15 May 2007

$6.5m makeover for spectacular Cape Reinga

One of New Zealand's premier visitor destinations, Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua), in the Far North, is to get a $6.5 million government-funded make over as part of Budget 2007.

"Located a the very tip of New Zealand where the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meets, Cape Reinga is home to some of New Zealand's rarest plants and animals, and is important to Maori as the last departure point for spirits on the homeward journey to Hawaiiki," Associate Conservation Minister Mahara Okeroa said.

"With investment, the Labour-led government believes Cape Reinga can grow further as a destination delivering considerable economic and social benefits to the Far North. Budget 2007 delivers that investment as part of a broader programme to protect and enhance New Zealand's special places."

Budget 2007 enables DOC to spend $6.5m over two years on the redevelopment of visitor facilities at the site, such as car parks, eco-friendly toilets, power generation, new roading, walking tracks and replanting through reallocation of scheduled recreational opportunity capital funding. This work will help prepare the area for the development of a visitor centre in future, which the Far North community is fund raising for.

"This redevelopment project for Cape Reinga has been under discussion by the Department of Conservation, local iwi, tourism operators and Enterprise Northland for six years," Mr Okeroa said.

"Transit New Zealand is intending to reseal State Highway 1 to Cape Reinga this year, and visitor numbers to the site are expected to rise to more than 200,000 a year. The redevelopments made possible by Budget 2007 will help the Far North seize this opportunity."

Work will begin on the redevelopment before the end of the year.

ENDS

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