Walking for Women and Wetlands: Manon and Te Araroa trail
Manon Cousin plans to walk Te Araroa (The Long Pathway), 3,000 km from Cape Reinga to Bluff, and raise money for women and wetlands.
Nationwide
My name is Manon, and I am one of the many French souls lost in Aotearoa. I came here on a Working Holiday Visa with the plan of staying about a year. That was two years ago.
2020 was pretty rough for everyone, and it personally left me with not much to hold on to. Mood went down, I seriously struggled to stay afloat at some points, but there was this little voice, getting louder and stronger “Nothing to hold you back now girl. If not now then when?”
The little voice was right. Life had given me a fair amount of lemons, walking Te Araroa was my lemonade. From there my thoughts took me in many directions. When? How? Which gear? Isn’t it too risky? And still that little voice, trying to bring me further: “This shouldn’t be just about you”. That’s when I started thinking about hiking for a cause. It became obvious pretty quick that I wanted to walk for Conservation. Wilderness and Nature have been bringing me so much in the past two years. I also wanted to help empower women. Time to give back.
I am inviting supporters to donate to two causes: the National Wetland Trust in New Zealand, and, in France, the charity En avant toute(s) - which is working for gender equality and acting to end violence towards women and LGBTQIA+ community.
Follow me on my journey https://keikotataatu.wordpress.com/ and help me help wahine and wetlands.
About us
Getting people ‘into wetlands’ through education, networking, training and information sharing, and through field outings and wetland trails to help people visit and enjoy wetlands.
Building the National Wetland Discovery Centre and creating a showcase restored wetland teeming with wildlife to teach, engage and wow people.
Having input to government and council polices, to ensure wetlands are protected and enhanced.
Use of funds
Funds will be used for National Wetland Trust to continue its work to help wetlands.
Other page links
Latest update
Manon did it!! 9 June 2022
Manon has completed her epic journey across New Zealand. She continues to write her blog about her experiences. She hopes her supporters will continue to donate to this cause to help the National Wetland Trust continue its work to help wetlands.
Here is a snippet from her blog: After a few hours walking a can guess the end of the valley and know I'll soon be able to see Ohau lake. When I finally do I cry a little. Crazy how the emotion of a place is made 10 times stronger when it takes you that long to reach it…it's part of the magic of walking and I can't get tired of it.
Latest donations
Thank you so much Lilian, we really appreciate your support :)
Thank you so much Andy, Angela and Lumen, Manon and the NWT are incredibly touched by your generosity!
Who's involved?
Our other pages
Page Q&A
Ask a question hereAny concerns?
Report this pageThank the donor
Your message will be displayed on the page and emailed to the donor.
Your new message will also be emailed to the donor.
Saving a blank entry will delete the current comment.