Organisers of the annual Taipāhake Kaumātua Olympics have managed to reorganise the event in the wake of Covid-19, with a slightly different set up on offer for 2020.
This year a festival of activities will take place across the region from Tuesday, October 20, to Thursday, October 22.
Established in 2015, the Taipāhake Kaumātua Olympics were designed to enable older members of the Māori community in the Whanganui region to stay connected and reduce isolation.
This year activity hubs, supported by sports co-ordinators, will have activities including aka (a form of movement closely related to tai chi), line dancing, ngā taonga tākaro (traditional Māori games) and a collective hikoi (communal walk) over the three days. Distances will be registered to see if participants can walk the entire length of the Whanganui River.
Each day will kick off with the hikoi at 9am, then morning tea at 10am and another activity at 11am.