Driver Mike Waddell, along with partner Pam Munro, took off from Dunedin for Parliament on Friday and, following stops in Waikouaiti, Palmerston and Hampden, parked up in Oamaru overnight.
Waitaki residents mingling in a busy Oamaru CBD on a pleasant spring morning quickly gravitated towards the campaign mascot on Saturday.
The old Chevrolet ambulance, with its guardians, garnered plenty of attention and a "warm welcome".
"The support has been fabulous," Mr Waddell said in the Victorian precinct.
Without exception, the local comment was "we need our hospital here, but we need the hospital in Dunedin".
"It’s a really warm Oamaru welcome ... people have been great."
It was also good to have Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher on the ground in support, Mr Waddell said.
"Gary has been excellent in supporting what we’re doing."
Mr Waddell said the locals they spoke to were very clear that without a viable Dunedin hospital with a full range of services, then Waitaki locals could not be confident of a level of healthcare they had the right to expect in their area either.
Mr Kircher said the cause went to the heart of ensuring social and economic cohesiveness in the southern region — it was much more than about Dunedin — but the step back by the government was an unacceptable development.
The government reneging cut into the social licence New Zealand society gave to those in power — that politicians should keep their word.
"We feel privileged to be part of this very, very necessary cause, especially when there’s been promises made," Mr Kircher said.
"For us as a community it’s really, really unfair and they wonder why people don’t have faith in the political system."
Meanwhile Cliff was costing a lot less than the $110,000 it was apparently costing every day the hospital project decision was not made, Mr Waddell said.
But the old ambulance was "a bit like a horse and dray" to drive and rather thirsty — at $300 a tank — but donations were flowing in via the sale of campaign badges, which was helping them on their way.
