Tractor trek fundraiser drives onward
A cyclone and washouts have challenged a cavalcade of tractors, jeeps and trucks travelling the length of the country but nothing has kept it off schedule.
Aucklander Phil Aish is leading the Great New Zealand Tractor Trek, which is travelling more than 2600 kilometres over 26 days to raise money and awareness for hospice services in New Zealand.
Recent journeys had been tough with a section of the South Wairarapa coastline proving particularly challenging, he said.
‘‘We had to go through rivers where the water had washed out overnight and we just couldn’t get down into them because they were too steep, so we got the boys ahead with shovels ... we got through but, wow, what an experience.’’
Last week, the convoy was moving up the South Island’s west coast as former Cyclone Gita hit. In the erratic weather, the drivers only just made their ferry sailing.
‘‘There was plenty of rain ahead of the cyclone so we got drenched one day. The beauty of the trek is that you get off the main road as often as you can and the scenery is something few New Zealanders see ... grandeur, unspoilt beauty and magnificence.’’
The trek is a labour of love for Aish, who first made the trip in 2016 to honour a promise to his terminally-ill wife Janice.
The pair wanted to thank Auckland’s Mercy Hospice for the ‘‘immeasurable support’’ it provided their family during her last days.
When discussing the practicalities of such a trek, Janice told her husband to ‘‘do it’’.
‘‘You can’t put a price on having the burden of care lifted off your shoulders when someone close to you has a life-limiting illness. Hospices all over New Zealand provide people and their families with a special type of care.
‘‘Our family didn’t know it existed until we needed it. I want others to know these amazing services are being provided in their communities, so they can acknowledge and support them in any way they can.’’
His first trek raised $100,000 and this year’s convoy hopes to surpass that amount.
Hospice New Zealand chief executive Mary Schumacher said the trek had captured the hearts of people across the country.
Hospices receive some government funding but rely on financial support from the community to meet budgetary shortfalls.
‘‘We’re so grateful to people like Phil and his supporters who help ensure hospice care remains free of charge across New Zealand.’’
The trek began on February 12 in Bluff and is expected to finish at Cape Reinga on March 9. People can donate to the convoy when it travels through their area or by visiting its Givealittle page.