The Government is to contribute $8 million to help maintain the New Zealand Cycle Trail.
In a pre-Budget announcement in Queenstown, Prime Minister John Key said the money would be spent over four years and he hoped local authorities would match it.
Mr Key also announced that the Government will gift $500,000 to the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail in Southland.
The first stage of that trail is almost complete and the extra funding means the township of Athol will be included on its route.
The offer of money to maintain the cycleway will be welcomed by those who administer local trails.
When the Roxburgh Gold Trail opened last year, its backers were forced to make users pay for the track's upkeep.
