A
ward
Walking Champion Award
Winner
Frank Goldingham – A Lifelong Walking Champion
In brief
Frank Goldingham has made a significant and lasting contribution to society via tirelessly championing walking in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.
He has done this by promoting walking, profiling hundreds of walks, publicising walking events and walking groups throughout New Zealand through his magazine Walking New Zealand, and founding the successful Manawatū Walking Festival.
The details
Frank Goldingham has made a significant and lasting contribution to public access to the outdoors. He has done this by promoting walking, profiling hundreds of walks, and publicising walking events and walking groups throughout New Zealand through his magazine Walking New Zealand.
Frank also established and organised the Manawatū Walking Festival, an annual event held 2015 through to 2020, soon to return to the Manawatū in 2024.
Photo: At the awards ceremony at Parliament. From left - Tim Jones, president of Living Streets Aotearoa, Frank Goldingham, Beverley Goldingham.
Walking New Zealand Magazine: Frank Goldingham is the owner, publisher and editor of Walking New Zealand Magazine which he started in 1996. Here’s a link to the June 2024 issue, no.315 (the latest issue available online).
Frank says "The idea about Walking New Zealand came about when a Palmerston North walking group I was in visited Australia and walked the City to Surf amongst other walks. At that time there were running magazines but no walking only type magazines, so that is where I got the idea."
The magazine aims to provide walkers with everything they need to know. Through sharing information about walking related opportunities the magazine supports and encourages readers to get into the outdoors and to connect with likeminded others through events and walking groups, helping to build and encourage a walking culture and interest in accessing local walks.
Manawatū Walking Festival: Frank was a leader in establishing and running the Manawatū Walking Festival of guided walks - see details of the 2019 edition: https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/events/779-manawatu-walking-festival
Described by a supporter of the event as the “mover and shaker” for the festival, Frank worked with community organisations like Forest & Bird, Manawatū branch, Manawatu Striders, and Manawatu Tramping & Skiing Club, as well as with the Department of Conservation, Palmerston North City Council, and Te Manawa Museums Trust, to offer opportunities to explore the Palmerston North and the wider Manawatu region (from the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges down to the sea.
The Walking Festival started in 2015 and ran each March until 2020, providing many people the opportunity to enjoy guided walks around the Manawatū. After a break during the Covid years, the Festival returned in March 2024, working with Sport Manawatū, which is set to become the organiser of future walking festivals.