Mountain bikers have been granted permanent winter access to one of the country's great walkways.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith on Tuesday announced that the Heaphy Track will be open to cyclists between May and September each year. The announcement follows a three-year trial and approval from the Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board.
About 2000 mountain bikers have cycled the Heaphy Track each winter over the past three years. Plans to make the biking season even longer - from March to November - are being put forward by the Department of Conservation.
Nick Smith. Photo: RNZ
Dr Smith says the economic benefit of opening up the track to mountain bikers was too big to ignore and extending the period would be a huge boost to the region.
"If we were to extend that period, that would grow it by a further $1 million a year. Now, for a big city environment - the Wellingtons or the Nelsons - that might sound like small beer money. For little communities like Collingwood and Karamea, the millions of dollars that are flowing through those little isolated rural communities from mountain biking is actually having a huge benefit."
Dr Smith says decision is likely to be made within the next two years.
Whilst the move has been welcomed by many, it has raised a few eyebrows amongst some keen trampers who say they don't want to have to share any more of New Zealand's great walks with cyclists.
However, Dr Smith insists his decision does not set a precedent.
"I've got no intentions of further exploring other ones of our great walks to mountain biking. The Heaphy Track has particularly low usage - particularly in those winter months - and it is well suited to being able to cope with both mountain bikes and trampers. It is really the premier multi-day mountain bike experience in the country."
The managing director of Southern Wilderness, a company that specialises in walking journeys along the track, says it's a splendid idea.
Gordon Taylor says the track is often very quiet in winter and it will be great to see one of the most beautiful parts of the world being used all year round.
Nelson Mountain Bike Club president Chris Mildon, says he's optimistic the season will be extended given the trial carried out in winter showed cyclists don't damage the track as much as feared.
"For the impact of mountain biking to be measured during the worst time of the year and for it to come out as a good result, that's quite positive for extending the season."
