The Te Araroa Trail opened in 2011 after ten years of work by volunteers, the Department of Conservation and the government. It is a walking trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff, meandering down the country to take in bush tracks, river routes, mountain passes, beaches and roads. It is 3035km long, compared with 1403km as the crow flies and 2059km via State Highway 1, and usually takes between three and six months to complete.
In November of 2024, I set off on this journey with my son.
The journey for me personally was fulfilling on many levels: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The physical challenges were very real and present every day, from deep mud to high mountain passes, long hot stretches of sand to fast flowing rivers, as well as food difficulties and water shortages. Facing these took careful planning, perseverance and a considerable level of resilience.
Walking the Te Araroa provided real insight into the country of my birth, primarily its beauty and its people. The South Islanders really do embody the tough New Zealand spirit with many of them living off the land. The support from ‘Trail Angels’ and other New Zealanders was evident over the full length of the country, as they offered lifts, provided meals and gave their time selflessly to nomadic travellers. This warmth of the New Zealand people was regularly confirmed through conversations with fellow walkers visiting from all over the world.
The opportunity to travel endlessly with young people was both enriching and educational. Their positivity, care for each other and for the environment made for uplifting company. Watching some of them grow, broaden their perspectives and develop courage and resilience was heartening.
I was asked several times before, during and after the walk about my goal or purpose. Such questions non-plussed me as they did many others on the walk; my answer was usually that my son asked me to join him, and I said “yes’’. The experience was also a timely opportunity to raise valuable funds towards a new art studio at Ficino School.
Simply walking day after day for such an extended period, four and a half months in my case, provided a timeless opportunity to observe my mental habits and patterns of thinking. Almost daily I experienced potentially injurious slips, which were the culmination of a tired mind sinking into a fug of circular thought. The only antidote to this was to connect fully with my surroundings. This provided a wonderful opportunity to practise our school motto, “Rejoice in the Present”.
The Te Araroa Trail has been a wonderful investment for New Zealand. It is bringing tourism and economic benefit to many small communities across the country. This brings the dual advantages of supporting small businesses and enriching the communities themselves. For all those who walk the trail, it is a life-changing experience.
For me, this extended time away from school brought valuable refreshment both on a personal level and for the school as a whole. It has provided an opportunity for members of staff at Ficino School to assume management roles and take more responsibility, through which they have been enriched.
On my return to school in the closing weeks of Term 1, it was a delight to have the opportunity to observe classes and meetings with fresh eyes, before I fully resume my post in Term 2. I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with the children and particularly to passing on the lessons learnt.
Peter Crompton, Principal
