MOVE With You Waihī Beach Campaign Gets Community Moving in October

A free community wellness campaign called MOVE with You is encouraging Waihī Beach residents of all ages and abilities to get active throughout October, running until 2 November. Now in its third year and led by Live Well Waihī Beach, the initiative offers four personal challenges: completing a marathon distance (42km), an Ironman distance (226km), climbing the Trig track 25 times, or simply committing to 30 minutes of movement each day. Walking, running, biking, swimming, and paddling all count.

Community coordinator Cindy Clare said the campaign was designed to be inclusive of everyone, regardless of age or fitness level — including those who use wheelchairs. The primary goals are to get people outdoors, exploring the local environment, and looking out for one another's wellbeing. October events include ECHO Walking Festival hikes, Young at Heart gentle walks, Pilates in the Park, and a finale at the Waihī Beach Surf Lifesaving Club featuring gumboot throwing, a mental health speaker, and a prize draw for an inflatable stand-up paddleboard.

One highlight of the campaign so far was the Whānau Dash & Splash Mud Walk on 5 October, which drew more than 70 participants crossing the estuary from Athenree Reserve to Bowentown Boating Club through knee-deep water and mud. Mayor View Fire Brigade was on hand at the finish to hose people down. Local hapū representative Reon Tuanau opened the day with the whakataukī: He o rangatiao, he o rangatangata — if the environment is healthy, so are the people.

The campaign is aligned with Gumboot Friday, a national initiative supporting youth mental health. Sponsors for the Dash & Splash event included Athenree Hot Springs and Hairwaves Waihī Beach. Residents can sign up or track activity via the Live Well Waihī Beach Facebook page or on Strava at www.strava.com/clubs/MOVE2025.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).