Mr Whitaker (34) runs a charity called Social Opportunity Group, engaged in a project in Buenos Aires called Food For Thought, feeding and educating disadvantaged children.
The project has become his life's passion, as he is affected by the conditions in the city and motivated to improve the lives of those living there.
''To know the situation these kids have - quite a lot of violence, drugs, a lack of education ... it's rewarding to know we can make a difference - that's what drives you on. The looks on kids' faces when they see you in the morning - that's enough to keep you coming back.''
Mr Whitaker was recently back in his home town visiting family, after spending the past five months in Buenos Aires working for Food For Thought.
To get to this point, life has taken him around the world.
After growing up in Alexandra, attending Dunstan High School then studying at the University of Otago in Dunedin, Mr Whitaker spent time travelling and working in London, Melbourne, and Spain, where he met colleague Valeria Taraborrelli, an Argentinian.
After training as a teacher in Dunedin, Mr Whitaker returned home and helped his parents, Alan and Judy Whitaker, set up a cafe in Alexandra.
The family established the Courthouse Cafe in 2002, in the town's historic courthouse. His parents sold the business after about two and-a-half years.
Help with the cafe gave Ben the skills and knowledge he needed to later establish his own cafe in Melbourne.
The Australian cafe is now a non-profit charity business, which funds Food For Thought.
During his time in London, Mr Whitaker worked as a teacher, which taught him the importance of ''creative activity'' - a way of learning, he said.
In Spain, he met Ms Taraborrelli, who provided an Argentinian connection and insight into the world of disadvantaged children in Buenos Aires.
''It was kind of a journey through my life that I didn't know was happening, and it just naturally occurred ... starting The Final Step [his Melbourne cafe] was instrumental because it helped set me up with important communication and people skills that are integral in setting up a group like Social Opportunity Group.''
Mr Whitaker said the values required for running a social enterprise were the same as those he learned from his parents growing up in Central Otago.
''It's those core morals that your parents teach you.''
The group, operating Food For Thought (F4T) in the Gonett community in Lanus, in the provinces of greater Buenos Aires, feeds disadvantaged children in the morning, followed by ''creative activity'', education and learning, providing for about 30 children daily.
''We collect them from the community before we feed them the one healthy meal they may get in a day, and follow that up with creative activity.''
Mr Whitaker is trying to break a cycle.
''A lack of education throughout generations means they [the children] can't make informed decisions for themselves.''
Often it was not possible to make a difference with adults and teenagers, so by educating children, Mr Whitaker hoped F4T could provide opportunities for the next generation.
It had not been easy.
''It's been a roller-coaster. We have had days where kids did not eat, behaved horribly, and fought.
"I would walk out asking what we are doing, but then a couple of days later we could have an amazing day where they eat food and behave well.
''I suppose I'm getting better at tolerating those low points. They make it so much more rewarding when you get to a high point.''
F4T and the Social Opportunity Group took just over a year to establish, a process Mr Whitaker described as challenging. Ms Taraborrelli had knowledge of Argentinian culture and Buenos Aires which was a ''foot in the door'', allowing the group to identify where it wanted to work, and make valuable contacts.
Being a foreigner had been difficult.
Mr Whitaker said he and the project had to prove themselves.
''At the start, parents did not oppose [the project], but they did not expect much.
"Now, we are building relationships with kids and families, Mr Whitaker could have tackled a similar endeavour in New Zealand, but he had reasons for starting the project in Argentina.
''If you look at Argentina's history, it's horrible. Torture, death, dictatorships. A horrible past, and pretty much, the people of the lower classes don't get the support from the Government they deserve or need.''
For the time being, Mr Whitaker has found his calling - his purpose in life.
''This is my life. It's something I'm passionate about, and it makes me happy. It's not like work.''
If people want to help the Social Opportunity Group or Food For Thought, they can be contacted on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, under the name The Final Step for Social Opportunity Group, or TFS4SOG.
