Damian Bennett, Brendon Taingahue, Lee Taingahue, Mr G and Ernie Syndey at the summit of Mauao at the start of Mauaoathon for Māori ward councillor Mikaere Sydney.
Damian Bennett, Brendon Taingahue, Lee Taingahue, Mr G and Ernie Syndey at the summit of Mauao at the start of Mauaoathon for Māori ward councillor Mikaere Sydney.
People are “still vibing” from their 12-hour marathon climbing 232m landmark Mauao to raise money for a sick Tauranga councillor.
Hundreds turned up for the Mauaoathon on Saturday, which raised $35,802 for the city’s first Māori ward councillor Mikaere Sydney, who has been in hospitalsince July.
He was elected to Tauranga City Council that month but was unable to take up his position and is on medical leave until December 31.
Sydney recently transferred to Tauranga Hospital from Waikato Hospital.
He was admitted in July with a rare form of encephalitis that developed after he contracted a virus. Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain.
Sydney’s mother Lee Taingahue said he was continuing to make positive progress.
Sydney grew up on Rangiwaea Island, an island at the eastern end of Matakana Island in Tauranga Harbour. He said in his election profile he was an active member of the community, including as a netball coach, Tauranga Netball director, kapa haka judge and “young leader in our moana”.
Taingahue said Sydney’s whānau were humbled by the love and support from the community, especially the Mauaoathon.
Some of the hundreds of people who climbed Mauao to raise money for Tauranga Māori ward councillor Mikaere Sydney. Photo / Supplied
Mikaere was the focus but the values of kotahitanga — coming together — keeping healthy and love for Mauao and the environment underpinned the event, she said.
Taingahue took part in the Mauaoathon alongside other members of the family,
“In light of the recent vandalism of the pounamu touchstone at the summit of Mauao, Saturday’s Mauaoathon and was an uplifting and positive way of showing aroha for Mikaere and bringing us closer to each other and healing for our beloved maunga Mauao,” she said.
