Tasman’s Great Taste Trail will be able to get back on track with a welcome injection of government funding.
The trail suffered significant damage in multiple locations in the June and July storms and flooding.
$1.6 million has been granted from the New Zealand Cycle Trail Extreme Weather Response Fund to rebuild and repair damaged sections of the trail.
The work will include repair and resurfacing of damaged sections of trail, and repairing and replacing infrastructure, including bridges, shelters, signage, and picnic facilities.
We will also be strengthening vulnerable areas with replanting, drainage, and structural reinforcement.
Alternative routes will be established where riverbank sections have been lost, and there will be rebuilding and rerouting of flood-damaged sections between Wakefield, Kohatu, and Quail Valley.
We are supporting the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trail Trust and are working with contractors and local landowners, with support from community groups and volunteers. These groups are assisting with early repair and replanting efforts.
Tasman’s Great Taste Trail is not only an important recreational asset but also a major driver of the local economy. A 2024 Economic Impact Report found that the trail contributes an estimated $34 million annually to the Nelson Tasman economy.
While some sections are expected to be open ahead of the summer season, others will require longer-term solutions and renegotiation of access agreements with landowners.