Following in the footsteps of the ancestors has a literal meaning for the head of Canterbury University's School of Maori and Indigenous Studies.
Waatea News reports Rawiri Taonui is about to walk from St Arnaud in Nelson to Christchurch.
He says the 10 day trek follows the trail of a significant South Island ancestor, Rakaihautu, who walked the length of the South Island.
When his latest journey is completed, Mr Taonui says he will have done about 1000km of Rakaihautu's trail.
