The Canadian walker who has spent the past 11 years walking around the world to promote peace has arrived in New Zealand's far north on the last leg of his foreign travels.

Jean Béliveau, who began his walk from Montreal in August 2000, is due to fly home to Canada at the end of this month.

With 75,000km under his belt, wearing his 49th pair of shoes and about to notch up his 64th country, Béliveau arrived in New Zealand’s far north this week pushing the three-wheeled stroller that contains his meagre possessions.

Though he’ll be back on Canadian soil on 30 January, Béliveau won’t complete his goal to walk around the planet promoting "peace and non-violence for the profit of the children of the world" until he finishes the Canadian leg of the journey. Cape Reinga Béliveau is scheduled to reach Cape Reinga - New Zealand’s northernmost point - next Friday (21.01.2011) and, to celebrate the end of his journey locals are being invited to walk the final 2.5km with him.

Cape Reinga holds special significance for New Zealanders. Also known as Te Rerenga Wairua or Te Rēinga, it is one of Māoridom's most sacred places. According to Māori custom, the spirits of the dead travel two pathways to Cape Rēinga before leaping into the water and proceeding to their spiritual home in Hawaiki.

Adrian Cooper - a New Zealander who first met Béliveau on his travels in Kathmandu in 2008, and has accompanied Jean on his New Zealand journey - is hoping for a big crowd to give [Jean] "a real Kiwi send-off".

The short final leg on Friday is expected to be an emotional moment for Béliveau as he realises his last major foreign destination before returning home to Canada.

Incredible journey
The incredible journey began back in August 2000 when Béliveau left home on his 45th birthday - suffering from what he terms a mid-life crisis - headed south from Montreal across the border into the United States and kept going until he reached South America.

By 2003 he was in South Africa and travelled north, crossing to Morocco before heading into Europe in 2005. He then moved south through Iran, India, China, South Korea and Japan.

Béliveau arrived in the tropical north of Australia in October 2009, and from Darwin walked into the harsh Outback and remote Aboriginal communities before making his way to the east coast and down to Sydney.

He crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge having travelled 66,700km through 62 countries, and continued on to Melbourne and Tasmania before flying to New Zealand on 29 September, 2010.

Moving NZ welcome
On arrival in Auckland and prior to flying south to begin his walk, Béliveau was given a civic welcome and powhiri by local Māori which he described as "very moving".

"They made me experience a full load of emotions. It was one of the most astonishing greetings I've had the honour to be given," Béliveau said.

Béliveau set off from Bluff, on the southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, on 11 October and walked his way north through Dunedin, Christchurch, Kaikoura and to Picton where he crossed by ferry to the North Island.

In Wellington he attended a luncheon at the Canadian High Commission before continuing his 2000km journey on 23 November, walking north through Levin, Wanganui, Taupo, Hamilton and Auckland before the final leg to Whangarei, Kerikeri and Kaeo en route to Cape Reinga.

NZ support and hospitality
Children’s charity Barnados New Zealand has managed the New Zealand section of Béliveau’s worldwide walk, and set him up for talks in schools and clubs along the route. During the past two-and-a-half months, Béliveau has only had to sleep in his tent on four occasions - a credit to amazing Kiwi hospitality, according to Adrian Cooper. Béliveau says the people he’s met along the way have welcomed him into their homes, have shared local cuisine and in return been happy to hear his story. He’s found Kiws to be a happy and fun-loving people who "love their country and would like it to be known all over the world." "Of course they have every right to wish so because it is a country blessed with breathtaking landscapes, a very pleasant climate and a very modern way of life." Béliveau’s wife Luce, who has joined him once a year throughout his 11-year journey, says 2011 will fulfil her dearest wish - "Jean’s return home".

Air New Zealand
Béliveau says Air New Zealand has generously provided all his plane tickets not only from Australia to Auckland and within the country, but also the return flight from Auckland to Vancouver.

Once home in Canada he will take a couple of weeks to recover before starting the Canadian leg of his walk on 20 February.

Jean Béliveau’s final NZ walking itinerary:<
• Waipapakauri to Pukenui on Monday (17.01.2011)
• Pukenui to Te Kao (18.01.2011)
• Te Kao to 32km south of Cape Reinga (19.01.2011)
• 32km point to within 2.5km of the Cape on Thursday (20.01.2011)
• Final 2.5km to Cape Reinga on Friday (21.01.2011).
Follow Jean Beliveau's journey on FaceBook

ENDS

© Scoop Media