Biking chefs whip around for charity

An award-winning chef will stop in Rotorua as part of a nationwide tour raising money for charity.

Chef Martin Harrap and a team of colleagues started their national 17-day motorbike tour, Cooks on Wheels, last week.

Participants travel the length of the country to raise money for charities, including Arthritis New Zealand.

The trip began on February 4 in Cape Reinga and will travel south to Bluff, then back up to Auckland - a distance of nearly 5000km in just over two weeks.

Along the way, the team of culinary experts will visit polytechnics and other catering establishments.

Mr Harrap is the chef director at Indoor Dining in Auckland and is a recipient of the prestigious Akaroa Salmon NZ Chefs Hall of Fame Award.

The motorcycle ride is raising money for Arthritis New Zealand, @Heart, which was formerly Heart Children NZ, and DineAid.

Mr Harrap said the idea for the nationwide motorcycle fundraiser was born from his passion for riding and his new motorbike.

He said arthritis was New Zealand's leading cause of disability. There are more than 530,000 New Zealanders living with arthritis, including young people and children.

On February 18 Mr Harrap and his team will leave Waiouru for Rotorua. They will leave on February 19, stopping in Whakatane and ending the day in Auckland.

To make a donation visit www.everydayhero.co.nz/cooksonwheels.