Mike King is one of New Zealand's most recognizable media personalities, a former top-tier stand-up comedian, and an influential mental health advocate. Emerging as a household name in the 1990s and 2000s, he headlined shows like Pulp Comedy and hosted Mike King Tonight. In 2009, he shifted away from entertainment to address mental illness and addiction, launching The Nutters Club radio show. He founded the Key to Life Charitable Trust (now the I Am Hope Foundation) and created Gumboot Friday, a massive national initiative providing free counseling for Kiwi youth. For his dedicated advocacy work, he was named the 2019 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.