Latest news with #RuapehuDistrictCouncil
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Te Hangāruru Cycle Trail: Key Section In Mountains To Sea Ride Opens In June
Article – Moana Ellis – Local Democracy Reporter Iwi collective Te Korowai o Wainuirua is working with the Ruapehu District Council and other stakeholders in the central North Island to build the trail connecting Waimarino (formerly National Park village) to Horopito, and eventually to Pkk. Trail builders are three weeks away from opening the newest section of the Mountains to Sea – Ngā Ara Tūhono Great Ride cycle trail. When complete, the 29.4km Te Hangāruru Cycle Trail will deliver the infamous 'missing link' in a multi-day adventure ride, starting on the volcanic slopes of Mt Ruapehu and ending at the Tasman Sea in Whanganui. Iwi collective Te Korowai o Wainuiārua is working with the Ruapehu District Council and other stakeholders in the central North Island to build the trail connecting Waimarino (formerly National Park village) to Horopito, and eventually to Pōkākā. Trail manager Lynley Twyman said construction of this section began in October 2023 and was being built in stages as funding came in. Te Hangāruru will feature boardwalks, 17 bridges and four suspension bridges over a track through subalpine landscape, including podocarp forests. The country's longest suspension bridge, stretching 200 meters across the Makatote River, will be built in a later stage of the project. Earlier this month, teams from Midwest Helicopters, Abseil Access and Impel 2010 installed a 30m suspension bridge over the Mangaturuturu River, and trail builders are working now on completing the approaches. Another 99m suspension bridge will be built over the Manganui-o-te-Ao in the next phase of works, and an underpass under the Main Trunk Line, just north of Pōkākā, is under construction. 'Once complete, this trail will be another jewel for the Ruapehu community and an unforgettable ride or walk for adventurers across Aotearoa,' Twyman said. Ngā Ara Tūhono Charitable Trust, which oversees the trail, is seeking final funding for the last phases of the trail. 'But we're building everything we can now, with the resources we have,' Twyman said. The Trust is chaired by Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe. Members include Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton, Tūpoho iwi representative Chris Kumeroa, Ngāti Rangi's Ngā Waihua o Paerangi pouārahi Helen Leahy, Te Korowai o Wainuiārua chair Aiden Gilbert, Whanganui Māori tourism representative Hayden Potaka, and Whanganui District Council representative Rory Smith. The completed Mountains to Sea trail will offer more than 320km of connected trails, including stretches through two national parks and alongside the Whanganui River. It will become one of the 23 Great Rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Ngā Haerenga. The first 9km of Te Hangāruru – 'a fabulous piece of track' – will open on June 19. The Trust is calling for community volunteers to pitch in from 10am on Sunday, 1 June, to plant 800 locally sourced native trees and shrubs around the Horopito trail head, opposite Horopito Motors (also known as Smash Palace). The planting is part of a rehabilitation project for land that was returned to Te Korowai o Wainuiārua by the Crown earlier this month under treaty settlement. 'It was covered in rubbish and pest plants like gorse, broom and blackberry. It has been cleaned up with care – now it's our turn to give back,' Twyman said. 'This planting is all about rehabilitating the whenua, making sure we're contributing back to the environment and our people. 'The community keeps asking how they can help – this is how. Bring your spade, scissors, boots and lunch, and get stuck in.' Twyman said Te Hangāruru gives riders a front-row seat to 'seriously stunning central plateau scenery'. 'You'll cruise through native forest, alongside relics from early timber milling days, and beautiful farmland.' Towering above the landscape is Hauhungatahi, at 1521 meters one of New Zealand's tallest volcanoes. 'What makes it truly unique is that it's built atop an upfaulted block of ancient mesozoic marine sediment – rock that once sat on the seafloor,' Twyman said. 'The lava that formed Hauhungatahi erupted around 900,000 years ago, making it more than three times as old as Mt Ruapehu.' The completed trail will feature an 18km section of the historic Marton Sash and Door tramway route, built in the 1920s for locomotives to take logs from Waimarino and Ngātokoerua to the town of Marton, south of the plateau.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Te Hangāruru Cycle Trail: Key Section In Mountains To Sea Ride Opens In June
