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Project Island Song’s 12ks of Christmas 2025 - William Fuller

  • They did it!

      15 December 2025
    Posted by: Project Island Song

    Huge congratulations and thanks to the 20 absolute heroes who completed their 12ks of Christmas challenges on Friday!

    It's been an immense effort from all of them, covering huge distance in the unseasonably hot early December weather.

    Alongside their physical efforts, they have all done an incredible job of engaging with their community and networks, raising more than $21,600 towards the restoration of the islands. This is a huge contribution, breezing past the $15,000 raised last year, and the fundraising page will still be open for donations until 31st December.

    Massive thanks are also due to everyone who has donated to support our participants. What an awesome way to end the year!

    Check out this little video we've put together to celebrate their efforts. Meri Kirihimete!

      2 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 15/12/2025 by Jo Hay

      Awesome video. I'm so grateful to have been a part of this mahi.

    • 15/12/2025 by Hana

      Well done everyone..,. Meanage....

  • One day of walking to go

      11 December 2025

    This week I spent my 12 kms per day maintaining the tracks in Russell and Paihia as well as the Te Araroa trail between Puketi and Kerikeri.

    Tomorrow is our last day of walking but not the last day people can donate. The give a little promotion finishes on 31 December.

    At 7 pm Thursday we are collectively at $17,717 which is amazing. I wonder if we will get to our new target of $20,000. It’s only 191 people each donating $12 so very achievable. Tell Okaihau listeners Abby and I will be at the Okaihau Santa Parade on Saturday with the Project Island Song float so look us up to scan the barcode!!!

    Here’s a update we sent out today

    One day to go!

    Tomorrow is the final day, and it’s a big one for all our participants. Those who’ve been building up from 1km will have their biggest run yet, while I’m sure the 12km is not feeling any easier for those who’ve done it 11 times already!

    A few highlights:

    • Jacqui was interviewed on RNZ talking about taking part in the 12ks dressed in her vintage clothing collection.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2019015751/walking-144-kilometres-in-impeccable-vintage

    • The Northern Advocate ran a story including a focus on Jo’s efforts to clean up 12km of litter in Taipa. Jo (now joined by her husband) has been collecting 5 black bags of rubbish every day!

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/on-the-up-locals-walk-run-and-pick-up-litter-for-bay-of-islands-fundraiser/OYPBELMJEVCK5CNVBQ6GYKZL5U/

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  • One day to go!

      11 December 2025
    Posted by: Project Island Song
    Main image

    Tomorrow is the final day, and it’s a big one for all our participants. Those who’ve been building up from 1km will have their biggest run yet, while I’m sure the 12km is not feeling any easier for those who’ve done it 11 times already!

    A few highlights:

    • Jacqui was interviewed on RNZ talking about taking part in the 12ks dressed in her vintage clothing collection.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2019015751/walking-144-kilometres-in-impeccable-vintage

    • The Northern Advocate ran a story including a focus on Jo’s efforts to clean up 12km of litter in Taipa. Jo (now joined by her husband) has been collecting 5 black bags of rubbish every day!

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/on-the-up-locals-walk-run-and-pick-up-litter-for-bay-of-islands-fundraiser/OYPBELMJEVCK5CNVBQ6GYKZL5U/

    • Cam has now run 252km over the past 11 days, which is the distance by road from Russell to central Auckland. Mind-blowing!

    • Just to make things a little hotter, Laura (the penguin), Abby (dolphin), and Maryanne (bat), completed some of their kms in costume at the Paihia and Russell Christmas parades!

    Thank you so much to the 281 people who have already donated so generously.

    Wouldn’t it be an incredible boost to the absolute legends taking part in this if we could get to $18k, $19k, or even the full $20k tomorrow?!

    Please support them and help us to get there however you can - chip in a few dollars, or share their efforts far and wide to encourage others!

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  • We just reached our $12,000 goal on Day 3!

      3 December 2025
    Posted by: Project Island Song
    Main image

    Oh my goodness - after an absolutely colossal day yesterday for Give a Little Day, with more than $6,600 donated in 24 hours, we can’t quite believe that we have just reached our initial goal of $12,000 on the morning of Day 3!

    Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated to support our amazing runners and walkers. We’re completely blown away by the number of people getting behind the 12ks this year.

    A big welcome to our newest participants - Elsie, Kevin, Michelle, Rachel, Sandra, Sarah, and Steph.

    We’ve now got a whopping 20 people taking part which is fantastic, and between them they will be walking or running a combined 2,166km by 12th December!

    This is longer than the length of New Zealand (1,600km), and just slightly more than the distance between Sydney and Auckland (2,156km)!

    What now? Well with 9 days of walking and running still to go, we have just raised the overall goal to $20,000.

    Can we get there? We really don’t know but we hope so! This would be a truly phenomenal amount of money to raise for our collective mahi on the islands.

    Please continue to get behind all our participants, especially as the feet start to blister and the legs begin to tire! Spread the word to friends and family, walk alongside them (literally or figuratively), and be cheerleaders for their awesome efforts. Your support will keep them going.

    Spare an extra thought for all our participants today who may have to time their runs/walks well to avoid getting very soggy!

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  • Unbelievable

      3 December 2025

    So yesterday I wake up and the 12ks of Christmas is at about $4,500. So I walk about 21 km - although I only needed to walk 12!!! Big shout out to Oromahoe School Year 7 and 8s who came to Russell to do some community service. Loads of buckets of metal were put on a track today. Thanks also to Russell Mini Tours too for transporting them around! Oh and the Blue Ferry for the free trip from Paihia to Russell and return.

    I digress!!!

    We now have 20 people supporting the 12 ks of Christmas. You know about Cameron who is running 12 kms at midnight and 12 km at midday.

    The variety increases!

    Team Rachel from Manawatu has joined us to give back and help preserve our environment for future generations.

    Jo has chosen to clean up 1 km of roadside litter every day for 12 days. She’s from Taipa.

    Jacqui - our vintage style dresser is walking 12 km per day. Check out her fashion sense. Maybe she could help us all!!!

    I wake up this morning and the total is over $11,000.

    UNBELIEVABLE. THANK YOU EVERYONE.

    BUT WHAT ABOUT THE UNDERDOGS????

    Those of you that know me, and know Steph from Blahblah Marketing know I am not getting at her!!! It’s just another way of asking you to support Project Island Song. WE ALL LIKE TO BACK THE UNDERDOG DON”T WE!!!

    So get in behind Steph and Michelle. Some you will remember that Steph and Michelle and their two boys raised over $10,000 for Gumboot Friday when they walked from Ahipara to Cape Reinga in 2020

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  • My first week schedule. Please join me.

      26 November 2025

    Monday 1st December End of Uruti Road (not the main road end)

    8.00 am

    Walk towards Okiato for 6 km and return. Follow the yellow triangles on the map

    Tuesday 2nd December Duffus Estate entrance. Russell Rambler - the green triangles on the map.

    8.00 am walk to Tapeka and back followed by a working bee with Oromahoe School on the track by Duffus. Complete the 12 km after the working bee.

    Wednesday 3rd December Car park next to the bowling club.

    8.00 am

    Walk to the Big Chair X 3

    Thursday 4th December End of Uruti Road (not the main road end)

    8.00 am

    Walk to the lookout. X 3.5

    Friday 5th December Walk Moturua Island PRIVATE

    Saturday 6th December Carpool from Bowling Club at 8.00 am. Drive to Veronica Point lookout at Opua. Harrison Loop X 5

    Sunday 7th December Catch 7.45 am passenger ferry

    School Road lookout x 3

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