Hıkoi takes coastal route

A hı¯koi along the New Plymouth coastline to raise awareness of seabed mining will go ahead whatever the weather today.

The walk will begin in Bell Block and finish at the Wind Wand, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) member Chris Wilkes said.

The event aimed to continue the organisation’s momentum with raising public awareness of KASM’s high court appeal on the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) decision to allow Trans Tasman Resources to mine iron sand off the Taranaki coast.

In total, seven groups are appealing the decision which included South Taranaki iwi Nga¯ti Ruanui, Fisheries Inshore New Zealand Ltd Conservation, Forest and Bird, iwi Nga¯a Rauru, Greenpeace and Te

hu Kaimoana, the Ma¯ori Fisheries Trust.

Wilkes said the walk was also in support of fellow KASM member Athol Steward’s personal hı¯koi, Walk the Walk Together for our Ocean.

The Whanganui doctor embarked on a 400 kilometre coastal walk on October 28 to raise funds and awareness for KASM’s appeal.

‘‘We want to show a bit of solidarity there and allow him as much of a platform to say what he wants to say,’’ Wilkes said,

‘‘He’s obviously passionate about ocean protection and we want to tautoko his efforts.’’

Steward has averaged 30km a day and his walk, which began in Raglan, is scheduled to finish on November 12 in Whanganui.

‘‘He’s been walking the beaches and farmland, it’s pretty amazing really,’’ Wilkes said.

‘‘He’s very passionate and just sick of not being able to do anything. I think we all feel a bit helpless.’’

A free bus will leave Puke Ariki’s bus stop in New Plymouth at 12.30pm and head to Bell Block beach ready for a 1pm start.

Wilkes expected anywhere between 50 and 100 people would take part in the event.