Frequently asked questions
We've done our best to have everything on this website we think you need to know about Oxfam Trailwalker. To make things easier we have compiled these FAQs. If you still can't find an answer to your question, please contact us and if other people have asked us too, we'll add it to this page.
Fundraising
How much money do we have to raise
The minimum fundraising amount to take part is $2,000. However, fundraising incentives (free gear!) start from $2,500 and the higher your fundraising level, the greater the incentive on offer.
Can we fundraise for the entry fee?
Teams are not authorised to fundraise on behalf of Oxfam until they have fully completed the entry process, thus accepting the terms and conditions of the event and fundraising, therefore teams cannot engage in fundraising to cover their entry fee.
Must we meet the minimum fundraising commitment?
Yes. You must meet the minimum fundraising commitment by the final fundraising deadline June 19, 2013. Failure to do so could restrict entry into future Oxfam events.
I want to qualify for the awesome fundraising incentives; how do I upgrade my fundraising commitment?
Brilliant! We recommend upgrading your target when you are within $500 of your current commitment. To upgrade email info@oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz.
To view the list of awesome incentives you receive dependent on your fundraising commitment, check out the fundraising rewards page.
What fundraising materials do I receive?
Your number one fundraising resource is your online fundraising page. You can personalise it with photos and blogs to keep your supporters up to date. You will also receive a fundraising book to record cash or cheque donations, posters, fundraising cards to help people find your team page online, a copy of "Oxfam Update" to help you give examples of what you're fundraising for, Oxfam balloons to help your fundraising events stand out…and us! We have a wealth of fundraising tips, so if you need any suggestions we’re here to help.
What fundraising rewards do I receive?
There are a fantastic range of fundraising rewards on offer from Oxfam Trailwalker hi-vis pack covers to Bivouac gift vouchers. For the full list of rewards, the fine print and how to redeem your rewards go to fundraising rewards page.
I need my Preparation Pack to fundraise. Where is it?
Preparation packs are sent out in batches from mid-November. From November onwards you can expect to receive yours within two weeks of confirming your team place. You can start fundraising without it though – your online fundraising page is the ideal fundraising tool as it is ready as soon as your team is confirmed. The information within the Preparation Pack is also on the website, so have a read.
How do I get offline funds onto my team page? OR People have given me cash for pledges on my team page. How do I pay for their pledge?
The first thing to establish is if these people would like a receipt for their donation.
If yes - you have two options (in order of preference for us to reduce admin):
1. Make individual credit card payments through your team page for each sponsor/pledge, completing your SPONSORS' details rather than your own in the donation screen. Make sure you include your sponsors' email addresses so they receive the eReceipt.
2. a. Fill out a slip from your fundraising booklet for each sponsor (for pledges make sure to tick the box that says “fulfilling a pledge made online”) and post to us with a cheque to cover the total of the donations, or cheques from your sponsors.
2.b. Don't have a cheque book? Send in the slips with your credit card number on them. Or you can make a lump sum credit card payment through your team page to cover the total of the offline funds you have and send your slips with a note to say which online payment covers them.
For pledges: we will convert your pledges to actual funds raised on your team page and post receipts to your sponsors for you.
If no - you have three options (in order of preference for us to reduce admin):
1. Make a lump sum credit card payment through your team page to cover the total of the relevant offline funds and list your sponsors in the comments field to acknowledge them.
2. Make individual credit card payments through your team page to cover each donation. Include your own details and reference your sponsors in the comments fields.
3. Send us a cheque to cover the total of the offline funds.
Please include a note very clearly itemizing which donations your cheque covers. We will add these donations to show as funds raised on your team page.
I used to have five regular givers recruited on my team page and now I only have one. What happened to the others? OR My team page says I've recruited three regular givers but they haven't been credited to the fundraising tally. When will they be added?
1. The others were either duplicates or the recruitees have not made their first payment after 8 weeks.
2. When they make their first payment.
Answering your supporters' questions about Oxfam
We've all been there – caught off guard by someone making claims about Oxfam or about the people who are working hard to get themselves out of poverty. Listed below are some questions or comments you might get when asking for donations with some answers that might help you out.
General supporters' questions about Oxfam
What does the name "Oxfam" stand for?
Oxfam was originally founded in Oxford in 1942 as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief; this is now Oxfam Great Britain still based in Oxford, UK. It was one of several local committees formed in support of the National Famine Relief Committee. Their mission was to persuade the British government to allow food relief through the Allied blockade for the starving citizens of Axis-occupied Greece. The committee changed its name to its telegraph address, OXFAM, in 1965.
What does Oxfam do now?
Oxfam New Zealand is part of a global network of Oxfam affiliates who all exist for a very simple reason – because poverty and injustice are unacceptable.
Oxfam New Zealand works in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, supporting long-term development and campaigning for economic and political change to address the unjust systems that maintain poverty.
When disaster strikes, Oxfam keeps survivors alive by supplying life-saving essentials, and stays on to help communities rebuild.
From clean water to fair trade, from East Timor to Haiti, we believe in the power of people to change the world. Together we can address the root causes of inequality and help people lift themselves out of poverty.
Does all the money you raise just go on admin and staff salaries?
As you can see in the graph below, this isn't the case. But administration isn't a dirty word – it's essential to the running of any organisation.
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Are the people Oxfam work with just lazy?
All the communities we work with are working really hard to make ends meet and to improve life for themselves and their children. They desperately want to work their way out of poverty and with the right support, a lot of passion, drive, enthusiasm and sheer hard graft on their part, many are already getting there.
Is the money just taken by corrupt governments?
