Runners and walkers will lace up for a cause later this month as the Flight of the Kōkako Trail Run returns to Te Ranga.

The event, based at Te Ranga Hall on Te Matai Rd, takes place on Saturday, March 28, and offers distance options of 5km, 10km, 16km and 21km.

Set in the rolling farmland east of Te Puke, the event opens gates to private land that is rarely accessible to the public. The course, which traces the path of the kōkako, includes undulating hills, pockets of native bush, creek beds and scenic gorges, offering participants a unique way to experience the landscape.

The Flight of the Kōkako Trail Run takes participants through rolling farmland, pockets of native bush and undulating hills. Photo / Supplied

Organisers said the event is about far more than completing a run. The volunteer-led trail run raises funds for conservation work led by the Paraiti Catchment Care Group, with all proceeds supporting predator trapping, pest control and native tree planting throughout the catchment.

Contributes directly

Each participant will also have a native tree planted in their honour.

“People love knowing their run contributes directly to local conservation. It’s a simple idea, but incredibly meaningful,” race director and Paraiti Catchment Care Group spokesperson Peter Mark said.

Mark said the group aimed to grow the event this year from 150 participants to 300 runners and walkers as awareness of the event continues to build.

kōkako seen on the Kaharoa Kōkako Track. Photo / Melissa Boardman

The Paraiti Catchment Care Group was formed in 2020 by the Te Ranga community, about 15km southeast of Te Puke, with the aim of protecting and restoring the local environment.

The 2400-hectare Paraiti catchment sits within the wider Kaituna catchment and includes a mix of indigenous and exotic forest alongside pastoral, horticultural and lifestyle land.

The group brings together farmers, landowners, iwi, environmental organisations and council representatives working collaboratively to protect native biodiversity.

Bordering the Kaharoa Conservation Area, the catchment supports one of the North Island’s important kōkako populations.

Real motivator

“Hearing kōkako on our farms is a real motivator. It reminds us why this mahi matters,” Paraiti Catchment Care Group member Blair Linton said.

The Flight of the Kōkako Trail Run takes participants through rolling farmland, pockets of native bush and undulating hills. Photo / Supplied

The inaugural Flight of the Kōkako Trail Run held in March 2025 attracted 150 participants.

“It exceeded our expectations,” Mark said. “With 150 participants and strong volunteer support, the event highlighted the depth of community spirit behind the run.”

Funds raised from 2025’s event helped contractors service nearly 1000 bait stations across steep parts of the catchment, helping landowners manage predator control alongside farming and family commitments.

“Since then, the group has continued to expand its trap network, with an increased focus on mustelid control,” Mark said.

“Every entry helps strengthen the future of kōkako in our region.”

For more information, visit: www.paraiti.org or email: hello@paraiti.org