From Bluff to Cape Reinga, Mike King sends a message of hope to New Zealand
Mental health advocate and 2019 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year, Mike King embarks on a nationwide tour to promote
positive, societal and attitudinal change towards mental health in New Zealand.
In the lead up to Gumboot Friday April 3, Mike King and 30 others will travel 2000kms on a fleet of 20 tractors to host
free community and school events throughout the country.
The Gumboot Friday initiative, which launched last year, aims to raise five million dollars for free counselling. Last
year Gumboot Friday raised 1.3 million to provide 10,670 critical counselling sessions to more than 2,500 New
Zealanders.*
New Zealand's latest suicide statistics released by the Chief Coroner in August last year showed another annual
increase. In the year to June 30, 685 people took their own lives - 17 more than the previous year.
“Now more than ever, we need kiwis to reach out to friends and whānau. We encourage everyone to ask those you’re closest
to if they’re ok.
“Our nationwide trek is about raising awareness and encouraging communities and individuals to drive the attitudinal and
social change that is needed to reverse the incidence of anxiety, suicide and depression.
“This year with the help of the highly experienced Tractor Trek team we are focused primarily on our rural communities
who face high rates of poor mental health and suicide,” says Mike King.
Katie Milne, President and health spokesperson of Federated Farmers NZ says our rural communities face physical and
mental isolation, economic instability and limited access to health services. All factors which contribute to poor
mental health.
“Too many rural folk are so busy looking after their families, their animals, their friends and workmates that they put
themselves at the bottom of the list, and fail to reach out for help. Mike King is a champion for getting stuff out in
the open, and talking about depression and suicide. Good on him. Federated Farmers wishes every success to Mike King and
the Tractor Trek Team and urges farming families to get in behind the initiative.”
Tractor Trek is a fundraising drive that was launched in 2016 by Phil Aish to raise support and awareness for Hospice. A
chance encounter with his daughter Cat Levine and Mike King, led to the Trek supporting the Gumboot Friday initiative
this year.
“As fourth generation farmers, supporting and raising awareness for positive mental health within the farming community
is something we feel strongly connected to as a family. With this trek, we are sending a message of hope to those in
need. They are not alone and we support them wholeheartedly,” says Gumboot Friday Tractor Trek Manager, Cat Levine.
Mike King says, “it’s great to have Kiwibank, a foundation partner in 2019, back on board to help make the Tractor Trek
possible and spreading the message of hope in communities across New Zealand”. The tour is also supported by Hope Wines,
Interislander, Farmlands, Fonterra, Skellerup, Skycity, Starbucks, The Warehouse, TR Group, Z Energy, among others.
Local community groups and service providers wanting to be involved in the trek are encouraged to get in touch via
iamhope@keytolife.com.
For more information, please contact: Simone Kerr, 0221757975, simone@lomaskerr.co.nz
*Fact Box: From April 2019 to January 2020 Gumboot Friday provided:
10,670 Counselling sessions
2541 Children and young adults were seen by counsellors
57% female 41% male
Most sessions went to 8-11yos, then 12-15yos and 16-19yos
Top six regions were Otago, Canterbury, Auckland, Wellington, Bay of Plenty and Waikato