I proposed a national track as a national unity project I guess

Geoff Chapple is a New Zealand author, playwright, journalist and tramper. His article in a Sunday newspaper began the volunteer movement to put in place Te Araroa – The Long Pathway – a continuous off-road track from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Geoff mapped then walked the track and wrote the book ‘Te Araroa – The New Zealand Trail’ (Random House 2002). He founded Te Araroa Trust, the organisation that began construction of the various links that make up the 2,920 kilometres long trail.

Here Geoff talks with Graeme Lay about the process of gaining national support, land access permissions (including from Canadian singer Shania Twain), funding and volunteer assistance to make Te Araroa a reality.

Geoff Chapple was also a leading figure in the anti-apartheid protests surrounding the 1981 Springbok rugby tour. In 1984 he published The Tour, a book chronicling the above events from the protesters’ perspective.

Geoff was the Cutlural Icons’ first interview participant. To hear Geoff’s first interview in which he talks about his stage play ‘Hatch: Plight of the Penguin’ click here.