South Waikato is pedalling plans to extend its 100km South Waikato cycle trail to link Putaruru with Rotorua and draw visitors from the tourist hot spot.

The South Waikato’s enthusiasm and forward thinking for the Nga Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail got a boost when Prime Minister John Key fronted up with $3 million from the $50 million national cycle trail fund to pay for the remaining 41km of its 100km track.

Mr Key promised yesterday at the launch of the construction of the first cycleway to return to the South Waikato next year with his bicycle and family.

“You’re unlikely to see me in spandex, but you are likely to see me on the bike in the South Waikato,” Mr Key said.

The 100km trail – from Lake Karapiro south to Whakamaru – is to be completed in time for the world rowing champs next year but the South Waikato District Council and Waikato River Trails Trust are already looking at applying for the second stage of the national cycleway funding to link the trail with Rotorua.

The river trail trust is proposing extending the track by an additional 120km using the old rail track from Rotorua to Putaruru and linking it with the 100km river trail at Horahora.

South Waikato Mayor Neil Sinclair, whose council provides funding to the trust, said it was one of his “dreams” to see the trail expand. “It’s wonderful to see access to the river,” he said.

Mr Sinclair gave Mr Key a dream catcher to encourage him to keep the dream alive.

Waikato River Trust chairwoman Ali van der Heyden said it had taken the trust six years to build 59km and it needed the $3 million to help it complete the “hard bits”. She said the community was working well together to create awareness of the river and access.

Green Party MP Kevin Hague said it was great to see the feature playing a key part in the trail. “Back in the the 1970s Hamilton turned its back on the river. Over the last 15 years progressively over time we are embracing the river.”

The South Waikato trail will be the first of a total 1400km spread across 14 trails in the Nga Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail brand, also unveiled yesterday.

Nga Haerenga means “the journeys”.

Cruise Waikato

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