Trail builders are three weeks away from opening the newest section of the Mountains to Sea – Ngā Ara Tūhono Great Ride cycle trail. When complete, the 29.4km Te Hangāruru Cycle Trail will deliver the infamous 'missing link' in a multi-day adventure ride, starting on the volcanic slopes of Mt Ruapehu and ending at the Tasman Sea in Whanganui. Iwi collective Te Korowai o Wainuiārua is working with the Ruapehu District Council and other stakeholders in the central North Island to build the trail connecting Waimarino (formerly National Park village) to Horopito, and eventually to Pōkākā. Trail manager Lynley Twyman said construction of this section began in October 2023 and was being built in stages as funding came in. Te Hangāruru will feature boardwalks, 17 bridges and four suspension bridges over a track through subalpine landscape, including podocarp forests. The country's longest suspension bridge, stretching 200 meters across the Makatote River, will be built in a later stage of the project. Earlier this month, teams from Midwest Helicopters, Abseil Access and Impel 2010 installed a 30m suspension bridge over the Mangaturuturu River, and trail builders are working now on completing the approaches. Another 99m suspension bridge will be built over the Manganui-o-te-Ao in the next phase of works, and an underpass under the Main Trunk Line, just north of Pōkākā, is under construction. 'Once complete, this trail will be another jewel for the Ruapehu community and an unforgettable ride or walk for adventurers across Aotearoa,' Twyman said. Ngā Ara Tūhono Charitable Trust, which oversees the trail, is seeking final funding for the last phases of the trail. 'But we're building everything we can now, with the resources we have,' Twyman said. The Trust is chaired by Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe. Members include Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton, Tūpoho iwi representative Chris Kumeroa, Ngāti Rangi's Ngā Waihua o Paerangi pouārahi Helen Leahy, Te Korowai o Wainuiārua chair Aiden Gilbert, Whanganui Māori tourism representative Hayden Potaka, and Whanganui District Council representative Rory Smith. The completed Mountains to Sea trail will offer more than 320km of connected trails, including stretches through two national parks and alongside the Whanganui River. It will become one of the 23 Great Rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Ngā Haerenga. The first 9km of Te Hangāruru – 'a fabulous piece of track' – will open on June 19. The Trust is calling for community volunteers to pitch in from 10am on Sunday, 1 June, to plant 800 locally sourced native trees and shrubs around the Horopito trail head, opposite Horopito Motors (also known as Smash Palace). The planting is part of a rehabilitation project for land that was returned to Te Korowai o Wainuiārua by the Crown earlier this month under treaty settlement. 'It was covered in rubbish and pest plants like gorse, broom and blackberry. It has been cleaned up with care – now it's our turn to give back,' Twyman said. 'This planting is all about rehabilitating the whenua, making sure we're contributing back to the environment and our people. 'The community keeps asking how they can help – this is how. Bring your spade, scissors, boots and lunch, and get stuck in.' Twyman said Te Hangāruru gives riders a front-row seat to 'seriously stunning central plateau scenery'. 'You'll cruise through native forest, alongside relics from early timber milling days, and beautiful farmland.' Towering above the landscape is Hauhungatahi, at 1521 meters one of New Zealand's tallest volcanoes. 'What makes it truly unique is that it's built atop an upfaulted block of ancient mesozoic marine sediment – rock that once sat on the seafloor,' Twyman said. 'The lava that formed Hauhungatahi erupted around 900,000 years ago, making it more than three times as old as Mt Ruapehu.' The completed trail will feature an 18km section of the historic Marton Sash and Door tramway route, built in the 1920s for locomotives to take logs from Waimarino and Ngātokoerua to the town of Marton, south of the plateau.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Taumarunui rail yard ready for economic rebirth
Kirton, a long-time rail enthusiast and active member of the Taumarunui Rail Action Centre, advocated for the carriages to be reused or re-purposed wherever possible. But they were left to deteriorate, creating an eyesore that frustrated locals and limited the potential use of the rail yard area. 'It was disappointing to see the carriages deteriorate to the point that some had to be scrapped,' he said. 'Their poor condition made removal increasingly difficult and costly, requiring major engineering work to move them by rail, while transport by truck was also prohibitively expensive.' Kirton said the timing of the final removal was useful, coinciding with the Government's Budget 2025 commitment to investing $461 million into the national rail network. The investment would put the spotlight back on regional freight and infrastructure, Kirton said. 'With the new pet food factory in Taumarunui ramping up production, our rail yards could once again play a vital role in enabling efficient, reliable and low-carbon freight services.' Kirton said the Taumarunui rail yards had historically been central to the district's economy, transporting timber, livestock and agricultural products. 'There's real potential for them to do so again in a way that supports modern industry and sustainability.' Ruapehu District Council had been working with stakeholders and regional partners such as Accelerate35 to explore how the site could best be used to support long-term economic growth and local employment, Kirton said. 'This is an opportunity for Taumarunui to re-establish itself as a key player in regional logistics and rail-enabled development. Council is keen to hear from any businesses or industry who would like to explore this opportunity.'
