About the Walk

The Chris Cairns Foundation Walk NZ 2008 was a walk which Chris Cairns took in memory of his sister Louise who was tragically killed whilst a passenger on board a train in 1993 when a cement truck failed to stop at a level crossing. Two other young women also died in this accident. Louise was only 19 years of age.

Chris put one step in front of the other for a total of 35 days all in the name of rail safety. Chris averaged 28 km a day which was equivalent to 6 hours of walking a day.

The walk started in Pukekohe (Auckland) and finished over 1000km’s later in Rolleston (Christchurch). The walk followed State Highway One down the country with one deviation to Palmerston North. The Interislander Ferry transported Chris and the team across the Cook Strait to Picton where the walk continued down the east coast to Christchurch. The walk concluded at the level crossing where Louise Cairns was killed.  It was a symbolic end to a great endeavor.

The Chris Cairns Foundation thanks everyone who came and supported Chris as he walked through your town.