Joint media release - Councils commit to Te Awa River Ride

Joint media release: Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council, Waipa District Council
and Te Awa River Ride Trust.

Three Waikato Mayors will this month sign agreements committing their councils to the Te Awa Great New Zealand River Ride.

The river ride will follow the Waikato River for 70 km, from Ngaruawahia to Horahora, through a mix of farmland, exotic vegetation and native New Zealand bush. It is expected to become a major tourist drawcard for the region, and will open up parts of the wider Waikato not usually accessible to visitors.

Driven by the Te Awa River Ride Trust, the project has a the support of several companies and local councils, and the signing event on November 19 at Waikato Museum will formalise the commitment of Hamilton City Council, Waipa District Council and Waikato District Council to the project.

Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker, Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson and Waipa District Council Mayor Alan Livingston will join trust representative and former Olympic champion Sarah Ulmer for the signing event.

Commenting, Mayor Hardaker says:  “The Te Awa Great New Zealand River Ride is a fantastic cycleway that will enable locals and visitors to enjoy our region's defining natural assets, the Waikato River and our beautiful Waikato countryside."

Mayor Alan Sanson says: “For years I have seen people cycle to work from Ngaruawahia and Horotiu to Hamilton. With Te Awa there is now a safer way to do this as the cycleway will primarily be traffic free, it has an excellent surface and easy contour.  What a great community asset.”

Waipa Mayor Alan Livingston says: “Te Awa cycleway provides a superb opportunity to open up our Waikato River to cyclists of all ages and ability to enjoy exercise and recreation.

“The Te Awa Trust is to be congratulated for their vision and financial commitment, and in partnering with the three councils, towards making this 70 kilometre cycleway a great regional asset that profiles the city and the Waikato River.”

The signing event will be held at Waikato Museum at 11.30am on 19 November.