Battling blisters and under the weight of full tramping gear, Jack Karetai-Barrett has completed his Walk for Wards hikoi from Whakatāne to Tauranga.

The 15-year-old is walking to raise awareness about the importance of Māori wards and to urge people to tick “yes” in the referendum being held by 42 councils throughout New Zealand as part of the local body elections this year.

The referendum is being held in accordance with the Local Government (Māori Wards) Amendment Act passed last year. These are councils that have formed Māori wards since 2020 without holding a referendum.

Jack set out on his hikoi from Whakatāne on Monday morning, with a group of friends and family seeing him off.

He was greeted in Matatā by a group of well-wishers offering drinks and food and even had an ice cream delivered to him on the Matatā straight.

In spite of being plagued with blisters on his heels, having worn holes through two pairs of socks, he made it to Pikowai camping ground, where he overnighted before setting off again yesterday morning.

He arrived at Bayfair Shopping Centre at around 5pm.

Jack had planned to have a day’s rest before walking home again, but with impending bad weather forecast for the next few days, he has decided to postpone the return walk.

He had taken heed of advice from those closest to him about the inadvisability of walking on the roadside in poor visibility conditions.

Jack intends to continue the walk when the weather has cleared.