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Council Steps Up Climate Action With Toitū Carbon Reduce Certification Programme
Press Release – Ruapehu District Council Chief Executive Clive Manley said Council was committed to playing its part in addressing the climate crisis and building long-term resilience for the district. Ruapehu District Council is taking a significant step in its climate change response by undertaking the Toitū Carbon Reduce certification programme, a science-based initiative that supports organisations to measure, verify, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Chief Executive Clive Manley said Council was committed to playing its part in addressing the climate crisis and building long-term resilience for the district. 'Climate change is already having a real impact on our communities – particularly in key sectors like agriculture and tourism,' said Mr Manley. 'By undertaking the Toitū Carbon Reduce certification process, we are creating a robust, science-aligned plan to better understand and reduce Council's own environmental footprint. It's about taking responsibility, leading by example, and making sure we're doing our part to support a more sustainable future for Ruapehu.' The Toitū Carbon Reduce certification follows international best practice under the ISO 14064-1 standard. It requires Council to measure our significant operational greenhouse gas emissions – including electricity and fuel use, waste, business travel, and other emissions – and develop a plan to reduce these emissions over time. The results are independently verified to ensure accuracy and accountability. The work is being led by Council's Policy, Strategy and Sustainability team funded by a new targeted Environmental Resilience Rate consulted on as part of the current 2024/34 Long Term Plan for introduction in the 2025/26 financial year. Mr Manley said the new targeted rate will cost ratepayers just $21.22 per year (per rating unit) – a very modest investment for the long-term environmental, economic, and strategic benefits it will deliver well beyond regulatory compliance. 'This work will support better decision-making across our organisation – from procurement to infrastructure planning – and provide verified data that helps guide future policy. It also enables Council to access lower borrowing costs for environmental projects help through the Local Government Funding Agency, helping reduce financial pressure on ratepayers.' He added that the programme would deliver shared value for the wider community. 'Having a certified carbon reduction plan in place shows our commitment to sustainability in a way that's transparent, measurable, and credible. It helps us build trust with our communities, iwi, suppliers, and central government, and positions Ruapehu to be part of wider regional and national climate solutions.' The baseline emissions year for the certification is the 2024 financial year (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024), with certification targeted for October 2025. Council plans to share progress as part of its 2024/25 Annual Report. The Toitū Carbon Reduce certification programme will enable Council to measure, verify, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and help in building long-term resilience for the district.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Council Steps Up Climate Action With Toitū Carbon Reduce Certification Programme
Ruapehu District Council is taking a significant step in its climate change response by undertaking the Toitū Carbon Reduce certification programme, a science-based initiative that supports organisations to measure, verify, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Chief Executive Clive Manley said Council was committed to playing its part in addressing the climate crisis and building long-term resilience for the district. 'Climate change is already having a real impact on our communities - particularly in key sectors like agriculture and tourism,' said Mr Manley. 'By undertaking the Toitū Carbon Reduce certification process, we are creating a robust, science-aligned plan to better understand and reduce Council's own environmental footprint. It's about taking responsibility, leading by example, and making sure we're doing our part to support a more sustainable future for Ruapehu.' The Toitū Carbon Reduce certification follows international best practice under the ISO 14064-1 standard. It requires Council to measure our significant operational greenhouse gas emissions - including electricity and fuel use, waste, business travel, and other emissions - and develop a plan to reduce these emissions over time. The results are independently verified to ensure accuracy and accountability. The work is being led by Council's Policy, Strategy and Sustainability team funded by a new targeted Environmental Resilience Rate consulted on as part of the current 2024/34 Long Term Plan for introduction in the 2025/26 financial year. Mr Manley said the new targeted rate will cost ratepayers just $21.22 per year (per rating unit) – a very modest investment for the long-term environmental, economic, and strategic benefits it will deliver well beyond regulatory compliance. 'This work will support better decision-making across our organisation - from procurement to infrastructure planning - and provide verified data that helps guide future policy. It also enables Council to access lower borrowing costs for environmental projects help through the Local Government Funding Agency, helping reduce financial pressure on ratepayers.' He added that the programme would deliver shared value for the wider community. 'Having a certified carbon reduction plan in place shows our commitment to sustainability in a way that's transparent, measurable, and credible. It helps us build trust with our communities, iwi, suppliers, and central government, and positions Ruapehu to be part of wider regional and national climate solutions.' The baseline emissions year for the certification is the 2024 financial year (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024), with certification targeted for October 2025. Council plans to share progress as part of its 2024/25 Annual Report. The Toitū Carbon Reduce certification programme will enable Council to measure, verify, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and help in building long-term resilience for the district.
