More than 82,000 New Zealanders are currently living with dementia | mate wareware — a number expected to more than double by 2050. For Brendon, those statistics are personal. Both his mother and his mother-in-law lived with dementia, and their experiences shaped his understanding of what families face.

“It affects everyone,” he says. “You see the person change, and it changes everyone around them, too. It’s something we’ve got to talk about as a society, particularly with our rapidly ageing population.”

Unfortunately, Brendon’s first challenge began before he even set foot on the track. In true Brendon fashion, he arrived at the lakeside campground only to realise he’d forgotten his tent.

“I slept in the back of the station wagon that first night,” he laughs. “Not exactly the plan, but it worked.”

The next morning though was perfect – clear, the air light with the scent of moss and fern, and the track ahead promised both stunning views and some steep climbs, with DOC warning that the first 4-6 hours were straight uphill — a fitting mix for the journey he’d set himself.

The track swiftly became a humbling teacher. “Given DOC’s recommendation, I decided I’d realistically do it in seven. I smugly thought I was smashing it and nearly there after only two hours. Turns out, I wasn’t even halfway…

“Which is pretty similar to what those living with dementia and their care partners experience every day – you just keep going. You take the next step, have a laugh when things go wrong, and keep moving forward.”

At Waiopaoa Hut, Brendon swapped stories with trampers and rangers about life, conservation, and connection. “It made me think, that’s what dementia takes away — connection,” he says. “But the funny thing is, it’s also what brings people together. Everyone I talk to has a story.”

Through his work running men’s mental-health and ageing workshops, Brendon sees every week how widespread dementia’s impact is.

“In almost every session, someone brings it up — a dad, a mum, a mate. It’s everywhere. We’ve started talking about mental health as a society, but not so much about dementia. There’s still stigma, fear, and a lot of silence. I want to help change that.”

As Brendon walks, he’s helping Dementia New Zealand continue its work — supporting families, advocating for better understanding, and ensuring dementia remains on the national agenda.

His journey will weave right across Aotearoa — from Fiordland’s deep valleys to Rakiura’s wild coastlines — each Great Walk a reminder that our stories, like our tracks, connect one to another. Along the way, he’ll be sharing updates, encounters, and personal reflections — already proving that adventure doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful.

With his first Great Walk ticked off the list (a mere 46km), Brendon took some time to reflect.

“Lake Waikaremoana tested my knees, my patience, and my packing skills, but it delivered everything a Great Walk should: beauty, challenge, and just enough chaos to make it memorable. As I looked at that lake, I thought of my mum, my mother-in-law, and the families across New Zealand living with dementia. They’re the real walkers, I’m just doing the easy part.”

Next up, he’s heading to Tongariro — with the tent packed this time.

You can follow Brendon’s progress and support his cause by visiting thewalk.co.nz. Every step he takes helps ensure that no one has to face dementia alone.