Sully Paea is known for youth development work in NZ as someone whose ideas and actions, through the work of Crosspower NZ and Street Dance NZ to name only a few, have helped transform the lives of many in his beloved Otara in South Auckland.  

He grew up in Niue and immigrated to Auckland, in the 1960s. His grandfather encouraged the family to visit New Zealand, describing it as the land of opportunity and flowing with “milk & honey”. 

Sully established  ‘Crosspower NZ’ in 1994, a social & youth work organisation and he has invested much of his time and energy into improving the lives of youth in Otara.