Te Kai Po Ahuriri and his wife Missy Ahuriri have spent time in Palmerston North helping the vulnerable.

Every time he sees homeless, hungry and down-and-out people on the street, a Palmerston North gang member knows what they're going through.

So he's decided to do something about it, feeding the city's most vulnerable.

Now, Te Kai Po Ahuriri has achieved widespread fame after his generosity was captured on video.

Warwick Smith/Stuff Te Kai Po and Missy Ahuriri take a personal interest in giving food and clothing to homeless people living on the streets of Palmerston North.

Ahuriri, who is a member of the Stormtroopers gang, knows what it is like to feel homeless.

Ahuriri said being adopted, placed with a foster family and being a "state ward" made him feel like he never had a permanent, stable base.

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Warwick Smith Te Kai Po and Missy Ahuriri take a personal interest in giving food and clothing to homeless people living on the streets of Palmerston North.

As a young man, Ahuriri was convicted of drug offences and served time in jail.

But now he is choosing a new path by feeding Palmerston North's vulnerable homeless population.

Despite being on benefits themselves, Ahuriri and his wife Missy are using their leftover food each week to feed people who live on the streets.

"We've worked it out that we can help them out four days a week – we are on the benefit ourselves – by doing simple stuff, like sausages with some potato and curry. That's a $10 meal, that's nothing," he said.

A Facebook video of Ahuriri feeding a homeless man a sandwich and cup of tea in Palmerston North has had almost 350,000 views and more than 3500 shares since Saturday.

"They are just so grateful. It's a humbling feeling – they're genuine, honest people that have a heart. Seeing adults crying because somebody's given them something as simple as a piece of bread – I thought, 'you poor buggers'."

He said maturity, age and being surrounded by good, loving people was what influenced him to change.

"I thought I needed to do some soul searching inside myself and do something decent for a change."

Missy Ahuriri said it was "incredibly sad" seeing homeless people with nowhere to go. She and her husband simply wanted to help.

She said they hoped to eventually open a soup kitchen in Palmerston North.

Te Kai Po Ahuriri said: "There's a lot of people out there that I can feel their struggles. People on the street are mental heath, solvent abuse, sexual abuse, all of the abuses, they've either faced on of those and that's the reason they're down-and-out.

"When they feel like they are dirt on the ground, all their dignity is gone and they don't care anymore."

Te Kai Po Ahuriri said in a way the Facebook video was a challenge to others to take a stance and do something for their community.

"In another way this is my challenge for other gangs to change their ways, better themselves.

"When I was a young fella I'd see a gang member and feel influenced."

He hoped to be a positive role model for younger gang members trying to find their way, and hopefully reinstall the respect and positive influence gangs used to have in their communities.

Just Zilch founder Rebecca Culver said the numbers of needy Palmerston North people had increased significantly in the past months, jumping from 150 people to 180 a day.

Recently, 240 people lined up outside to collect free bread, milk, fruit and vegetables.

"We used see 200 people once in a blue moon, but now we see it once a week."

Streetvan co-ordinator Lew Findlay said it was great to see people helping the homeless.

"Just sitting down and talking to them can offer support – getting to know them. Sometimes that's giving them more."