3000km journey to redemption

Hawkes Bay social social justice campaigner Pat Magill, 87, walked part of the 3000km Te Araroa Trail in Northland over summer to help promote it as an "alternative school" for at-risk young people.

New Zealand's spectacular national trail is being pushed as a path to hope and redemption for troubled youth.

A number of community campaigners and iwi members have come together to push the concept of the 3000km Te Araroa trail as an "alternative school" or at-risk young people.

To promote the idea, backers including veteran Hawkes Bay social justice campaigner Pat Magill, suicide prevention stalwart Jim Morunga and Mana leader Hone Harawira walked part of the trail this summer.

Mr Magill, 87, said he began thinking about it after attending Waitangi celebrations, and asked Northland MPs whether they thought the trail could help at-risk youth in the region by relieving boredom, offering them a challenge, and helping to improve their confidence, sense of stability and purpose.

But he was surprised at how few people in Northland knew about the trail, running from Cape Reinga to Bluff through great scenery.

"After doing a Google search, though, most were enthusiastic, even excited about the prospect of supporting Rangatahi to eventually reach the Bluff from Cape Reinga, even if completion is achieved in sections over a lifetime," he said.

"By utilising, promoting and appreciating the beautiful environment and spirit of Te Araroa, we have a chance to heal our nation. There's more chance finding solutions on Te Araroa than incarcerating people in prison or in a psychiatric ward."

Napier woman Michelle Ratima, who joined the January hikoi, believed a programme taking in the trail would be ideal in assisting first-time offenders.

"You learn more about yourself, and become more aware of what's around you."

Ngati Kuri kaumatua Rupene Mare said the walk's vision of a journey of discovery had much merit and could bring different classes of people together.

"The cultural realities of our Maori youth today, and even their whanau, is not the same as it was 40 years ago - the Pakeha view of the Maori world is also different from the same time period," he said.

"Therefore having both on the walk together regardless of the reasons, will inevitably change them both by the end of the journey."

Te Araroa's chief executive, Rob Wakelin, had not seen the details of the proposal but said it was "exactly along the lines of what we are trying to promote".

Mr Magill has approached bodies, including Workforce Development and YMCA National, about launching a programme and has been encouraged by the response.