Maoris greet Major...

Press, 4 March 1978, Page 1

Maoris greet Major...

Major Albert Kiwi keeps seeing a light as he runs north on his Bluff-Cape Reinga jog to raise money for the New Zealand Army’s planned memorial museum at Waiouru. “My main thought is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel grow bigger with every step toward the goal,” he said as he arrived in Christchurch, with about 400 miles behind him and far enough ahead of his schedule to rest today before starting again on Sunday.

With his own T-shirt advertising a fruit drink, and his dog Freefall, a coverlet advertising a favourite dog food, the man quickly becoming known as “Major Mileage” and “Kilometre Kiwi” arrived at the Northlands Shopping Centre to a rousing Maori greeting. He is shown with Mr Mita Mohi, of the Otautahi Maori Cultural Group, at Northlands.

Major Kiwi had started from Ashburton at 2 a.m. and seemed pleased to have hundreds of shoppers waiting for him when he came to a halt shortly after 4 p.m. Some shoppers brought their pets to see Freefall.

Traffic was tied up as the entourage made its way down Papanui Road, but no-one seemed to mind when they finally saw its cause. About $BOOO in donations has been raised for the cause so far. “You set the example,” Major Kiwi told the crowd, “because we don’t really want to turn round and run back when we reach Cape Reinga.”

Among those waiting to greet “the Marathon Major” were the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr Hamish Hay) and the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr Walker). “When this is over, I hope I’ll return to being just the humble, modest Alby Kiwi that I am,” Major Kiwi told the crowd with a laugh. A special Army display of weapons and vehicles had been set up inside the mall, and a hangi with music was laid on later in the day.

Major Kiwi said he was elated at getting this far in such good condition. But he was not really surprised. Even his dog has done 5000 miles of training in the past five years.

While the Major drinks a scientifically-prepared mixture of glucose and sustalyte the dog makes do with plain water. He also runs free enough to dip into convenient pools

and drains to cool off properly during the hot slog up the east coast of the South Island. Major Kiwi hopes to complete his run, and have $lOO,OOO in donations and pledges, in 30 to 35 days.