Salvation Army Major Gavin Baxter is embarking on a walk from Bluff to Cape Reinga to refill empty foodbanks.
Salvation Army Major Gavin Baxter is embarking on a walk from Bluff to Cape Reinga to refill empty foodbanks.
Retiring Salvation Army Major Gavin Baxter is lacing up his boots for one final act of service as an officer, walking from Bluff to Cape Reinga to raise funds for the country’s foodbanks.
Starting on January 1, the Marching for Meals campaign will see Baxter travel the length ofthe Te Araroa Trail to shine a light on the growing issue of food insecurity across Aotearoa.
Baxter said at this time of the year, foodbanks were depleted, and parents were often struggling with finances because of Christmas followed by back-to-school expenses.
“It’s something I wanted to do myself, and I thought why not do it for others at the same time,” he said.
“I’ve spent my life serving people in need, and this walk is a way to keep doing that in a different way.
“Our foodbanks are often running on empty after Christmas, and we need your help to refill the shelves and make sure no family goes hungry in 2026.”
Sixty-five-year-old Baxter, who has given 31 years of service to the charitable organisation, said he wanted to finish his career “by doing something that really matters”.
“Walking the length of the country is no small task, but hunger is an even bigger challenge for thousands of Kiwi families,” he said.
“If my steps can help put food on someone’s table, then every blister will be worth it.”
The walk will take about six months, with Baxter stopping at Salvation Army centres along the way, including those in Northland, to share stories, encourage communities, and highlight the urgent need for foodbank support.
His wife Bev will be following in a campervan helping resupply him with food and essentials along the 3000km journey.
Baxter aims to raise $30,000, which will go a long way toward replenishing The Salvation Army’s foodbanks that provide meals and dignity to families facing hardship.
Whangārei Salvation Army Officer, Captain Jacob Howan, said the need for foodbank services has grown year on year.
Nationwide, 500,000 New Zealanders present themselves in some form of food poverty every month, Baxter said.
In the last 12 months alone, The Sallies have dished out 89,000 food parcels.
There are two Salvation Army foodbank services in Northland; in Whangārei and Kaitāia.
There are also various other foodbanks in the region including the Far North Community Foodbank in Kaitāia and Whakaora Kai food rescue charity in Whangārei.
Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.
