NZ parkrun Pioneers

Every Saturday morning at 8am, thousands of New Zealanders gather in parks across the country for a shared ritual—parkrun. But this global phenomenon didn’t just appear overnight.In this episode, host Justin Hill is joined by parkrun New Zealand pioneers Lian and Noel de Charmoy, who helped bring the concept from the UK to Aotearoa in 2012. What began as a leap of faith—starting with a single event in Lower Hutt—has grown into a nationwide movement spanning 72 events and over 155,000 registered participants.They share:How their friendship with Paul Sinton-Hewitt led to parkrun arriving in New ZealandThe early challenges (and surprising ease) of launching eventsWhy “free forever” and inclusivity became the foundation of successStories of connection, community, and even weddings born at parkrunThe powerful role of volunteers in sustaining the movementThe episode also explores their connection to running legend Bruce Fordyce and the wider global running culture that shaped parkrun’s philosophy.This is a story about more than running—it’s about belonging, accessibility, and the power of community to change lives.Photo & Video Credits:With heartfelt thanks to the incredible parkrun photographers and camera operators across New Zealand and beyond, whose generosity and talent help capture the spirit of parkrun every week.📖 Paul Sinton-Hewitt – One Small Stephttps://books.apple.com/nz/book/one-small-step/id6744083500?utm_source=chatgpt.com📘 Bruce Fordyce – Winged Messengerhttps://www.amazon.com.au/Winged-Messenger-Running-Comrades-Marathon/dp/1776056817/ref=asc_df_1776056817?mcid=222404a3e0903c4b8b57fba7433b3952&language=en_AU&tag=nzgoshpadsp-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=725041153858&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=844406988357412464&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9121802&hvtargid=pla-1131917420820&psc=1&language=en_AU&gad_source=4🏃 Find Your Local Parkrun (NZ)https://www.nzrunning.co.nz/run-clubs/parkrun-new-zealand?🌍 Official Parkrun Websitehttps://www.parkrun.com/⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – The Saturday Ritual BeginsThe rise of parkrun as a Kiwi weekend tradition01:05 – Meeting the PioneersIntroduction to Lian and Noel de Charmoy01:18 – First Encounter with ParkrunDiscovering the original Bushy Park time trial02:29 – A Friendship That Sparked a MovementConnection with Paul Sinton-Hewitt03:30 – The Leap of FaithWhy they said yes to bringing parkrun to New Zealand04:05 – The First Event in Lower HuttPartnering with Richard McChesney05:10 – Building Cornwall ParkrunLaunching Auckland’s first event05:26 – Early Challenges & LessonsAdmin struggles, logistics, and learning on the fly06:30 – The First TurnoutMemories from the early Cornwall Park days07:19 – The Power of CommunityCoffee, connection, and friendships07:44 – Overcoming BarriersWorking with councils and keeping it simple08:47 – “Free Forever” ExplainedWhy accessibility is the foundation of parkrun09:28 – Not a RaceRedefining running as inclusive and welcoming10:51 – When It Took OffThe moment growth became exponential11:55 – Scaling NationwideFrom a handful of events to 72 across NZ12:39 – Volunteers: The Heart of ParkrunWhy the model works13:41 – Beyond FitnessMental health, belonging, and life-changing stories14:13 – Community StoriesFrom friendships to weddings15:25 – Parkrun Culture vs Traditional EventsWhy it feels different18:11 – The Oldest ParkrunnerInspiration from Colin Thorne19:34 – Inclusivity at the CoreWalk, jog, run—everyone welcome21:14 – Enter Bruce FordyceConnection to Bruce Fordyce24:28 – A Running Legend ExplainedWhy Bruce’s achievements matter27:44 – Bruce’s Visit to New ZealandWhat to expect and why it matters30:13 – Parkrun Tourism & GamificationCollecting flags and global participation31:00 – Looking Back with PrideReflections on building a movement32:01 – The Future of Parkrun NZVision for the next decade32:40 – Message to First-Timers“Just come along and have a go”33:21 – Closing ThoughtsWhy parkrun means more than just a runGet in contact and follow us - Send in your questions, show suggestions and comments (good or bad) to:Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/17EN4yrAqp/?mibextid=wwXIfrInstagram https://www.instagram.com/motmpod?igsh=MW8yamF4cHBkZWpxZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qremail [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.