‘I Was An Honest Dealer': Prison to Professor - The Unbelievable Life of Greg Newbold

Greg Newbold is best known as one of New Zealand’s top criminologists. He spent 30 years at Canterbury University and became to go-to guy whenever the main stream media wanted someone to comment on crime.But his back story is jaw dropping. In the 1970s, when Greg was in his early 20s, he was a heroin user and dealer, socialising in the same circles as New Zealand’s most infamous drug dealer, Terry Clarke aka Mr Asia. He eventually got busted and was sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years in prison.Then somehow… he comes out the other side, gets a PhD and completely reinvented himself as one of New Zealand’s leading criminologists and university professors. And he has just put out a new book too called Dream Dealer. https://www.paperplus.co.nz/shop/books/non-fiction/biography-memoir/dream-dealerIn this conversation, Greg opens up about how he became addicted to heroin, the reality of life at Paremoremo maximum security prison back then, and the surprising lessons he learned about human nature while locked up alongside some of the country’s most notorious criminals.At nearly 75 years old, Greg’s still running, swimming, lifting weights, and reflecting on a life that’s been chaotic, controversial, and ultimately incredibly fulfilling.***Massive thanks to my long‑term podcast sponsor, Generate. Like a lot of Kiwis, I spent years saying, “I’ll look at my KiwiSaver account later.” Turns out later comes around faster than you think, and the decisions you make now could be the difference between counting every dollar in retirement or having the freedom to take that trip you've always talked about. I switched my KiwiSaver account to Generate after they came on board, and honestly, I should’ve done it sooner. They’re an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with strong long‑term performance. You can check out their latest returns online, or book a no‑obligation chat with one of their friendly advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom. No pressure, no judgement — they’re just there to help wherever you’re at in your investing journey.  The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. You can view their Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Advice Provider information at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/disclosures. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. And just a reminder — I’m a podcast host, not a financial adviser. This is general information only, and I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.  The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Dom Harvey Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast, its producers, or any sponsors associated with the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.