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 Zealand
The early challenges (and surprising ease) of launching events
Why “free forever” and inclusivity became the foundation of success
Stories of connection, community, and even weddings born at parkrun
The powerful role of volunteers in sustaining the movement
The 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 Step
https://books.apple.com/nz/book/one-small-step/id6744083500?utm_source=chatgpt.com
📘 Bruce Fordyce – Winged Messenger
https://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 Website
https://www.parkrun.com/
⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – The Saturday Ritual Begins
The rise of parkrun as a Kiwi weekend tradition
01:05 – Meeting the Pioneers
Introduction to Lian and Noel de Charmoy
01:18 – First Encounter with Parkrun
Discovering the original Bushy Park time trial
02:29 – A Friendship That Sparked a Movement
Connection with Paul Sinton-Hewitt
03:30 – The Leap of Faith
Why they said yes to bringing parkrun to New Zealand
04:05 – The First Event in Lower Hutt
Partnering with Richard McChesney
05:10 – Building Cornwall Parkrun
Launching Auckland’s first event
05:26 – Early Challenges & Lessons
Admin struggles, logistics, and learning on the fly
06:30 – The First Turnout
Memories from the early Cornwall Park days
07:19 – The Power of Community
Coffee, connection, and friendships
07:44 – Overcoming Barriers
Working with councils and keeping it simple
08:47 – “Free Forever” Explained
Why accessibility is the foundation of parkrun
09:28 – Not a Race
Redefining running as inclusive and welcoming
10:51 – When It Took Off
The moment growth became exponential
11:55 – Scaling Nationwide
From a handful of events to 72 across NZ
12:39 – Volunteers: The Heart of Parkrun
Why the model works
13:41 – Beyond Fitness
Mental health, belonging, and life-changing stories
14:13 – Community Stories
From friendships to weddings
15:25 – Parkrun Culture vs Traditional Events
Why it feels different
18:11 – The Oldest Parkrunner
Inspiration from Colin Thorne
19:34 – Inclusivity at the Core
Walk, jog, run—everyone welcome
21:14 – Enter Bruce Fordyce
Connection to Bruce Fordyce
24:28 – A Running Legend Explained
Why Bruce’s achievements matter
27:44 – Bruce’s Visit to New Zealand
What to expect and why it matters
30:13 – Parkrun Tourism & Gamification
Collecting flags and global participation
31:00 – Looking Back with Pride
Reflections on building a movement
32:01 – The Future of Parkrun NZ
Vision for the next decade
32:40 – Message to First-Timers
“Just come along and have a go”
33:21 – Closing Thoughts
Why parkrun means more than just a run
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