Adventurer Danielle raises funds

Last summer, Wellington Zoo keeper, Danni Rae took leave from her job to walk the Te Araroa Trail and along the way raised sponsorship for four conservation groups, of which Puketi Forest Trust was one.  Te Araroa is an internationally popular great walk that traverses the length of New Zealand, 3,000 km from Cape Reinga to Bluff.  Thousands of people walk sections of the trail each year, and hundreds walk the whole length.  The trail passes through Omahuta – Puketi from Blackbridge Road, down the Mangapukahukahu Stream, up the Waipapa River, the Pukatea Ridge Track and then Pirau Road to the Waiare Road campground.  Walkers pass through magnificent kauri groves in the Trust Management area and many comment that this is a highlight of the whole trail.

Danni had to reorganise some sections of her walk to avoid covid lockdowns, but covered the whole length, and arrived at the Puketi campground in late March looking very fit.  She set out at first light for the long walk to the Omahuta campsite and on the way happened to meet Trust kaimahi Kaio and Quintin and joined them for their start of work karakia in the forest.