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Regional | Family

HapūFit use Mauao to promote health

11 hapū from Tauranga put their best foot forward today as they climb their ancestral mountain Mauao in a bid to promote a healthy lifestyle. HapūFit is the first of its kind that challenges its competitors in two different tracks.

Tauranga's beaches wasn't packed with its usual holiday-makers today, instead it was runners keen to make a change.

“HapūFit is a challenge to all the sub-tribes of Tauranga, 11 are involved and it's an awesome occasion,”says Awhina August, organiser of HapūFit.

They came in their masses, young and old.

“I'm going to be exhausted but I won't give up so easily,” says Ngāwaka Ririnui who was part of the Pirirakau team.

Participants have the options of running around the mountain, or running up to the peak. Some just took their time, while others found the fun in everything.

HapūFit is the first event of its kind, reconnecting the people of Tauranga to their heritage through physical activity.

“To encourage the descendants of Tauranga to return to their mountain Mauao,” says Miss August.

This is the first of three challenges planned for the year, with the hopes that at the end of the year, that all its descendants will be that much happier and healthier.