Meet The New Rider # 1241 Eugene Berryman-Kamp

Eugene Berryman-Kamp B.M.S, CMInstD

Tena koutou ki Aotearoa, Ko Te Arawa me Mataatua nga waka, Ko Ngati Kearoa, Ngati Whakaue,
Ngati Awa, Ngati Manawa nga iwi, Ko Horohoro ringaringa a kahumatamomoe toku maunga, Kearoa
toku marae, Pokaitu toku awa, ko Eugene Berryman-Kamp ahau, Tena tatou katoa.
Greetings from New Zealand, Te Arawa & Mataatua are the canoes that bought my ancestors to
Aotearoa NZ, my tribes are Ngati Kearoa, Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Awa & Ngati Manawa, Horohoro is
the name of my mountain, Kearoa the name of my tribal village, Pokaitu the name of my stream, my
name is Eugene Berryman-Kamp. I am a General Manager at the NZ Ministry for Environment, a
board member on a number of Maori health & social service agencies & I have ridden motorcycles for
over 40 years. Yeah I’m that old.

I am honored as rider #1241 to be able to accept the wero (challenge) of the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2024, as outlined above in my mihi (greeting) I am Maori, indigenous to New Zealand (in our language Aotearoa) & part of the attraction of the Hoka Hey is the kaupapa (purpose) set out by Jim Red Cloud in 2007. I am involved in indigenous affairs in NZ, Canada & the USA, having worked with the Wabanaki confederation of tribes in Maine (Penobscot) and the Lakota in Rapid Springs, focused on
our role as indigenous water protectors, along with a number of 1st Nations in Canada as part of the
Indigi-X program. The indigenous component of the Hoka Hey is a key driver for me, along with the
physical, spiritual, mental & emotional challenge of the ride itself. Our people are wayfinders,
polynesian voyagers, travelling new lands as guests of the home peoples, is part of our culture. I will
be fortunate to be riding alongside my relation Dr Kepa Morgan #1242.

In terms of riding I think I’m up to bike number 9, I have motorcycle toured & camped extensively in
Europe (26 countries, 70 000kms), completed 6 IBA SS1600kms, 2 TT2000 (2000km in 48 hrs) & 6
1KCs (1000km in 1 day) in New Zealand plus ridden in 9 USA states & attended Sturgis so I should
have the long distance riding experience required to undertake the Hoka Hey. My current ride is an
BMW R1200 GS Adventure, but am negotiating to purchase an American V twin for the challenge. My
objective will be to finish within the 14 day time frame to qualify as an elite finisher, also I will be
having to take a considerable amount of leave from work (flights from NZ take 2 days each way) & so
need to focus on completing within the 14 days, to fit in my 3 week annual leave opportunity.

My charity is the Waiariki Womans Refuge, a charity supporting Maori woman escaping domestic
abuse & family violence. I plan to hold a ride day, arrange per mile sponsorship and also hold an
event on my return to Aotearoa NZ, to raise funds for this very worthy cause (website link below).
Waiariki Womens Refuge 

I look forward to joining you at the start line in Daytona, Mauriora, may your life force be well.