Stress is a major factor in child abuse, according to one man who will walk 50km a day for a week to spread a message of hope.
Vasa Tasele, ambassador of Walk the Talk, will begin a fundraising walk from Auckland to Cape Reinga on Sunday, September 1.
Mr Tasele, who will trek with Joe O'Neill, says, "We are promoting exercise to de-stress, and we want to bring awareness of stress-related issues that are destructive to good communication between loved ones.
"Anyone can talk about child abuse. It's another thing to be face-to-face with people and communities in real need.
"If one person listens to our message and begins to acknowledge that they have an anger or violence problem that stems from stress, and they realise they need to do something about it, then that alone will be worth our effort."
He said he and Mr O'Neill were looking forward to walking along Ninety Mile Beach.
Speaking of an incident they came across last year, he said, "We were walking along a road in Mt Albert, when a woman jumped out of a slow-moving vehicle right next to us".
"She grabbed her kids from the back seat of the car, and ran across the road to escape her enraged partner.
"The car did a U-turn towards the woman and her children, and we remember many bystanders didn't know what to do.
"Joe and I stepped in to help calm the situation down, and the woman was so grateful."
Last year, the pair walked from Auckland to Wellington. On Sunday, September 1, they will set off on their 50km a day journey, arriving at the Cape a week later.
"The old saying, 'A problem shared is a problem halved' is helpful for everyone, no matter who they are," said Mr Tasele.
Walk the Talk is fundraising for the Puawaitahi Multi Service Agency at Starship Hospital.
This is funded by the Starship Foundation for the treatment of children suspected of being abused or affected by all forms of abuse.
To follow the pair's journey online, search Walk the Talk on Facebook. To donate to the cause, see http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/WalkTheTalk/.