Ian Upton is heading south as he takes his peace hikoi from Tauranga to Rotorua today.

Ian arrived in Tauranga Tuesday afternoon before heading south today towards Rotorua, Taupo and Taranaki.

He's in the process of walking the length of the North Island to bring attention to a petition asking the government to switch defence force spending to the planned Ministry for Vulnerable Children.

'While applauding the plan for a Ministry for Vulnerable Children we are aware that it has, at present no new funding. Yet $20 billion has been voted for defence spending over the next 15 years.

'We believe that once the funding disparity between the intended new Ministry and the magnitude of funding for Ministry of Defence is made apparent to ordinary New Zealanders, others will be keen to join our cause.”

A Quaker, Ian believes it's a moral duty to use government funding in a way that makes the peace and wellbeing of the country a priority.

Ian previously walked the length and breadth of the North and South Islands in the 1990s promoting the cause of MMP. The current Hikoi is planned to finish in Wellington on June 22 when the petition will be received. He left Cape Reinga on May 5.

The peace hikoi can be contacted on Facebook