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Te Maunga ki roto: Climbing mountains for youth

  • HUGE thank you to you!

      28 March 2022
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    It has been 3 months since we finished the trail and it was special to present the money raised to Keelen and The Bush Kura team in Te Tāirawhiti. He said the donations will be used for more tents and other equipment needed to run his outdoor camps for youth in Gisborne and the East Cape areas.

    Thank you all SO much for the support and donations to this amazing kaupapa. The survival bush camps run by Keelen and the team are really powerful for youth at this time and Te Kara-a-wao Charitable Trust and The Bush Kura are making this happen.

    Check out Keelen and the teams mahi on Instagram or Facebook: the_bush_kura

    Massive love and light to you all and I can’t thank you enough for supporting our journey up Te Waipounamu, Te Araroa Trail through winter!

    Bridget x

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  • ‘Our’ Te Araroa

      4 December 2021
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    With only 241km left of our Te Wai Pounamu journey reflection comes unintentionally.

    For the last 3 months on trail our days consist of waking up to porridge, featuring soy protein and any new creation we can come up with the alter the flavour in some way- the jelly crystals from pudding the night before was a new level.. We walk between 20-34km in the day embracing the long daylight hours and instead of frost bite signs and numb extremities we are greeted by sun stroke and sweaty sleeping bags! Our fires are now made to keep the sandflies at bay and cook our kai instead of boosting moral and defrosting our feet!

    The change in season means we no longer wake up to a frozen tent and the shivers with 6 layers of clothing on but instead swifter rivers to cross and high levels of sun exposure.

    Our gratitude goes to the small communities that have enriched us, distracted us and supported us along the way. Lake Tekapō, Tīmaru, Fairlie, Methvan, Hokitika, Hanmer Springs- your care for the people in the community is admirable. We’ve loved helping out teaching children, roasting coffee beans, motel managing , outdoor instructing, landscaping, creating food and being part of the local weekend markets.

    If you’re still reading this and feel you can koha to the give-a-little page I know Te Kura-a-wao Charitable Trust aka The Bush Kura would benefit hugely for the mahi they do with Rangitahi in nature.

    Getting out in Te Ngāhere is the best thing we could do when times are feeling knew and strange and as always couldn’t recommend it more!

    Mauri Ora ⛰🌿🌸💚

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  • 650km down!

      17 July 2021
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    After some bigger days walking on the Tekapo/Twizel Canal and lower temperatures of -8 degrees we have landed in Lake Tekapo. The next section over Two Thumbs Track was forecast for -15 degrees in the day time!! We don’t quite have the gear for those temps so are planning to earn some money to buy new sleeping bags and warmer boots.

    Thank you all for your donations so far, Te Kura a-Wao will benefit an incredible amount from being in the outdoors and learning their place & Whakapapa through nature.

    Keep it coming and we will be back on trail soon!

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  • Commitment to the full trail

      13 June 2021
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    We are currently walking through the Motatapu trail to Wanaka. We have committed to the full trail (North Island as well, 3000km total) as after feeling the Wairua of Te Araroa we can’t stop halfway!

    Our journey is unique and we are hiking our own hike, meeting the most kind hearted people and feeling long passages of solitude and serenity.

    Walking is meditation to us and to have this time for reflection is such a luxury. Through Matariki we reflect and take time to celebrate those that have passed this year and set goals for the year to come.

    Thank you to all the kind people who have donated so far. It is truely an incredible Kaupapa to support Youth to connect, thrive and be comfortable in nature.

    Arohanui,

    Bridget x

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