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In a move to improve New Zealand’s cycling infrastructure, the government has announced a $9 million funding boost aimed at upgrading and replacing key elements of the Great Rides network.
This initiative promises not only to improve the quality of the rides but also to stimulate economic growth in local communities.
“The Great Rides receive around one million visitors a year, of which approximately 20 per cent are international visitors,” says manager of investment management performance David Talbot.
“By welcoming more visitors to the Great Rides, we are creating jobs and increasing incomes for Kiwi workers.
“For more than fifteen years, the investment into the Great Rides has been an effective partnership between central and local Government and local communities that now delivers approximately $1 billion per year of economic benefit to regional economies.
“This annual benefit has been achieved from a total investment of just over $129 million from the Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail Fund and co-investment of at least $60 million from local communities.”
This new funding is set to improve the strength and design of the trails, making sure they can withstand the challenges by New Zealand’s weather conditions. Specific improvements will be tailored to the submitted projects from the Great Rides, including strengthening trail surfaces and enhancing safety measures.
“Specific design and resilience improvement examples will depend on the projects submitted by the Great Rides as part of the Expressions of Interest,” says David.
The government’s commitment to the Great Rides highlights the importance of sustainable tourism and the potential for attracting more international visitors, particularly from Australia.
“The Great Rides have strong support from their host communities, support low impact/sustainable tourism, and have potential to attract additional international visitors from our key markets such as Australia,” says David.
While the funding is a welcome development, it is worth noting that the New Zealand Cycle Trail Fund, which has provided consistent annual support, currently remains at $8 million.
However, this investment is crucial in maximizing the Great Rides’ potential to deliver ongoing regional economic benefits.
