What's On: Hātea Loop walk for World Down Syndrome Day in Whangārei

The walk will start at the Canopy Bridge. Photo/Michael Cunningham

Around 100 people dressed in orange and purple will walk the Hātea Loop this weekend to raise awareness for World Down Syndrome Day.

Northland Down Syndrome Support Group - a charitable trust for people with Down syndrome, their families and their teachers - are holding a 'Lots of Rocks' walk starting and ending at the Canopy Bridge from 9am on Sunday.

World Down Syndrome Day is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. It takes place every year on March 21 with the date - 21/3 - chosen to represent the three chromosomes on the 21st chromosome that causes down syndrome.

Globally, the theme for World Down Syndrome Day is 'Lots of Socks' where people raise awareness by spending the day wearing multiple pairs of socks.

However, the team at Northland Down Syndrome Support Group felt Northland's humid climate was not conducive to wearing socks, so linked their walk to the popular pastime of leaving painted rocks around Whangārei's paths and public spaces.

Forty rocks have been painted in orange and purple - the charity's corporate colours - by children at Morningside and Kamo Primary schools. These will be left along the Hātea Loop by participants in the event for future loop-walkers to find.

Among the walkers will be children and adults with down syndrome, their families and extended whānau, and others whose lives they have touched.

The event has been organised by volunteer charity trustees Kathryn Sadgrove and Jo Morrison with support from other volunteers.