The event was being held for the fourth time in the Bay of Plenty region, with 100km of trails through Whakatāne, Ōhope and now Edgecumbe on a track that would see participants walking along coastal tracks, sandy beaches, farmland and native bush.
This year, more than 250 teams – more than 1000 people – will be on the start line.
Participants walk in teams of four and have been training hard to finish the 50km course in under 18 hours and the 100km course in under 36 hours – which often requires walking through the night.
As well as challenging themselves to the ultimate physical and mental challenge of walking 50 or 100km, teams must also fundraise towards Oxfam's programmes fighting poverty in the Pacific.
The top fundraising team so far in 2019 was team "N X NW" who had so far raised more than $13,000.
In second place was team "1 in 4 on the Horizon" who had raised an impressive $9500.
In total teams had raised more than $900,000 towards Oxfam's work to support communities to lift themselves out of poverty.
Oxfam New Zealand's engagement director Daniel Barthow said he was excited to start the event in Edgecumbe this weekend.
"Edgecumbe has an incredible community spirit and we are thrilled by the wonderful support from iwi, local volunteers, community groups and landowners who have generously opened up their hearts and their town to our event, as well as the wider community from Whakatane and Ohope who are welcoming us once again.
"We want to wish all the walkers out there the best of luck in challenging themselves and challenging poverty this weekend. Every step you're taking and every dollar you've raised is showing the best of Kiwis and humanity by doing your bit to build a better world."
Oxfam Trailwalker
This Saturday and Sunday
Donate to a team at the Oxfam Trailwalker website
