‘Such a relief’: Fresh hope for jobseeker rejected almost 8000 times

Thursday, 9 October 2025

This story says that Robert Purchase said he had not committed a crime since completing a prison term. Stuff would like to clarify this referred to his criminal record in New Zealand. In 2003, Purchase received 25-year jail sentences in Florida for kidnap and for carjacking with a deadly weapon. He was released in 2023 and returned to New Zealand soon after.

Robert Purchase had been rejected around 8000 times when Stuff reported his desperate plight to get off a benefit and into work.

The 48-year-old had done everything he could: He had industry experience and qualifications, had attended courses, was active on LinkedIn and spent all day, every day on job portals submitting applications.

But, likely because of a prison stint almost three decades ago, he hadn’t had a single offer.

That was, until he shared his story.

Robert Purchase said he had applied for almost 8000 jobs over the past two years and blamed an historic criminal record for not getting a single offer.

On Wednesday, after it was published, readers began writing in offering job opportunities, recruitment support and words of encouragement.

Purchase said it was “awesome” he was being given a chance.

“It’s such a relief and a weight off my shoulders,” he said. “People need to give people a chance.”

The first email came in around 7am on Wednesday. It was from Booth Logistics Wellington operations manager Alii Tapuai.

Have you struggled to find work or housing because of a historic criminal record? Email phoebe.utteridge@stuff.co.nz

Moved by Purchase’s story and believing he deserved a chance, Tapuai said he was working with the company’s Auckland branch to try to sort a position.

Tapuai said he related to the story, having been “a bit of a troublemaker” himself, but also having turned his life around. He also had employees who had spent time in prison.

Purchase had worked hard to turn his life around after leaving prison.

“People need chances to amend themselves,” he said.

Almost three decades ago, Purchase, then 20, was sent to prison for a string of crimes ranging from shoplifting to unlawfully carrying a weapon and assault.

He served his time and said he had not committed a crime since.

Purchase gave Stuff a copy of his New Zealand criminal record dated till September 2024. It supported his claim that he had not been convicted of a crime in New Zealand since he was jailed in 1997.

Stuff made attempts to verify the document with the Ministry of Justice, but it said it was unable to comment on his convictions.

Purchase said the response to his story had been “awesome” and he was looking forward to starting work.

Purchase hadn’t planned on having his story reported. He wrote to Stuff after the Government announced changes to the Jobseeker benefit eligibility for 18 and 19-year-olds, with concerns for the young people affected.

He said if it was hard for him, it would be “impossible” for young people.

Alii Tapuai thought Purchase’s commitment to his job search, having sent out so many applications and even visited businesses in person, indicated he would be a good worker.

“Those kind of people, who are really keen to work, are usually great,” he said. “He’s really, really looking to change his life.”

Purchase and his cat at their home in Auckland’s Māngere Bridge.

More emails followed, from other trucking companies, a commercial cleaning business and a recruitment agent - all were keen to help.

And when Stuff called at midday on Wednesday, Purchase said he was on his way to a job interview.

“My mum was a little bit worried about having it all out there, but now I’ve started sending her screenshots of everything, she thinks it’s awesome,” he said.

Purchase was determined to prove himself at work.

Lawyer Jamie Martin, committee member of prison reform organisation Howard League, said he had seen a number of ex-prisoners struggle to access jobs or housing, even when they had been released many years ago.

He and the Howard League wanted changes to the clean slate law to allow ex-prisoners to apply to clear their criminal history in certain circumstances.

As it stands, the legislation allows people who go seven years without a conviction to have their record wiped.

But if they spent time in prison at any point (as Purchase did), their past would hang over them for life.

Martin said it was encouraging companies had reached out to help Purchase, and a number of businesses and people did “good work” trying to get people into work after prison.

Purchase said it had been “a bit of a shock” to go from having no offers to potentially having the luxury of choice.

He was confident one of the opportunities would lead to a job.

Asked if he thought his future employer would have made the right choice in hiring him, Purchase replied without skipping a beat.

“Definitely.”