December 04, 2012
Hapū to cash in on Pureora bike trail
A consortium of central North Island Māori land trusts are hoping for a tourism boom from the Pureora Timber Trail, which is part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.
The first section opened at the weekend, and the whole trail from Pureora to Ongarue is due to open in March.
Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says the Government is contributing $5.5 million through the cycle trail project budget and the Department of Conservation.
He says DoC has asked the Kohia consortium to manage aspects of the trail, which analysts predict could attract up to 15,000 tourists every year.
The Pureora trail will cross New Zealand’s longest cycle trail suspension bridge over the Maungatukutuku Stream, pass by spectacular rock formations and travel deep into native bush.
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