Wanganui students are following the steps that early missionaries took almost 200 years ago.
Students from seven of the 11 schools in the Wellington Anglican Diocese, including Wanganui Collegiate and Nga Tawa, are taking part in a pilgrimage through the region led by Bishop of Wellington Justin Duckworth.
The group travelled down the Whanganui River yesterday from Upokongaro to the city on the Waimarie riverboat.
The pilgrimage started at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul on Sunday before heading to Marton and Jerusalem via Taihape. It marks 200 years since Samuel Marsden, the first Anglican missionary to New Zealand, preached the first gospel in Oiki.
"We thought it would be nice to do our local pilgrimage," Mr Duckworth said.