Corruption is a sad fact of life, but turning our backs on poor communities in badly run countries is not an option. While Oxfam does work with some governments – to get permission to work in their country or to work alongside an existing initiative – we don't give them money. Oxfam supports, and finances, independent local organisations; and our projects are always administered by Oxfam staff.
Does aid do any good?
Ask that to the millions of people we work with! Until trade rules do more to help poor countries compete on an equal footing with rich, western nations, aid is crucial. For all developing countries, the amount of aid they receive and how it is spent is an important part of their efforts to reduce poverty. Some aid is provided in emergency situations, when people's lives are in danger. Other aid is needed to help provide essential services such as health care and education.
Are people in developing countries having too many babies?
Health care in many poor countries is inadequate at best and non-existent at worst. Contraception is either unavailable or unaffordable. And from the moment a child is born the odds are stacked against them: one in ten children in Papua New Guinea won't reach their fifth birthday compared to one in one hundred in NZ.
Children are needed to help grow food, collect water and look after livestock. If they have access to an education then as they grow they can contribute to their country's economy. The reality is that there are plenty of resources for everyone, if only we were a little fairer about how we distributed it.
Training
What is the terrain like?
There are hills! The course travels through open paddocks, forest and native bush, some existing public walkways, forestry roads and a few sections cleared especially for Oxfam Trailwalker. Take a look at the course Google earth fly-over video and the course map and profile.
Am I fit enough to do OxfamTrailwalker?
We firmly believe anyone with the right training and attitude, can complete the Oxfam Trailwalker challenge. Our 70-year-old participant from 2007 is testament to that! We do offer some basic training advice and plans.
How much training will I need to do?
Training is the difference between just scraping through and absolutely loving your Oxfam Trailwalker experience. No matter how fit you are, it's still important to do a substantial amount of off-road training (your feet move very differently on varied terrain and your body uses different muscles), practise walking at night and practise walking when you're fatigued.
We have basic training plans for beginners, intermediate and advanced starters.
What should we wear?
Sports wear is a good start – the fabrics have technical properties to keep you cool/warm and importantly dry from sweat and moisture. Apart from that – just make sure you've tried it, and it's comfortable. Have a look at the recommended gear list for clothing suggestions or visit a Bivouac store near you for expert advice.
Are trainers or hiking boots better for this event?
It is up to you – but whatever you choose you'll need multiple pairs of one or both. The best thing to do is get training to find out what is best for you. Different socks will also feel more or less comfortable in different shoes so try multiple combinations to find the most comfortable fit.
Shoe Clinic is passionate about finding the perfect shoes for your feet through their specialised fitting service. In support of the physical and fundraising challenge Oxfam Trailwalkers' undertake, Shoe Clinic is kindly donating 10% of all Oxfam Trailwalkers' purchases back to Oxfam (please identify yourself as an Oxfam participant when you are in store). Plus Oxfam Trailwalker participants will find $10 of Shoe Clinic Money in their preparation pack and will get further benefits through the Shoe Clinic Advantage Club!
Event
Can I pull out before the event?
Accidents happen and sometimes there are injuries before the event. Rather than the whole team pull out, you only need to replace the injured team member.
Can my team complete the event like a relay?
No, teams must travel the full 100km together. This means teams must check-in and check-out of each checkpoint as a team.
Must I have a support team?
Yes. You travel as lightly as possible through the trail and your support team meets you at the checkpoints with food, a change of clothes, night gear, etc. Check out the support crew guide.
What facilities are at the checkpoints?
At each checkpoint there will be first aid, hot and cold water and toilets. Any other special requests should be provided by your lovely support crew.
Will my mobile phone work?
There are some areas of the trail where mobile phones do not work. We advise that you carry phones on two different networks to extend the coverage.
Do we sleep during the event?
We do not recommend that you sleep during the event. Experience shows sleeping makes it much harder to keep going and teams that sleep have a higher incidence of not completing. If you decide against this advice there are strict procedures around how we track sleeping teams – if teams do not follow the procedures communicated in the Event Guide (available early April) and at Safety Briefings we may start search and rescue procedures.
Entry
How do I enter Oxfam Trailwalker?
It's easy! Just register to reserve your team place for $25 (incl. GST), then you've got 28 days to get your team together and pay the entry fee to confirm your team in the world's greatest team challenge.
How much will it cost?
To reserve your team place is $25 (incl. GST). The entry fee for your team of four is $600 (incl. GST). These fees do not count towards your fundraising commitment and are not tax deductable.
What does my entry fee cover?
The entry fee paid by each team is used to cover the costs of running the event. This includes paying for things such as venue hire, equipment hire for portaloos, marquees, lighting towers and heaters. It covers the fundraising materials you get, your training weekends, the maps you need, checkpoint staff, medical cover and safety equipment, event staff and more. Entry fees mean that the funds you work so hard to raise are actually going towards Oxfam's work.
What if I've got a team and we're ready to go?
Email us now! This is the best way to skip the boring bits; we'll give you a call and have your team sorted in no time.
Can we change our team name after we've registered?
Absolutely. Once your team is confirmed with four team members and entry fee payment, you will have access to edit your team details via your online team page. Some teams even auction off their team name as a fundraiser.
Can we have more than 4 people per team?
Unfortunately, no. If you know a few keen walkers, encourage them to get another team together by advertising for team mates on the Lonely Boots page.
Are there any refunds?
Under some circumstances we will refund a team's entry fee as per the refund policy.
Who can enter?
Anyone over 18 years old who wants to make a difference in the world, is most welcome to enter Oxfam Trailwalker.
