Bike Taupo volunteers receive national recognition

1368 Bike Taupo members received national recognition for their work in making Taupo the most bike-friendly town in New Zealand at the TrustPower National Community Awards during the weekend.

 

Bike Taupo, which was established in 2002, was named runner-up out of 23 regional finalists assessed by a panel of ten judges in Wanaka on Saturday (29 March).

 

Richard Balm and Pete Masters represented Bike Taupo at the awards and were supported by Mayor Rick Cooper. The club’s efforts in being advocates for safe cycling and in maintaining 75km of tracks throughout the Taupo District were applauded by the award’s judges. The tracks will soon increase to 100 km with the construction of a new path from Whakaipo Bay to Kinloch. “Everything we build is for both walkers and cyclists,” said Mr Balm.

 

Mr Balm said the club’s aim is to make Taupo the most bike-friendly town or city in New Zealand. “We will be happy when every school in Taupo has to build bike sheds again,” he said.

 

According to Mr Balm, the club’s success is attributable to its energetic, passionate members who love to “get stuck in”.

 

Mayor Rick Cooper praised Bike Taupo and said the work it does pulls the community together and improves life for everybody. “Bike Taupo is creating a sense of ownership for the district,” he said. “It is opening up beautiful areas of our district which were previously inaccessible. The club’s work is resulting in the creation of iconic attractions for Taupo.”

 

“There’s a saying I like which is very relevant to this situation: ‘Volunteers are unpaid not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless’. On behalf of the Council, I want to acknowledge the fantastic work Bike Taupo is doing,” said Mayor Cooper.

 

As well as a written entry, finalists were required to make a 10 minute presentation. The judges included North & South Editor Virginia Larson, Otago MP Jacqui Dean and Russell Ness from Volunteering New Zealand. The 23 finalists were also able to vote for their preferred winner. Bike Taupo received $1500 for winning the runner-up title.