Former Wairarapa Bush RFU chief executive Tony Hargood gets reacquainted with former Ngāti Porou East Coast RU chief executive Cushla Tangaere-Manuel as he walks State Highway 35 during his "Big T Walks" fundraising effort, which is taking in all 26 of the country's rugby unions.
Former Wairarapa Bush RFU chief executive Tony Hargood gets reacquainted with former Ngāti Porou East Coast RU chief executive Cushla Tangaere-Manuel as he walks State Highway 35 during his "Big T Walks" fundraising effort, which is taking in all 26 of the country's rugby unions.
Former Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union chief executive Tony Hargood is walking around New Zealand and kicking a goal at the home grounds of the country’s 26 provincial unions to raise funds for the New Zealand Rugby Foundation.
After visiting 15 unions on his “Big T Walks”, including Poverty Baytwo Fridays ago, and raising the flags the first time, every time, Hargood suffered his first miss at his 16th venue - Ruatōria’s Whakarua Park - on Wednesday.
“I got my second one over,” he said.
Hargood told the Gisborne Herald he normally kicked from 15 to 20m out and in front of the goalposts, depending on wind conditions.
He described himself as a former average club player and goal kicker.
Hargood, known as Big T, estimated he had walked 1500km so far, with 11 provincial unions to go.
It had always been his intention in retirement to “walk the length of New Zealand and to give something back to rugby in recognition of what it has given me”.
“The New Zealand Rugby Foundation is an amazing charity and continuously supports the rugby community of Aotearoa.”
At each union he interviews local rugby notables on his podcast, including former Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union chief executive Josh Willoughby and former East Coast assistant coach Troy Para.
Hargood started the East Coast segment of his walking fundraiser in Waipukurau and walked to Napier.
Not all roads were walkable, he said.
He took a bus to Gisborne and met Willoughby and the two decided to walk around Mahia.
“There’s so many fantastic walks in every union,” he said.
Hargood and Para started walking the 90km from Gisborne to Tokomaru Bay last Saturday.
During that walk, his ankle “blew up really bad” but was “coming right”.
“The walks are about capturing the beauty of the provinces,” said Hargood, who updates his progress on his Tony Hargood Facebook page.
He walked to Tikitiki on Thursday and ended the East Coast section at Wharekahika/ Hicks Bay on Friday before moving on to Ōhope in the Bay of Plenty union.
Tony Hargood closes in on Tititiki during the East Coast segment of his Big T Walks fundraiser.
Hargood also met up with former Ngāti Porou East Coast Rugby Union chairman Val Morrison and stayed with “good friend”, former East Coast chief executive and current Labour MP for Ikaroa-Tairawhiti, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel.
Unfortunately, many of his contacts and friends from the Poverty Bay union were still on holiday.
Wairarapa Bush rugby identity Tony Hargood dons an East Coast jersey before his attempted goal kick at Ruatoria's Whakarua Park. For the first time in 16 fundraising visits to provincial rugby grounds around the country, he missed his first attempt. Photo / Ngāti Porou East Coast RU Facebook page
Hargood started his walking tour in Bluff in October after four months of training, during which he walked 1000km.
“The funny thing is I didn’t get my first blister until the first day of the walk. It’s classic – like game day it’s different from training.”
Hargood kicked his first goal at halftime in Southland’s home NPC match against Tasman.
He was also invited to kick for goal at halftime in the North Otago-Poverty Bay Lochore Cup semi-final at Oamaru, the Mid Canterbury-Thames Valley Meads Cup final at Ashburton and before kick-off in the Canterbury-Otago NPC final at Christchurch.
Hargood aims to finish his walking fundraiser with the Manawatū, Horowhenua-Kāpiti and Wellington unions in late March.
Ex-Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union chief executive Tony Hargood (left) and former East Coast assistant coach Troy Para about to reach Tolaga Bay as part of Hargood's fundraising walk for the New Zealand Rugby Foundation.
Hargood, who was chief executive of the Wairarapa Bush union from 2013 to 2025, said Heartland unions were vital for rugby in New Zealand.
“You only have to look at Poverty Bay and East Coast to see how important community rugby is. Compared to the investment in NPC rugby, you’re getting more bangs for bucks in Heartland Rugby.”
He interviewed someone every day and had been invited to many clubs.
“It’s amazing – I’ve been blown away.”
He thoroughly recommends other people give a similar walk a go, although he warns “it’s a year out of your life”.
The New Zealand Rugby Foundation, founded by late All Black great Kel Tremain and Hawke’s Bay philanthropist Sir Russell Pettigrew, provides lifelong financial and emotional support to seriously injured players and their whānau, while also promoting safety in the game.
Since 2013, the foundation has paid out over $5.1 million in grants and in 2024 alone it assisted and supported 82 seriously injured players and their families.
Hargood welcomes the public to follow his progress or to make a donation at www.bigtwalks.co.nz
All 26 rugby balls kicked by Hargood will be auctioned off (as one complete set), with proceeds going to the New Zealand Rugby Foundation.
