Te Araroa Trust’s new executive director is on a mission to walk the length of New Zealand over the next three years.

Matt Claridge replaced Mark Weatherall in February and has a background in sport, recreation and public safety, including four years as Water Safety New Zealand’s chief executive.

Wellington-based Claridge will begin walking sections of Te Araroa at the end of March.

Along the way, he will meet with regional trust members, landowners and others connected to the trail, and check out track conditions as he gets to grips with his new role.

He has walked sections of the trail before, although he didn’t always realise they were   part of Te Araroa and he views that as an opportunity to work on promoting the trail to New Zealanders.

His first section will be Wellington to Waikanae and he aims to walk 1000km of the trail each year.