Media Release

16 August 2013

Hawke’s Bay Trails keeps pedalling

The winter months have been kind and it’s great to see Hawke’s Bay people and visitors out on Hawke’s Bay Trails.

Recent survey results returned to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council show that our open spaces and places like Hawke’s Bay Trails are extremely well supported and important to Hawke’s Bay people. 

HBRC has been busy making improvements to the trails.  We’re working on a set of new information panels dotted around the pre-‘31 earthquake Ahuriri Lagoon, and staff hope to have these signs in place by summer.

Other improvements include:
• A review of ‘kissing’ gates on the Trails;
• Construction of a new ‘ramp’ to the stream crossing near Springfield Road, to improve safety on this section of the Puketapu loop;
• Working with Hastings council on a handrail design for Black Bridge, completing the ‘mad mile’ narrow section of Waimarama Road and fixing water issues on the Te Mata Road lime sand trail;
• Napier council will start work later this year on 2 routes: finishing off the Taipo Stream pathway between Balmoral and Neeve Roads (September) and connecting the pathway beside the State Highway from Onehunga Road, Petane Domain to Bay View;
• Completing a small off-road section on River Road (Havelock North);
• Napier Rotary Pathways Trust continues to work through walking route options across the western hills (Taradale) following a bequest from the late Basil McCoward;
• HBRC are working with the newly formed Central Hawke’s Bay Pathway Trust to realising their plans for a network of pathways around the Waipawa and Waipukurau communities.

Supporters of Hawke’s Bay Trails are delighted to hear of the new Tandem Café opening on the former Tuki Kitchen site and look forward to seeing this area become a hub of activity.

The team behind Hawke’s Bay Trails meet regularly – it includes councils and Hawke’s Bay Tourism.  Two of the team will attend a New Zealand Cycle Trail forum on 27 August.  A meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Cycling Reference Group is also planned for September, with events such as The Wineries Ride @ F.A.W.C! Food & Wine Classic Hawke’s Bay planned for Saturday 9 November and The Big Easy EASTER 2014 pencilled in for Saturday 19 April 2014.  The team are working to maintain and enhance our walking/ cycling network and attract more users.  

Hawke’s Bay Trails is one of 20 “Great Rides” on Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

If you have any feedback on using the Trails, for example, trail surface damage, way-finding issues etc, please contact Neil Daykin at HBRC, daykin@hbrc.govt.nz or on 833 8048. 
Neil can also be contacted on behalf of Hawke’s Bay Trails and the Napier & Hastings Rotary Pathway Trusts should you or your family be considering donations/ sponsorship.

Happy Cycling on Hawke’s Bay Trails!

Image caption: Hawke’s Bay Trails can be enjoyed at any time of year.

ENDS

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