Blue Light walk done in quick time
Whanga¯rei police officer Gary Hayes gave himself a little over four months to walk the length of New Zealand via the Te Araroa trail, but he finished with two weeks up his sleeve.
He began his 3000km trek at Cape Re¯inga on November 1, and officially finished when he arrived at Bluff on Friday last week, walking the final 35km from Invercargill to the famous Bluff signpost supported by local police officers, Blue Light branch members and young people.
He had pushed his body harder than most, climbing Sky Tower’s 1267 stairs, at times walking up to 18 days straight in extreme weather conditions, from searing heat to freezing, battling thick bush and fording raging rivers, all while suffering blisters, wasp stings and sleepless nights with an aching body.
What kept him going was his determination not to fail his cause, Blue Light, focusing on the love of his family, friends and supporters, and his daily cup of coffee, aka his “plutonium.”
The aim was to raise awareness of the work Blue Light does throughout New Zealand’s 68 branches in support of youth, especially the disadvantaged and those at risk.
“With a little help and luck I want to give an opportunity to allow our youth of today to strive to do more for themselves, and give them the confidence needed to step forward into their future with a can-do attitude,” he said.
He also raised money for Blue Light, aiming to collect $3000 ( $1 for each kilometre he had travelled). As of Friday he had raised $2022. (To contribute go to https:/ /givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/ Walking-Te-Araroa-for-BlueLight).