MP triking through Canterbury

Nelson-based Green MP Mike Ward is cycling from Bluff to Nelson during the current parliamentary recess to meet with Mayors, councillors, schools, waste organisations, regional business associations, local Greens and the public on the issues of waste, community economic development and transport. He intends to deliver stories from the people he meets to Parliament so as to provide another perspective on what is going on around the country.

"Getting out of planes and motorcars on to my recumbent trike will let me experience the lovelier initiatives around the country on a more intimate level than parliamentary life generally allows," said Mr Ward, the Green Party Spokesperson on Sports, Fitness & Leisure, Local Government, Waste, Tourism and Associate on Transport. The 61-year-old veteran of every Coast-to-Coast race expects the 1021km cycle mission to be straightforward. The North Island leg will follow later in the year.

Mike Ward's Canterbury Itinerary - April 2004

Tuesday 20th: Waimate to Timaru - 47 km 9.00am: Meet Mike at Country Kitchen, next to the info centre, Queens St., Waimate. 3.30pm: Meeting Roger Luscombe, Aoraki Polytechnic maintenance manager, to view and discuss their waste initiatives.

Wednesday 21st: Timaru to Geraldine - 40km 9.00am: Meeting Brian Gallagher, Timaru Council's solid waste manager, to discuss local waste issues. Will then visit the resource recovery shed. 10.30am: Meeting Murray Cleverley from Aoraki Development trust. 11.30am: Meet Mike at Boudiccas Café 64 The Bay Hill, Timaru. 8.00pm: Public Meeting on waste and buy local issues, St Andrews Church Hall, Wilson Street, Geraldine. Contact: Debs Martin - debsmartin@paradise.net.nz or 027 684 0599.

Thursday 22nd: Geraldine to Ashburton - 45km Noon: Meet Mike at the Village Inn Café, Geraldine.

Friday 23rd: Ashburton to Stavely - 32 km 9.00am: Visiting Wastebusters Trust Canterbury, Ashburton. Noon: Meet Mike at Kelly's Café 234 East St., Ashburton. Later: Staying with the GE-Free walkers Karen and Fraser at To Breath Eco-Backpackers, Stavely Stavely Contact: Karen Palmer 03 303 0712.

Saturday 24th: Stavely to Christchurch - 86km 1.30pm: Meet Mike at Hornby Mall car park, cnr main highway & Carmen Rd to cycle into Christchurch.

Sunday 25th ANZAC Day: Christchurch 10.00am - Noon Meet Mike at the Christchurch Square. If wet at the Green rooms, 16 Bedford Rd. 2.00pm: Meet Mike at the New Brighton Activity Centre. 4.30pm: Concert at the activity centre. Later: Visit to the sand dunes that the council plan to lower in New Brighton. Contact: David Hill - dphill@xtra.co.nz or 027 421 3761.

Monday 26th: Christchurch to Amberley, via Rangiora - 57km 9.00am: Meeting Tony Moore, Christchurch City Council waste officer. 10.00am: Meeting the Canterbury Development Corporation. 1.00pm: Meeting Waimakariri Waste Officer Kitty Waghorn, Rangiora. 2.00pm: Meeting John Stokes from 'Our Town Rangiora'. 7.00pm: Meeting with Trish Coleman from Leithfield Amberley Promotions Association to discuss community economic development. 7.30pm: Meet Mike at the Nor Wester Café and Bar, 95 Carters Rd., Amberley.

Tuesday 27th: Amberley to Kaikoura - 131 km 9.00am: Meeting Hurunui Mayor Tony Arps and staff at recycling depot by Mobil Garage, SH1, Amberley.

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