Jim Anderton MP Mon Oct 4 1999

World champion ultra distance runner Siggy Bauer was joined on his 454km run for jobs by New Zealand's champion Marathon runner, John Campbell over the weekend.

John Campbell, who also runs a motel in the Ruapehu National Park region, joined Siggy for the day and offered him a place to stay for the night.

Siggy is running to draw attention to the 200,000 jobless in New Zealand, who if they stood in a line would reach the 454km from Wanganui to Auckland.

He wants to make sure that the need to create jobs becomes a major election issue.

'I hope my running will make people focus on the implications of doing nothing to create jobs,' said Siggy.

Siggy left Wanganui on Friday 1st October. He will arrive in Auckland on the 17th October to coincide with the Alliance campaign launch.

So far Siggy has run through Raetihi (his old home town), Ohakune (where he was joined my his two year old grandchild for a short distance), and other towns on the way.

Locals are gathering to give him a warm greeting as he passes.

Today he is running through National Park and Taumaranui.

On Tuesday 5th October Siggy will be running to Turangi.

He runs on average 50 kms per day. Despite having not run for eight years he is holding up well. A little tightness in the thigh muscles is the only twinge so far.

Update - Siggy's Itinerary

October 6th - Taupo. October 7th - Taupo. October 8th - Tokoroa. October 9th - Tirau. October 10th - Tauranga. October 11th - Katikati. October 12th - Waihi, Paeroa. October 13th - Te Aroha. October 14th - Hamilton. October 15th - Huntly, Pokeno. October 16th - Auckland. October 17th Alliance campaign launch.

Contacts for Siggy, Alliance Taranaki King Country candidate, Kevin Campbell: tel 025 956 278

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