An emergency fund has been launched to help repair and reopen walking and cycling tracks across Banks Peninsula, following severe storm damage earlier this year.
The February 2026 storm caused widespread flooding and landslides across the region, leaving many popular trails unsafe or completely unusable.
In response, Kura Tāwhiti – Canterbury Community Foundation has partnered with the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust to establish a dedicated repair fund, with a target of raising $200,000 to accelerate recovery efforts.
The damage to the track network has been significant, with restoration costs expected to reach around $500,000. Community support is being described as critical to ensure the trails can be safely reopened and strengthened against future extreme weather events.
Banks Peninsula’s trails are widely used by locals and visitors for walking, biking and connecting with the natural environment. They are also seen as an important part of the region’s identity and tourism offering, making their restoration a priority for both the community and conservation groups.
The recovery effort will be led by the Rod Donald Trust, with funding distributed to local organisations carrying out repair and resilience work across the peninsula.
The fund also reflects a broader push to build resilience in the face of increasingly frequent and intense weather events, which continue to impact communities across Aotearoa.
As repair work begins, the focus remains on restoring access while protecting the natural landscape for future generations.
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