Media Release 1 March 2018

New Funding is Great News for Nelson Tasman

Wheels are in motion to add another 60km to cycle trails in the Nelson-Tasman region with new funding of $2.4 million. Tourism Minister, Hon Kelvin Davis, announced this funding has been approved after presentation of a business case to central government to extend the Great Taste Trail.

This money is from the New Zealand Cycle Trail Enhancement and Extension Fund, which provides money to extend and improving the Great Rides. The Great Taste Trail is the first to receive money from this fund. The announcement follows many years of hard work by the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust and others.

Chair of the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust, Gillian Wratt, is delighted at the announcement saying, “this is something we have been working towards since 2009. We have had support and financial commitment from the two local Councils throughout this time. The Great Taste Trail would not have grown as it has without the generous support of local landowners, ratepayers and businesses and the government contribution should be seen as acknowledgement of all the hard work that has gone into the Trail so far”

“We are especially grateful for the cooperation of private landowners who have been willing to work constructively with the Trust and councils for the benefit of the wider community. We want to thank everyone who has helped us achieve this outcome”.

As well as the $2.4 m from MBIE (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment), funding for Stage 2 is being provided from Tasman District Council and Nelson City Councils, New Zealand Transport Authority, corporate sponsorships, volunteers and grants.

When complete, the Great Taste Trail will be a 175km loop cycle trail. Stage 1 has been completed and there is now 113km of predominantly off-road trail linking Nelson westwards with Kaiteriteri (access to Abel Tasman National Park) and southwards to Norris Gully (via Spooners Tunnel), through various rural communities. It is estimated that there are 124,000 users per year.

Stage 2 will take the Great Taste Trail from Wakefield to Kohatu and Tapawera, then down the Motueka River valley to connect with trail to Kaiteriteri. This will provide for around 60km of new cycle trail.

Ms Wratt says that the new funding will “create a two to four-day loop ride that links accommodation, food and beverage outlets and attractions such as beaches, vineyards, National Parks, heritage sites and local artists. I am looking forward to being able to use cycle trail to get all the way from my home in Nelson to Tapawera for a coffee”.

With this added trail, and with closing the loop, modelling for the number of users on the Great Taste Trail shows growth to 182,000 by 2029. Over this time, the percentage of international and out-of-region visitors will increase, as will the percentage of multi-day users. This will result in a significant benefit to accommodation providers and other businesses in the Nelson-Tasman region. Modelling has put the net economic benefit, as a result of increased visitors to the region using the Great Taste Trail, at around $11,640,000.

The Great Taste Trail is one of 22 Great Rides that make up Ngā Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail. The Great Rides are great regional tourism assets that showcase the best of New Zealand – our landscapes, environment, culture and heritage. They are encouraging domestic and international visitor spending in our regions and smaller communities.

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