Queen Street, Leandra says he see's everything from in front of the 1928 Heritage listed building. Hailing from Argentina, the switched-on concierge says although he's only been in Auckland for the past four months, he's noticed everything from "the flamboyant" to the "alcohol affected." He adds the different walks of life passing him by daily reminds him of home. The lighting like halo above his head goes nicely with his welcoming smile. www.peopleofauckland.com
04.01.2022 Shoeshine man set for soda fame He’s the quick witted cheeky salesman seen perched on a lower Queen Street bench hawking his own specialty brand of shoeshine cream made from beeswax and jojoba. Well, get set to see a lot more of Larry Woods, aka "Mister Sunshine" the Shoeshine Man, who is about to be the face of a new soda soon to be launched in New Zealand. The flashy salesman with white hair from San Francisco who's called New Zealand home for the past 29 years, has so fa...r made a name for himself with his wonder product that he claims not only fixes leaky or dirty footwear, but can also help your psoriasis, eczema, and cracked heals. Or even put it to use on those frizzy bits of your locks. Woods will feature in a Lion Brewery Hop Soda campaign, following a spike in soda sales internationally, and now paired with hops as a refreshing drink for anytime of the day. Woods is already famous downtown for his sidewalk wit, firing out non-stop quips to lure potential customers, You look like a million dollars, I’ll make you look like a billion. The shoeshine is free, as is his wit, and the product? He expects to remain a lazy $20 - even when he hits the ‘big-time’ in the very near future. www.peopleofauckland.com See more
