For the past year, the hitmaker and actor has been sharing his story of change as a national Youthline CocaCola Good2Great ambassador.
He launched the national Good2Great programme in Oamaru a year ago and was back in town at the weekend to "plant seeds" of personal development for the 40 people aged 15 to 25 at the two-day workshop.
"We go from good to great, but don’t stop there," Mr Walker said.
"One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that every season comes to an end, so it’s not like you’re going to last in that hole for a long time. I never considered myself ‘good’. I never was good. Everything that I did was destructive and hurtful.
"Fifteen years old, I was smoking, smoking dope - my dream back when I was 15 was to stay home, smoke dope and have kids. That was my dream."
But his family moved "and the only place I was allowed to go was to youth group at church".
"Then, my youth pastor just became my main man. He was the guy that ‘did’ life with me, and told me what I needed to hear rather than what I wanted to hear.
"He would come and pick me up from work and I was just like ‘this is weird’. I’ve never had that before: like, somebody wanting to be in my world; hang out and do these things. He became the best mentor I’ve ever had. He still is my mentor."
Youthline marketing and communications manager Briana Hill said the focus for the youth in the programme was to connect with peers, "do a little personal reflection", and then create change in their communities.
Facilitators ran activities covering a wide range of topics from employment workshops to "emotional first aid", so that friends knew how to help each other when they needed emotional support.
"Every time I come away from these weekends I come away filled with hope - actually we’re in really good hands," she said.
"The young people of today are incredible and they are our leaders."
Lily Stock (16), of Oamaru, returned to Oamaru’s first anniversary workshop not as a participant but as one of two local leaders.
Now the chairwoman of the Waitaki District Youth Council, Lily said the two days taught her confidence and personal growth and helped her to understand and manage stress in her life, whether that might be deadlines for school, or preparing for her role in an upcoming performance of Mamma Mia! in July, at the Oamaru Opera House.
