The Brown Buttabean, community leader and founder of Buttabean Motivation

Overview

Dave Letele — known to most of the country as The Brown Buttabean is one of New Zealand's most authentic and in-demand keynote speakers. A retired professional heavyweight boxer turned community leader, Dave lost over 100kg, founded the Buttabean Motivation (BBM) movement and has helped thousands of Kiwis change their lives. In 2022 he was awarded Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year. His story is raw, his message is "no excuses", and rooms always leave changed.

Who is Dave Letele? Of Ngāti Maniapoto and Samoan descent, Dave grew up around state housing, gang life and prisons — his father was once president of the Mongrel Mob. He played representative rugby league in NZ and professionally in Australia and France before turning to heavyweight boxing, where he compiled a 16–4 record. After hitting rock bottom in Australia, he returned to NZ weighing over 200kg and started prize-fighting his way fit. He has since founded BBM, BBM Foodshare, free gyms in South and West Auckland and Tokoroa, a community kitchen and a social supermarket. He hosts the podcast Unfiltered with Dave Letele and the TVNZ series Heavyweight with Dave Letele.

Career Highlights • Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year, 2022 (Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau) • Founder of Buttabean Motivation (BBM), feeding thousands of whānau weekly • Author of bestselling memoir on his transformation (Penguin) • Host of TVNZ's Heavyweight with Dave Letele and podcast Unfiltered with Dave Letele • Lost more than 100kg and helped thousands of Kiwis follow • Free gyms in South Auckland, West Auckland and Tokoroa

Key Speaking Themes • Personal transformation and "no excuses" • Mental health, addiction and breaking cycles • Community leadership and giving back • Health, fitness and resilience • Storytelling, identity and finding hope

What Your Audience Will Gain Dave is raw, funny, sincere and unmistakably real. Audiences laugh, cry and leave fired up to take ownership of their own health, choices and impact on the people around them.

Ideal For • Leadership and community summits • Wellbeing and mental health conferences • Sales kick-offs and team offsites • School, college and youth audiences • Charity fundraisers and gala dinners

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Dave Letele speak about? Personal transformation, mental health, addiction, leadership, community, "no excuses" thinking and breaking generational cycles.

What is Buttabean Motivation (BBM)? The free community fitness, food and wellbeing movement Dave founded in 2014. BBM runs free gyms, a foodshare, a social supermarket and community kitchen across Auckland and Tokoroa.

What honours has Dave Letele received? Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year 2022 for Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau, among many other community awards.

Where can I see Dave Letele on TV? On TVNZ's series Heavyweight with Dave Letele, and you can hear him weekly on Unfiltered with Dave Letele.

What is Dave Letele's background? Māori (Ngāti Maniapoto) and Samoan heritage, raised in Auckland around gangs and prisons. He played pro rugby league in Australia and France and boxed professionally before founding BBM.

Is Dave Letele available for keynotes and panels? Yes. Dave is one of NZ's most sought-after motivational speakers and is regularly engaged for keynotes, panels and school audiences across the country.